Mark 12 — Clausal Layout (English)

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended

Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)

The vineyard and the tenants — the beloved son rejected 12:1–12

vv. 1–8 — the parable told: the sendings and the son

And he began to speak to them in parables:independent — ingressive ἤρξατο + infinitive — the speech-frame; αὐτοῖς: the leaders of 11:27

'A man planted a vineyard,content — Isa 5:1–2 — the Song of the Vineyard reopened; the object fronted

and set a fence around it,content — Isa 5:2 — the owner's lavish care itemized

and dug a wine-vat,content — ὑπολήνιον for Isa 5's winepress — the vat beneath the press

and built a tower,content — the watchtower — οἰκοδομέω, the verb that returns with the builders (v. 10)

and let it out to tenants,content — the lease — the tenants are Israel's entrusted leaders

and went abroad.content — the absence that sets up the testing

And at the season he sent a servant to the tenants,content — the first sending — ἀποστέλλω, the verb of prophetic mission; τῷ καιρῷ, at vintage

that he might receive from the tenants some of the fruit of the vineyard;purpose — the errand — the owner's rightful share

and taking him,participial — preposed aorist participle — the seizure before the verbs strike; leans on ἔδειραν

they beat himcontent — the first outrage — δέρω, thrashed

and sent him away empty.content — κενόν — the rent refused

And again he sent to them another servant;content — πάλιν — the pattern repeats

and that one they struck on the headcontent — κεφαλιόω — a rare verb; the violence escalates

and treated shamefully.content — ἀτιμάζω — injury now insult

And he sent another;content — the third sending, compressed

and that one they killed —content — the escalation reaches murder, anticipating the son

and many others,content — elliptical — the sending-verb implied; the whole prophetic history in summary

some beating,participial — distributive οὓς μέν — the ongoing pattern depicted

some killing.participial — οὓς δέ — the correlative close of the servant-history

He still had one, a beloved son;content — the turning point — ἔτι ἕνα: one remained; ἀγαπητός, the baptism-and-transfiguration word (1:11; 9:7)

he sent him last to them,content — ἔσχατον — the final envoy

saying:participial — speech-participle with recitative ὅτι — the owner's inner hope

'They will respect my son.'content — the hope that misreads the tenants — inner speech one deeper

But those tenants said to one another:content — the counter-speech-frame — the tenants confer

'This is the heir;content — the recognition that damns — they know exactly who he is

come, let us kill him,content — hortatory plot — cf. Gen 37:20, Joseph's brothers

and the inheritance will be ours.'content — the motive — ἡμῶν fronted: the inheritance seized

And taking him,participial — preposed participle — the plot enacted; leans on ἀπέκτειναν

they killed him,content — the murder — the parable's climax

and cast him out of the vineyard.content — death outside — cf. crucified outside the city (Heb 13:12)

vv. 9–11 — the verdict-question and the rejected stone

What then will the lord of the vineyard do?content — Jesus asks the verdict-question himself (cf. Isa 5:4)

He will comecontent — and answers it — the owner's visitation in judgment

and destroy the tenants,content — the tenants destroyed

and give the vineyard to others.content — the vineyard given ἄλλοις — new stewards, left unnamed: the allegory's open edge

Have you not even read this Scripture:content — the rabbinic challenge — 'have you not even read?'

'The stone which the builders rejected — this has become the head of the corner;content — Ps 118:22 (117:22 LXX) — prolepsis: Λίθον drawn forward, resumed by οὗτος; the rejected son becomes the cornerstone

this was from the Lord,content — Ps 118:23 — the reversal is the Lord's own doing; fem. αὕτη a Hebraism

and it is marvelous in our eyes'?content — θαυμαστή — the vindication beheld

v. 12 — the hearers convict themselves

And they were seeking to arrest him,independent — conative imperfect — frustrated, ongoing intent

but they feared the crowd,independent — adversative καί — popular favor restrains the leaders

for they knewcause — the narrator's γάρ — the parable landed

that he had spoken the parable against them.content — πρὸς αὐτούς — told against them; they convict themselves

And leaving him,participial — preposed participle — leans on ἀπῆλθον

they went away.independent — the scene closes; the trap-questions now begin

Caesar's coin — the tribute question 12:13–17

vv. 13–14 — the trap set: flattery, then the dilemma

And they send to him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians,independent — historic present — the unlikely coalition of 3:6 returns: anti-tax Pharisees, pro-Rome Herodians

that they might catch him in a word.purpose — ἀγρεύω — a hunting verb: the verbal snare

And coming,participial — preposed participle — leans on λέγουσιν

they say to him:independent — historic present — the speech-frame

'Teacher,phrase modifier — vocative of address — the respectful mask

we knowcontent — the flattery begins

that you are truecontent — ironically, every word of the flattery is accurate

and you care for no one,content — impersonal μέλει — impartial, courting no one's favor

for you do not look at the face of men,cause — the Semitism — 'regard the face' = show partiality

but teach the way of God in truth.cause — the positive counterpart — coordinate with the γάρ clause

Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?content — the dilemma — κῆνσος, the Roman poll-tax: unlawful to some, obligatory to Rome

Should we give, or should we not give?'content — deliberative subjunctives — the press for yes-or-no

vv. 15–17 — the coin and the verdict

But he, knowing their hypocrisy,participial — preposed causal participle — the ὑπόκρισις seen through; leans on εἶπεν

said to them:independent — the reply begins

'Why do you test me?content — the intent named outright — πειράζω, the tester's verb

Bring me a denariuscontent — the counter-move — the coin summoned; he carries none

that I may see it.'purpose — the object-lesson requested

And they brought one.independent — they produce the denarius — complicity in hand

And he says to them:independent — historic present — the examination

'Whose is this image and inscription?'content — verbless question — εἰκών and ἐπιγραφή, the argument's two hinges

And they said to him:independent — the answer extracted

'Caesar's.'content — one word — their own mouths concede his sphere

And Jesus said to them:independent — the verdict-frame

'Render the things of Caesar to Caesar,content — ἀπόδοτε — give back what is owed; the coin bears his image

and the things of God to God.'content — elliptical — the verb carried over; the unstated premise: what bears God's image is owed to God

And they were marveling greatly at him.independent — ἐκθαυμάζω — utter amazement; the snare closes on no one

The Sadducees and the resurrection — the God of the living 12:18–27

vv. 18–23 — the levirate riddle: seven brothers, one wife

And Sadducees come to him,independent — historic present — the third delegation; their only Markan appearance

who say there is no resurrection,relative — qualitative οἵτινες — the party defined by its denial

and they questioned him,independent — inceptive imperfect — the interrogation opens

saying:participial — pleonastic speech-participle — the frame for the riddle

'Teacher, Moses wrote for us thatcontent — Deut 25:5–6 — the levirate law, cited from the Torah they accept

if someone's brother diesconditional — protasis inside the citation — leaning on the ἵνα-apodosis below

and leaves a wifeconditional — second protasis — the widow left

and leaves no child,conditional — third protasis — the line at risk

his brother should take the wifecontent — imperatival ἵνα as apodosis — the levir's duty

and raise up offspring for his brother.content — ἐξαναστήσῃ — ironically a 'raising' verb inside an anti-resurrection argument

There were seven brothers;content — the constructed case opens — the hypothetical as narrative chain

and the first took a wife,content — the first marriage

and, dying, left no offspring;content — the first childless death — the internal participle kept in line

and the second took her,content — the pattern rolls on

and died, leaving no offspring;content — the second childless death

and the third likewise;content — ὡσαύτως — the narration elides; verbless

and the seven left no offspring.content — the seven summed

Last of all the woman also died.content — the stage cleared for the punch

In the resurrection, when they rise,conditional — temporal ὅταν (typed cnd) with its fronted sphere — ὅταν ἀναστῶσιν bracketed/omitted by some witnesses

of which of them will she be wife?content — the punch — resurrection presumed to mean resumed marriage

For the seven had her as wife.'cause — the γάρ that presses the supposed absurdity

vv. 24–27 — the double ignorance answered

Jesus said to them:independent — the answer begins

'Is it not for this reason that you are wrong —content — counter-question expecting 'yes' — the diagnosis; cataphoric διὰ τοῦτο

knowing neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?participial — causal participle — the two failures the next verses take in turn

For when they rise from the dead,conditional — temporal ὅταν (typed cnd) — γάρ: the power of God answered first

they neither marry nor are given in marriage,content — resurrection life is not resumed marriage — the riddle dissolves

but are like angels in the heavens.content — ὡς ἄγγελοι — transformed, deathless existence, not disembodiment

But concerning the dead, that they are raised —phrase modifier — fronted topic with epexegetic ὅτι — leans on ἀνέγνωτε

have you not read in the book of Moses, at the Bush,content — the Scriptures answered second — ἐπὶ τοῦ βάτου: the passage-locator ('at the Bush' section), not the place

how God spoke to him, saying:content — indirect question — the Torah made to testify against its keepers

'I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob'?content — Exod 3:6 — verbless: the present tense of the covenant carries the whole argument

He is not God of the dead but of the living.content — the inference clinched — the patriarchs live to him, resurrection-bound

You are greatly mistaken.'content — πολὺ πλανᾶσθε — the inclusio with v. 24 closes as verdict

The first commandment — the Shema and the neighbor 12:28–34

vv. 28–31 — the question and the double command

And one of the scribes, coming up,participial — preposed participle — the one sincere questioner; leans on ἐπηρώτησεν

having heard them disputing,participial — second preposed participle — he has overheard the contests

seeingparticipial — third preposed participle — impressed, not hostile

that he had answered them well,content — the verdict that draws him

asked him:independent — the question posed in earnest

'Which commandment is first of all?'content — the rabbinic ranking-question — πρώτη, chief in rank

Jesus answered:independent — the answer-frame with recitative ὅτι

'The first is:content — the ranking accepted

Hear, O Israel:content — Deut 6:4 — the Shema, Israel's daily confession

the Lord our God, the Lord is one,content — the oneness of God — the ground of the command

and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.content — Deut 6:5 — imperatival future; the fourfold 'heart, soul, mind, strength' (διάνοια added to the list)

The second is this:content — verbless — the unasked-for second, volunteered

'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'content — Lev 19:18 — neighbor-love bound inseparably to the Shema

There is no other commandment greater than these.'content — the closure — τούτων plural: the two stand together

vv. 32–34 — the scribe's echo and the verdict

And the scribe said to him:independent — unique in Mark — a scribe agreeing

'Well said, Teacher;content — verbless exclamation of approval

you have truly saidcontent — ἐπ' ἀληθείας — the flatterers' phrase (v. 14) now sincere

that he is one,content — the Shema echoed in the scribe's own words

and there is no other besides him;content — Deut 4:35 / Isa 45:21 — 'no other besides him'

and to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength,content — suspended articular-infinitive subject — the paraphrase substitutes σύνεσις for the Shema's 'soul'

and to love one's neighbor as oneself,content — the second infinitive-subject — neighbor-love, still suspended

is far more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.'content — the prophetic verdict (1 Sam 15:22; Hos 6:6) — said inside the temple courts

And Jesus, seeing him —participial — preposed participle with prolepsis (αὐτόν drawn forward) — leans on εἶπεν

that he answered wisely,content — νουνεχῶς — 'with understanding,' a NT hapax

said to him:independent — the commendation-frame

'You are not far from the kingdom of God.'content — nearness declared, entry left open

And no one any longer dared to question him.independent — οὐδεὶς οὐκέτι — the reinforced double negative; the testing section closes

David's son and David's Lord 12:35–37

And Jesus, responding,participial — Semitic 'answering' participle with no question pending — Jesus now takes the initiative; leans on ἔλεγεν

was saying,independent — inceptive imperfect

teaching in the temple:participial — concurrent participle — the setting of the counter-riddle

'How do the scribes saycontent — the counter-riddle — the scribes' Davidic formula probed

that the Messiah is the son of David?content — true as far as it goes — but is it the whole truth?

David himself said in the Holy Spirit:content — the citation-frame — inspiration (ἐν τῷ πνεύματι) grounds the argument

'The Lord said to my Lord:content — Ps 110:1 (109:1 LXX) — the two κύριοι set the riddle: YHWH speaks to David's Lord

Sit at my right handcontent — the enthronement at the right hand — the position of honor and authority

until I put your enemies under your feet.'conditional — temporal ἕως ἄν (typed cnd) — the subjugation awaited

David himself calls him Lord;content — the premise restated — αὐτός emphatic

so how is he his son?'content — πόθεν — in what sense his son? more than David's descendant; the riddle left standing

And the great crowd was hearing him gladly.independent — durative imperfect — the crowd's delight closes the teaching

Beware of the scribes 12:38–40

And in his teaching he was saying:independent — imperfect of habitual teaching — the warning-frame

'Beware of the scribes,content — βλέπετε ἀπό — watch out for; the chapter's third scribes-passage

who like to walk about in long robesparticipial — attributive participle — the wanting-catalogue opens: the paraded στολαί

and greetings in the marketplacesphrase modifier — second object of the wanting — deferential public recognition

and chief seats in the synagoguesphrase modifier — the front bench facing the congregation

and places of honor at banquets —phrase modifier — the couch of honor at table — precedence craved in every sphere

those who devour widows' housesparticipial — nominative in loose apposition — the case slips as the indictment sharpens; predation on the protected class

and for a pretext pray at length —participial — προφάσει — long prayers as cover for the greed

these will receive the greater condemnation.'content — resumptive οὗτοι — the heavier sentence; the widow-theme leads straight into vv. 41–44

The widow's two lepta 12:41–44

vv. 41–42 — the treasury watched

And sitting down opposite the treasury,participial — preposed participle — καθίσας (some editions read ἐκάθισεν); leans on ἐθεώρει

he was watchingindependent — durative imperfect — deliberate, sustained observation

how the crowd puts money into the treasury;content — indirect question — vivid present βάλλει; χαλκός, coin by coin

and many rich people were putting in much.independent — iterative imperfect — many and much, the foil

And one poor widow, coming,participial — preposed participle — the class the scribes devour (v. 40) enters; leans on ἔβαλεν

put in two lepta,independent — the two smallest coins in circulation — she keeps back neither

which is a quadrans.phrase modifier — Mark's gloss for Roman readers — a quadrans, Rome's smallest coin

vv. 43–44 — the pronouncement: more than all

And calling his disciples to him,participial — preposed participle — the disciples summoned for a pronouncement; leans on εἶπεν

he said to them:independent — the saying-frame

'Truly I say to you:content — the Ἀμήν-formula — solemn asseveration

this poor widow has put in more than all those putting into the treasury;content — the reversal — by heaven's measure the most, not the least

for they all put in out of their abundance,cause — the γάρ grounds — the rest gave from surplus

but she out of her want put in everything she had,cause — the antithesis carried by δέ — ἐκ τῆς ὑστερήσεως, from her lack

her whole living.phrase modifier — apposition — ὅλον τὸν βίον: her whole living, her very life; praise, or lament before 13:2 — left open

Analysis. Mark 12 is the temple showdown, and the layout shows one man answering — and finally out-asking — every party in Jerusalem. The narrative frames keep to the flush-left purple column (they send, they come, he sat, he said, historic presents flagged as they land), but the chapter's weight hangs blue beneath the verbs of speaking: the parable of the tenants runs as a coordinate cnt catena under λαλεῖν (v. 1) — planted, fenced, dug, built, leased, left, one clause per line, the Isa 5:1–2 furniture in place before the first servant is sent — with the owner's hope (Ἐντραπήσονται τὸν υἱόν μου) and the tenants' plot (δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν) each a speech-within-the-speech, one level deeper. Four Scripture quotations hang as cnt with their sources in the tags: Ps 118:22–23 under ἀνέγνωτε (vv. 10–11), Exod 3:6 under the second ἀνέγνωτε (v. 26), the Shema with Lev 19:18 under Jesus' ἀπεκρίθη (vv. 29–31), and Ps 110:1 under David's Spirit-borne εἶπεν (v. 36). Protases and ὅταν/ἕως-temporals (typed cnd) lean forward anchor-less — the levirate ἐάν-chain of v. 19 one deeper than its imperatival-ἵνα apodosis, ὅταν ἀναστῶσιν twice (vv. 23, 25; the v. 23 words are bracketed or omitted by some witnesses). The cruxes are named rather than hidden: how far the parable's allegory runs (the Isa 5 opening and the ἀγαπητός of 1:11 and 9:7 invite full decoding — owner/God, servants/prophets, son/Jesus — but the ἄλλοι of v. 9 stay unidentified); the tribute verdict's suppressed premise (the coin bears Caesar's εἰκών and goes back to him — humanity bears God's image and owes itself to God; the second colon stands verbless, the verb carried over); ἐπὶ τοῦ βάτου in v. 26 read as a passage-locator ('at the Bush,' the section of Exodus) rather than a place; and the widow of vv. 41–44 — traditionally the exemplar of total giving (ὅλον τὸν βίον, her whole living, her very life), yet standing between the scribes who devour widows' houses (v. 40) and the prediction that this treasury's temple will be thrown down (13:2), so that some read lament rather than praise. The lines carry the commendation; the tags keep the question open.