Mark – Chapter 12

New Testament44 Verses

Chapter Summary

Mark 12 opens with the words: "And he began to speak to them in parables: A certain man planted a vineyard and made a hedge about it and dug a place for the winefat and…" The chapter centers on David, Moses and Abraham. Across its 44 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and love and charity. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And he began to speak to them in parables: A certain man planted a vineyard and made a hedge about it and dug a place for the winefat and built a tower and let it to husbandmen: and went into a far country.

2And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant to receive of the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

3Who, having laid hands on him, beat and sent him away empty.

4And again he sent to them another servant: and him they wounded in the head and used him reproachfully.

5And again he sent another, and him they killed: and many others, of whom some they beat, and others they killed.

6Therefore, having yet one son, most dear to him, he also sent him unto them last of all, saying: They will reverence my son.

7But the husbandmen said one to another: This is the heir. Come let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours.

8And laying hold on him, they killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

9What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those husbandmen and will give the vineyard to others.

10And have you not read this scripture, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:

11By the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes.

12And they sought to lay hands on him: but they feared the people. For they knew that he spoke this parable to them. And leaving him, they went their way.

13And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians: that they should catch him in his words.

14Who coming, say to him: Master, we know that thou art a true speaker and carest not for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar? Or shall we not give it?

15Who knowing their wiliness, saith to them: Why tempt you me? Bring me a penny that I may see it.

16And they brought it him. And he saith to them: Whose is this image and inscription? They say to him, Caesar's.

17And Jesus answering, said to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

18And there came to him the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection. And they asked him, saying:

19Master, Moses wrote unto us that if any man's brother die and leave his wife behind him and leave no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up seed to his brother.

20Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife and died leaving no issue.

21And the second took her and died: and neither did he leave any issue. And the third in like manner.

22And the seven all took her in like manner and did not leave issue. Last of all the woman also died.

23In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise again, whose wife shall she be of them? For the seven had her to wife.

24And Jesus answering, saith to them: Do ye not therefore err, because you know not the scriptures nor the power of God?

25For when they shall rise again from the dead, they shall neither marry, nor be married, but are as the angels in heaven.

26And as concerning the dead that they rise again have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?

27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You therefore do greatly err.

28And there came one of the scribes that had heard them reasoning together, and seeing that he had answered them well, asked him which was the first commandment of all.

29And Jesus answered him: The first commandment of all is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord thy God is one God.

30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind and with thy whole strength. This is the first commandment.

31And the second is like to it: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

32And the scribe said to him: Well, Master, thou hast said in truth that there is one God and there is no other besides him.

33And that he should be loved with the whole heart and with the whole understanding and with the whole soul and with the whole strength. And to love one's neighbour as one's self is a greater thing than all holocausts and sacrifices.

34And Jesus seeing that he had answered wisely, said to him: Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

35And Jesus answering, said, teaching in the temple: How do the scribes say that Christ is the son of David?

36For David himself saith by the Holy Ghost: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool.

37David therefore himself calleth him Lord. And whence is he then his son? And a great multitude heard him gladly.

38And he said to them in his doctrine: Beware of the scribes, who love to walk in long robes and to be saluted in the marketplace,

39And to sit in the first chairs in the synagogues and to have the highest places at suppers:

40Who devour the houses of widows under the pretence of long prayer. These shall receive greater judgment.

41And Jesus sitting over against the treasury, beheld how the people cast money into the treasury. And many that were rich cast in much.

42And there came a certain poor widow: and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.

43And calling his disciples together, he saith to them: Amen I say to you, this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury.

44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living.

Important Verses in Mark 12

And he began to speak to them in parables: A certain man planted a vineyard and made a hedge about it and dug a place for the winefat and built a tower and let it to husbandmen: and went into a far country.

Mark 12:1

And as concerning the dead that they rise again have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?

Mark 12:26

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind and with thy whole strength. This is the first commandment.

Mark 12:30

And Jesus seeing that he had answered wisely, said to him: Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Mark 12:34

Historical Context

Mark addresses persecuted Christians in Rome, strengthened to follow the crucified Lord within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 12 of 16 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 44 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on David, Moses, Abraham and Isaac, the principal figures named in this chapter. It opens with the line: "And he began to speak to them in parables: A certain man planted a vineyard and made a hedge about it and dug a place…" The final verse reads: "For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living. " The wider setting of Mark is this: The earliest and shortest Gospel moves with urgency—'immediately' is its favorite word—presenting Jesus as the Son of God revealed above all on the Cross. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: About AD 65-70, probably in Rome.

Who Wrote It

John Mark, companion of Peter and Paul; early tradition calls him Peter's interpreter

When It Was Written

About AD 65-70, probably in Rome

Catholic Commentary

The text sets forth laws and observances that distinguished Israel as a people consecrated to the Lord. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And he began to speak to them in parables: A certain man planted a vineyard and made a hedge about it and dug a place for the winefat and built a tower and let…" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Mark 12 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Mark emphasizes the mystery of Christ's identity (CIC 515). St. John Damascene and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 113).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that The Son of Man came to serve and give His life as a ransom. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Mark 12 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Love of God and love of neighbor sum up the whole law and reveal the very nature of God.
  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.

People in This Chapter

David3 mentionsMoses2 mentionsAbraham1 mentionIsaac1 mentionJacob1 mention

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Mark Chapter 12 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. John Damascene and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. Mark emphasizes the mystery of Christ's identity (CIC 515). The passage calls believers to grasp that The Son of Man came to serve and give His life as a ransom.

Let Mark Chapter 12 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mark Chapter 12 about?

Mark 12 contains 44 verses. It opens with "And he began to speak to them in parables: A certain man planted a vineyard and made a hedge about it and dug a place…" and closes with "For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living. ". The book as a whole is gospel.

What is a key verse in Mark 12?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And he began to speak to them in parables: A certain man planted a vineyard and made a hedge about it and dug a place for the winefat and built a tower and let it to husbandmen:…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Mark Chapter 12?

This chapter mentions David, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.

Who wrote Mark and when?

John Mark, companion of Peter and Paul; early tradition calls him Peter's interpreter. About AD 65-70, probably in Rome.

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