Mark 12

Mark 12:1

HE began to speak] Matthew 21:33.

by parables] He spake one parable onely at this time. So proverbs in the original, is translated, a proverb, Ezekiel 14:8.

Mark 12:2

at the season] When the fruits of the ground used to be gathered.

Mark 12:5

and many others, beating some, and killing some] Or, and many others he sent, whereof some they did beat, and some they did kill.

Mark 12:9

he will come] This answer is attributed to the chief priests and elders, Matthew 21:41. See the Note there.

unto others] The calling of God is not tied either to place, person or time, without exception.

Mark 12:10

The stone] Psalms 118:22.

Mark 12:12

they sought to lay hold on him] They were greedy and very desirous to do it.

but feared the people] See on chap. 11. 32.

Mark 12:13

And they send] Matthew 22:15.

Mark 12:14

thou regardest not the person of men] Gr. thou lookest not upon the face. Therefore the Areopagites did judge in the dark, that they might not be moved with any mans outward shew. They mean here, that Christ did not so judge by outward appearance, that the truth should be thereby darkned any whit at all.

but teachest the way of God in truth] The way that God hath appointed us to walk in.

Mark 12:15

a peny] Valuing, of our money, seven pence halfpeny, as Matthew 18:28.

Mark 12:17

the things] Or, of the things, chap. 14. 71. and 15. 3.

and to God the things that are Gods] The Gospel joyneth the authority of the magistrate with the service of God.

Mark 12:18

Then come] Matthew 22:23.

which say there is no resurrection] The resurrection of the body is avouched, against the foolish ignorance and malice of the Sadduces.

Mark 12:19

raise up] Gr. raise up out of her.

Mark 12:28

And one of the scribes] Matthew 22:35.

Mark 12:32

thou hast said the truth] Gr. thou hast spoken in truth. He came to try Christs wisedom; and hearing it, he approveth it, and gives testimony thereunto.

Mark 12:33

is more then all whole-burnt-offerings] More excellent, and more acceptable to God, 1 Samuel 15:22. So that sacrifices and outward worship never pleased God, unlesse such necessary duries as we owe to God and our neighbour went afore, Hosea 6:6. Mic. 6. 6, 7.

Mark 12:35

And Jesus] Matthew 22:41.

that Christ is the sonne of David?] Christ did not intend to deny this, but to prove his Godhead out of David himself, of whom he came, according to the flesh.

Mark 12:36

by the holy Ghost] Word for word, in the holy Ghost: And there is a great force in this kinde of speech, whereby is meant, that it was not so much David as the holy Ghost that spake, who did in a manner possesse David.

The Lord said] Psalms 110:1.

Mark 12:37

the common people heard him gladly] Many of the common people, or the greater part of them, while he taught them.

the common people] Or, much folk, chap. 14. 43.

Mark 12:38

Beware] Matthew 23:5. Gr. Look to, as chap. 8. 15.

of the scribes] The manners of ministers are not rashly to be followed as an example.

to go in long clothing] The word is, a stole, which is a kinde of womans garment, long, even down to the heels, and is taken generally for any garment made for comelinesse: but in this place it seemeth to signifie that fringed garment mentioned, Deuteronomy 22:12.

Mark 12:40

Which devour] Matthew 23:14.

widows houses] Such as 2 Timothy 3:6. They spoil those whom Gods law gave a speciall charge of preserving.

Mark 12:41

money] A piece of brasse-money. See Matthew 10:29. Money of any kinde of metal, which the Romanes used, who in the beginning did stamp or coin brasse, and after used it for currant money.

into the treasury] Or, chest, whereinto they put their beneficence, 2 Kings 12:10-11. 2 Chronicles 24:8.

Mark 12:42

two mites] It is the seventh part of one piece of that brasse-money.

Mark 12:43

he called unto him his disciples] He called them apart, that neither the widow nor others might hear what he said for their instruction.

this poor widow hath cast more in] The doing of our duties which God alloweth, is not esteemed according to the outward value, but to the inward affections of the heart, 1 Corinthians 8:12.

Mark 12:44

but she of her want] Out of her exceeding small store, 2 Corinthians 8:2.

even all her living] All her money she had to live on, so that she must presently work for more; whereas, others gave out of that which lay by them, and had more left to spend.