Mark 12

Beloved Son (the heir)

And 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. Mark 12:1–9

In this parable the owner of the vineyard is God, the servants are the prophets, and the 'one son, his wellbeloved' is Jesus. He is telling the leaders ahead of time that they will kill Him and cast Him out, and they soon crucified Him outside Jerusalem's walls.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Matthew 21:33-41 — Matthew's account of the same parable
• a parallel account in Luke 20:9-16 — Luke's account of the same parable
• alludes to Isaiah 5:1-7 — Isaiah's song of the vineyard, which is the house of Israel
• the same title in Mark 1:11 — The Father calls Jesus 'my beloved Son' at His baptism

Stone the builders rejected / Head of the corner

Head of the corner — the chief cornerstone that holds the whole building together

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: Mark 12:10–11

Jesus applies Psalm 118 to Himself. The leaders ('builders') reject Him, but God makes Him the cornerstone that the whole Church and our faith rest on.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes Psalm 118:22-23 — The psalm Jesus quotes
• the same title in Acts 4:10-11 — Peter names Jesus the stone set at nought by the builders
• the same title in 1 Peter 2:6-7 — Christ the chief corner stone, precious to believers
• the same title in Jacob 4:15-17 — Jacob foresees the Jews rejecting the stone that should become the head of their corner

Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? Mark 12:24–27

The God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush was Jehovah, the premortal Christ. Here Jesus quotes those words to prove that the dead will rise: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still live to Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Exodus 3:6 — Jehovah's words at the burning bush
• a parallel account in Matthew 22:31-32 — Matthew's account of the same answer to the Sadducees
• a parallel account in Luke 20:37-38 — Luke's account of the same answer

The Lord our God (the Shema)

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: Mark 12:29–30

Jesus quotes the Shema from Deuteronomy, where 'LORD' stands for Jehovah. Nephi later teaches that this whole-souled worship is given to Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes Deuteronomy 6:4-5 — The first commandment as Moses gave it
• a parallel account in Matthew 22:37-38 — Matthew's account of the first commandment
• alluded to by 2 Nephi 25:29 — Nephi: believe in Christ and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul

Christ, David's Son and David's Lord

Christ — Greek for Messiah, the Anointed One

And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? Mark 12:35–37

Jesus shows from Psalm 110 that the Messiah is more than a descendant of David, because David calls Him 'Lord.' In 'The LORD said to my Lord,' the Father speaks to the Son, who will sit at His right hand.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interprets Psalm 110:1 — Jesus explains the psalm as speaking of the Christ
• a parallel account in Matthew 22:41-46 — Matthew's account of the same question
• a parallel account in Luke 20:41-44 — Luke's account of the same question