THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD. The genuineness of this parable is disputed (1) because it is allegorical in character; (2) because it reflects a later situation and assumes Christ's death; (3) because it embodies an open claim to Messiahship which is in consistent with the prudent and guarded answers... [ Continue Reading ]
THE QUESTION OF TRIBUTE. The Pharisees and the Herodians perhaps represent the two horns of the dilemma by which they try to catch Jesus. The Pharisees leant to the popular view which chafed at tribute, and which found its extreme expression in the Zealots (_cf._ Josephus, _Ant._ XVH 1. 16). The Her... [ Continue Reading ]
THE QUESTION OF THE RESURRECTION-LIFE. The Pharisees having withdrawn in confusion, the Sadducees (mentioned here only in Mk., _cf._ pp. 619f., 624, 637) bring forward a scholastic problem designed to show that the strict carrying out of the Levirate law (p. 109, Deuteronomy 25:5 *, Ruth 1:11 *) wou... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT. This further question does not seem to be put in a spirit of hostility. The scribe may have been a Pharisee who admired the answer Jesus had given to the Sadducees. There was no real doubt as to the greater commandment. The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4 f.) was repeated daily by t... [ Continue Reading ]
IS MESSIAH DAVID'S SON? Jesus now asks His hearers a question. The exact purpose and significance of the question are not easy to determine, but apparently Jesus held that the Messiah (who is Himself) does not depend on Davidic descent for His authority. He is more than the heir of David's glory. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
A WARNING AGAINST THE SCRIBES. These verses read like a summary of or a fragment from the longer discourse in Q. The reference to widows-' houses is found only in Mk. Its meaning is obscure. Did they take rich fees for pious services, or press the rights of creditors against widows harshly? Alike th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WIDOW'S MITES. After teaching in the court of the Gentiles, Jesus sat down near to the treasury in the court of the women. He watched those who came to contribute. As (a poor widow) brought her last coin as an offering to God, she received high praise from Jesus; we do not hear that He ended her... [ Continue Reading ]