Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Mark
Book: Mark
Chapter: 12
Overview:
The
Parable of the vineyard and husbandmen.
(1-12) Question
about
Tribute.
(13-17) Concerning the resurrection.
(18-27) The
great command of the
Law.
(28-34) Christ the Son and yet the
Lord of
David.
(35-40) The
Poor widow commended.
(41-44)
1-12 Christ showed in parables, that he would lay aside the
Jewish
Church. It is sad to think what base usage
God's
Faithful
ministers have met with in all ages, from those who have enjoyed
the privileges of the
Church, but have not brought forth
Fruit
answerable.
God at length sent his Son, his
Well-beloved; and it
might be expected that he whom their Master loved, they also
should respect and
Love; but instead of honouring him because he
was the Son and
Heir, they therefore hated him. But the
exaltation of
Christ was the
Lord's doing; and it is his doing
to exalt him in our hearts, and to set up his
Throne there; and
if this be done, it cannot but be marvellous in our eyes. The
Scriptures, and
Faithful preachers, and the
Coming of Christ in
the
Flesh,
Call On us to render due praise to
God in our lives.
Let sinners beware of a proud,
Carnal Spirit; if they revile or
despise the preachers of
Christ, they would have done
So their
Master, had they lived when he was upon
Earth.
13-17 The enemies of
Christ would be thought desirous to know
their duty, when really they hoped that which soever side he
took of the question, they might find occasion to accuse him.
Nothing is more likely to ensnare the followers of
Christ, than
bringing them to meddle with disputes about worldly politics.
Jesus avoided the
Snare,
By referring to the submission they had
already made as a nation; and all that heard him, marvelled at
the great
Wisdom of his answer. Many will praise the words of a
sermon, who will not be commanded
By the doctrines of it.
18-27 A right knowledge of the
Scripture, as the
Fountain
whence all revealed religion now flows, and the foundation
On
which it is built, is the best preservative against error.
Christ Put aside the objection of the
Sadducees, who were the
scoffing infidels of that
Day,
By setting the doctrine of the
future state in a true
Light. The relation between
Husband and
Wife, though appointed in the earthly
Paradise, will not be
known in the heavenly one. It is
No wonder if we confuse
ourselves with foolish errors, when we form our ideas of the
world of spirits
By the affairs of this world of sense. It is
absurd to think that the living
God should be the portion and
happiness of a
Man if he is for ever dead; and therefore it is
certain that
Abraham's soul exists and acts, though now for a
time separate from the body. Those that deny the resurrection
greatly err, and ought to be told
So. Let us seek to pass
through this dying world, with a joyful
Hope of eternal
happiness, and of a glorious resurrection.
28-34 Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty,
Christ will guide in
Judgment, and teach his way. He tells the
scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all,
is, that of loving
God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the
ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every
other duty. Loving
God with all our
Heart, will engage us to
every thing
By which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only
represented the atonements for men's transgressions of the moral
Law; they were of
No power except as they expressed
Repentance
and
Faith in the promised
Saviour, and as they led to moral
obedience. And because we have not thus loved
God and
Man, but
the very reverse, therefore we are condemned sinners; we need
Repentance, and we need
Mercy.
Christ approved what the scribe
said, and encouraged him. He stood fair for further advance; for
this knowledge of the
Law leads to conviction of
Sin, to
Repentance, to discovery of our need of
Mercy, and understanding
the way of
Justification By Christ.
35-40 When we attend to what the Scriptures declare, as to the
person and offices of
Christ, we shall be led to confess him as
our
Lord and
God; to obey him as our exalted
Redeemer. If the
common people hear these things gladly, while the learned and
distinguished oppose, the former are happy, and the latter to be
pitied. And as
Sin, disguised with a show of
Piety, is double
iniquity,
So its doom will be doubly heavy.
41-44 Let us not forget that
Jesus still sees the
Treasury. He
knows how much, and from what motives, men give to his cause. He
looks at the
Heart, and what our views are, in giving
Alms; and
whether we do it as unto the
Lord, or only to be seen of men. It
is
So rare to find any who would not blame this widow, that we
cannot expect to find many who will do like to her; and yet our
Saviour commends her, therefore we are sure that she did
Well
and wisely. The feeble efforts of the
Poor to honour their
Saviour, will be commended in that
Day, when the splendid
actions of unbelievers will be exposed to contempt.