- 1And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
- 2And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
- 3And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
- 4And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
- 5And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
- 6Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
- 7But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
- 8And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
- 9What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
- 10And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
- 11This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
- 12And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
- 13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
- 14And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?
- 15Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
- 16And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s.
- 17And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
- 18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
- 19Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
- 20Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
- 21And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
- 22And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
- 23In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
- 24And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
- 25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
- 26And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto 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 the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
- 28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
- 29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
- 30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
- 31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
- 32And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
- 33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
- 34And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
- 35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
- 36For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
- 37David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
- 38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
- 39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
- 40Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
- 41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and 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 threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
- 43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
- 44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
KING JAMES VERSION
MARK 12
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Mark 12 — Jesus answers hostile questions with truth, names love as the greatest command, and honors a widow who gives all she has.
About this illustration
The widow’s offering provides a quiet visual contrast to the status, argument, and display surrounding Jesus in the temple. The coins bear no readable inscription, and the violent vineyard parable is not literalized beside her.
Scripture basis: Mark 12:1–44King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGEANCIENT TEXT CONNECTIONS 
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Related 1 Enoch Passages
These links distinguish direct quotation, explicit retelling, strong literary parallel, and broader shared tradition. A parallel does not by itself prove direct dependence.
Jesus says resurrected humans do not marry but are like the angels in heaven; 1 Enoch says heavenly spirits were not assigned wives, explaining the Watchers’ transgression.
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Sixth century AD
Uncial 087 and 092b: Dispersed Gospel Fragments from Sinai
Uncial 087 and 092b: Dispersed Gospel Fragments from Sinai is a separately registered physical witness to the copying and reception of Matthew 21:19–24; John 18:29–35; Mark 12:32–37, identified by its own GA number, shelfmark, date, layout, and custodial history.
Matthew 21:19–24 · John 18:29–35 · Mark 12:32–37
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArtifact
103–76 BC
Alexander Jannaeus's Anchor-and-Star Prutot
Mass-produced bronze prutot of Alexander Jannaeus combine a Seleucid-style anchor, Greek royal title, star or wheel, diadem, and Hebrew name. Their long circulation makes them plausible examples of the small change behind Gospel scenes, but no excavated specimen can be identified as the widow's exact coins.
Mark 12:41–44 · Luke 21:1–4
Prophecy Events
Sermons
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Pastor Dean Odle uses an old family plow to illustrate Jesus’s warning in Luke 9:62 about following Him without looking back. Beginning with Romans 8 and John 10, he argues that discipleship requires continually hearing Christ’s voice, resisting the flesh, and surrendering self-will. He examines the excuses in Luke 14, shares personal accounts of ministry decisions, correction, and restoration, and turns to 1 John 2 and Proverbs 3 to urge trust in God’s direction. The sermon closes with warnings drawn from Lot’s wife and the parable of the talents, calling listeners to examine their faith, abide in Christ, and move forward in obedient, fruitful service.
Christian LivingSalvation and the GospelHoly Spirit and Spiritual GiftsDoctrine and Discernment
View sermon The Reshaping of Christianity
In “The Reshaping of Christianity,” Pastor Dean Odle warns that Christianity can be counterfeited when biblical authority and personal devotion to Jesus Christ are replaced by religious ritual, institutional loyalty, political identity, occult spirituality, or a universalized “Christ” acceptable to every religion. Beginning with Israel’s golden calf in Exodus 31-32, he argues that people may retain the language of worship while fashioning a god from their own culture and imagination. He connects that pattern with Paul’s warning about “another Jesus,” “another spirit,” and “another gospel” in 2 Corinthians 11 and Galatians 1.
Apostasy and DeceptionRoman Catholicism and the PapacyMystery BabylonBible Prophecy
View sermon Love of the Father
In “Love of the Father,” Pastor Dean Odle uses 1 John 2:15-17 to ask a searching question: not merely whether God loves us, but whether we love the Father enough to surrender our own will. Beginning with worship and reflections on fatherhood, he contrasts the Father’s faithfulness with the world’s lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. He argues that Christian identity must be expressed through an ongoing life of obedience, not a profession of faith detached from following Christ.
Doctrine and DiscernmentChristian LivingApostasy and DeceptionSpiritual Warfare
View sermon Showing 1–3 of 4 sermons
Music
Come Honestly
A Scripture-rich gospel appeal to come to Jesus without pretense: confessing sin, trusting His crucifixion and resurrection, receiving salvation by grace through faith, and following Him in repentance and new life.