Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary

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Mark 12

1He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.

2When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.

3They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.

4Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

5Again he sent another, and they killed him, and many others, beating some, and killing some.

6Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

7But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

8They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

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

10Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner.

11This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him and went away.

13They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.

14When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

15Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”

16They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

17Jesus answered them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.

18Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,

19“Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’

20There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.

21The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;

22and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.

23In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”

24Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God?

25For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

26But about the dead, that they are raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”

28One of the scribes came and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

29Jesus answered, “The greatest is: ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

30You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

31The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he;

33and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that.

35Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

36For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’

37Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly.

38In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,

39and to get the best seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts,

40those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

41Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.

42A poor widow came and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.

43He called his disciples to himself and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,

44for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”

Early Christian commentary

c. 153–157 AD (date debated) | Justin Martyr

And with regard to our not swearing at all, and always speaking the truth, He enjoined as follows: "Swear not at all; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." And that we ought to worship God alone, He thus persuaded us: "The greatest commandment is, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve, with all thy heart, and with all thy strength, the Lord God that made thee." And when a certain man came to Him and said, "Good Master," He answered and said, "There is none good but God only, who made all things." And let those who are not found living as He taught, be understood to be no Christians, even though they profess with the lip the precepts of Christ; for not those who make profession, but those who do the works, shall be saved, according to His word: "Not every one who saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. For whosoever heareth me, and doeth my sayings, heareth Him that sent me. And many will say unto me, Lord, Lord, have we not eaten and drunk in Thy name, and done wonders? And then will I say unto them, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. Then shall there be wailing and gnashing of teeth, when the righteous shall shine as the sun, and the wicked are sent into everlasting fire. For many shall come in my name, clothed outwardly in sheep's clothing, but inwardly being ravening wolves. By their works ye shall know them. And every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." And as to those who are not living pursuant to these His teachings, and are Christians only in name, we demand that all such be punished by you.

Commentary · The First Apology, Chapter 16 · Original source · Justin Martyr; translated by Marcus Dods; T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1870. Historical transcription supplied by Wikisource contributors. · Licence · Source revision · Whitespace normalized; source pagination and footnote reference markers removed. English wording unchanged.