And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

MARK 12:35KJV
Know the Bible

Mark 12:35 (KJV)

What does Mark 12:35 mean?

Mark 12:35 shows Jesus teaching in the temple and questioning why the scribes say that the Christ (the Messiah) is the Son of David. Jesus is raising a question about the common belief that the Messiah would simply be a descendant of David.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking publicly in the temple courts, addressing the crowd and the religious experts (the scribes). By asking this question, Jesus invites people to think more deeply about the identity of the Messiah, hinting that the Christ is more than just David’s physical descendant. This sets up a discussion about the true nature and authority of the Messiah.

The Greek behind Mark 12:35

  • Χριστός (Christos): This word means "the Christ" or "the Anointed One," referring to the expected Messiah. Jesus uses this term to focus the discussion on the identity and role of the Messiah.
  • υἱός (huios): This word means "son." The phrase "Son of David" was a common Jewish expectation for the Messiah, but Jesus is challenging people to consider if that title fully captures who the Christ is.
  • γραμματεῖς (grammateis): This word means "scribes," referring to the religious scholars and experts in the Jewish law. Jesus specifically questions their teaching, highlighting their influence over popular beliefs about the Messiah.

Why Mark 12:35 matters

  • Mark 12:35 challenges a simple or limited view of the Messiah as only a human descendant of David, encouraging readers to consider a deeper or more complex identity for Christ.
  • This verse marks a turning point in Jesus’ public teaching, where he openly questions the religious authorities’ interpretations and invites the crowd to think critically.
  • The question Jesus asks prepares the way for the verses that follow, where he will quote Psalm 110 to show that the Messiah is not just David’s son, but also David’s Lord, pointing to a greater authority and identity.

Where else these words appear

“David” Greek G1138 · used in 54 verses

  • Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
  • Mark 10:48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
  • Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

“temple” Greek G2411 · used in 67 verses

  • Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
  • Luke 19:47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
  • Acts 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

“scribes” Greek G1122 · used in 67 verses

  • Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
  • Matthew 26:57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
  • Mark 15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

“taught” Greek G1321 · used in 91 verses

  • Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
  • Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
  • Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.