Charles Ellicott Commentary Mark 12:9

"What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others." — Mark 12:9 (ASV)

He will come and destroy the husbandmen. Saint Matthew reports the words as having been spoken by “the bystanders.” Here they form part of the parable itself. We may think of them as having been probably taken up and repeated by our Lord after they had been uttered by others.