Mark 12 35

Mark 12:35 kjv

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 nkjv

Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

Mark 12:35 niv

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David?

Mark 12:35 esv

And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

Mark 12:35 nlt

Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple, he asked, "Why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah is the son of David?

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 35 Meaning

Mark 12:35 captures Jesus initiating a crucial theological question while teaching in the Temple. After adeptly answering challenging questions posed by religious leaders, Jesus shifts from being interrogated to becoming the interrogator. He directly addresses the commonly held teaching of the scribes regarding the identity of the Christ, or Messiah. Specifically, He challenges their incomplete understanding that the Messiah is solely "the Son of David," subtly introducing the profound truth that the Messiah's nature transcends a mere human lineage.

Mark 12 35 Context

Mark 12:35 is situated within Jesus' final period of teaching in the Temple in Jerusalem during His Passion Week. This verse marks a pivotal shift in the ongoing confrontational debates with various Jewish leaders who have repeatedly attempted to trap Him with difficult questions. Previously, Jesus successfully countered questions from the Pharisees (on tribute to Caesar, Mk 12:13-17), the Sadducees (on the resurrection, Mk 12:18-27), and then responded profoundly to a scribe's question about the greatest commandment, earning approval (Mk 12:28-34). Having silenced His opponents and affirmed His authority through His wisdom, Jesus now takes the initiative, challenging the very core of their Messianic understanding. The public setting in the Temple adds weight, as Jesus directly confronts the official teaching establishment (the scribes) in their own domain, forcing them to grapple with the deeper implications of Messiah's true identity, which transcends a merely human kingship. This dialogue sets the stage for Jesus to reveal the divine dimension of the Messiah, moving beyond the popular, yet limited, expectation of a solely human, political deliverer from David's line.

Mark 12 35 Word analysis

• And Jesus answered and said: This phrase signifies a continuation of the narrative, highlighting Jesus' responsive nature but also His strategic decision to initiate the next line of inquiry. The structure emphasizes a shift in agency from being questioned to questioning.

• while He taught: (Greek: didaskōn, διδάσκων) The present participle implies an ongoing action of teaching, emphasizing that this exchange was not a casual remark but a formal, authoritative instruction given in a public setting. It underscores Jesus' role as a authoritative teacher of truth, even in hostile environments.

• in the temple: (Greek: en tō hierō, ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ) This location is crucial. The Temple was the spiritual and intellectual heart of Judaism, the primary place for religious instruction. By teaching here, Jesus publicly challenges the established authorities where their influence was strongest, demonstrating His own supreme authority over divine truth.

• "How is it that the scribes say": (Greek: Pōs legousin hoi grammateis, Πῶς λέγουσιν οἱ γραμματεῖς)

  • How is it that... (Pōs): A challenging interrogative, often implying a logical puzzle or incongruity. Jesus is not merely asking for information but posing a dilemma, inviting His listeners to reconcile seemingly contradictory truths. It's a rhetorical question designed to lead to a profound insight.
  • the scribes (hoi grammateis): Refers to the official interpreters and teachers of the Jewish Law, recognized as experts. Jesus targets their commonly accepted, authoritative doctrine, suggesting it is incomplete or misapplied.
  • say (legousin): Present tense, indicating their ongoing and authoritative teaching. Jesus is directly confronting their established theological position.

• that the Christ is the Son of David?: (Greek: ho Christos huios Dauid estin?, ὁ Χριστὸς υἱὸς Δαυίδ ἐστιν;)

  • the Christ (ho Christos): This refers to "the Anointed One," the expected Messiah, the specific figure of prophecy. The definite article emphasizes that everyone knew who was being discussed.
  • is (estin): Simple verb "to be," indicating identity or a direct connection.
  • the Son of David (huios Dauid): This was a fundamental Messianic title derived from the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7) and widely understood by all Jews. It signified that the Messiah would be a human descendant of King David, establishing a lineage-based claim to the throne and restoring Israel. Jesus is acknowledging this established truth, not denying it, but rather questioning if this title alone captures the full identity of the Messiah.

• "And Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple": This opening phrase group immediately positions Jesus as an authoritative figure engaging in formal instruction. He isn't merely participating in a debate but teaching a deeper truth to all who would listen, including His adversaries, in a prominent public arena.

• "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?": This entire phrase presents a rhetorical challenge. Jesus is setting the stage to reveal the inadequacy of the popular Messianic expectation, which focused primarily on a political or human deliverer. He aims to expand their understanding of the Messiah to include His divine nature and ultimate lordship, a truth the scribes' teaching did not fully encompass or reconcile with.

Mark 12 35 Bonus section

• This question by Jesus is crucial Christologically, establishing the duality of Christ's nature as both fully human (Son of David) and fully divine (David's Lord). It points to the core Christian doctrine of Jesus as God Incarnate.
• The fact that the scribes couldn't answer the subsequent questions posed by Jesus regarding Psalm 110:1 (in Mk 12:36-37) reveals their spiritual stagnation and failure to grasp the fullness of prophetic Scripture concerning the Messiah's person. They possessed the "keys of knowledge" but could not enter the kingdom nor permit others to (Lk 11:52).
• Jesus' method here serves as an example of how true understanding of Scripture requires grappling with seeming paradoxes and allowing the deeper theological implications to emerge. He wasn't just countering an opinion but pushing for a comprehensive, God-revealed understanding of the Messiah's true identity.
• This interrogation essentially sums up Jesus' challenge to the prevailing Jewish expectation of the Messiah—an expectation largely shaped by human traditions and political desires, rather than a full, spiritual grasp of prophecy that foretold a Suffering Servant, a Divine King, and a Humble Lamb.

Mark 12 35 Commentary

Mark 12:35 represents a turning point in Jesus’ Temple ministry before His crucifixion. Having successfully parried the sophisticated attempts of the Jewish leaders to trap Him, Jesus now proactively shifts from defense to offense. He does not ask a new question in the way His interrogators did (e.g., about taxes or the resurrection); rather, He takes one of the most fundamental Jewish beliefs about the Messiah – that He would be the "Son of David" – and subtly challenges its completeness.

This challenge is directed specifically at the "scribes," the custodians and interpreters of the Law, implying that their teaching on this crucial Messianic point is either insufficient or presents a theological dilemma they haven't resolved. While it was entirely correct to affirm the Messiah's Davidic lineage (a prophecy deeply rooted in 2 Sam 7 and acknowledged throughout the Old Testament), Jesus prepares to unveil a higher dimension of the Messiah's identity, His divine Lordship. He does this by strategically leading into a citation of Psalm 110:1 in the subsequent verse, a text which identifies the Messiah not merely as David's human heir but also as David's "Lord."

The Temple context emphasizes the public and authoritative nature of Jesus’ teaching. He exposes the intellectual and spiritual blindness of the religious establishment concerning the true, complex nature of the Messiah—both fully human and fully divine. This polemic highlights that superficial or incomplete understanding of Scripture can lead to profound error regarding God's redemptive plan and the person of His Christ. Jesus is not denying His own Davidic lineage (which Matthew and Luke affirm through genealogies), but forcing His hearers to grapple with the Messianic identity beyond simple political or human terms, preparing them for the reality of His divine sovereignty.