Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 12
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Mark 12
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Mark 12
"And he began to speak unto them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country." — Mark 12:1 (ASV)
Mark does not identify who Jesus’ hearers were, though they were probably the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders (cf. 11:27). The description in v.1 reflects the language of Isa 5:1–2, where the vineyard symbolizes Israel (cf. Psalms 80:8–16; Isaiah 5:7; Jeremiah 2:21). The details mentioned here are known to anyone who has traveled in Israel.
When the vineyard had been completely prepared, its owner rented it to tenants and went on a journey. This detail reflects a condition that actually prevailed in Galilee in Jesus’ time, namely, that much of the land was in the hands of absentee landowners who contracted with tenants on a crop-sharing basis.
"And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruits of the vineyard." — Mark 12:2 (ASV)
When harvest time came, the absentee landlord sent one of his servants to collect what was due him from the tenants. The payment was to be made in produce of the land according to a previously arranged percentage. The landlord sent three servants in succession to collect the payment, but the tenants repudiated the agreement. Instead they beat up the first two servants and killed the third. By referring to “many others,” Jesus was forcing his listeners to think beyond the parable to the history of Israel and the rejection of the prophets, God’s sent servants (cf. Jeremiah 7:25–26; 25:4; Amos 3:7; Zechariah 1:6).
"And they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty." — Mark 12:3 (ASV)
When harvest time came, the absentee landlord sent one of his servants to collect what was due him from the tenants. The payment was to be made in produce of the land according to a previously arranged percentage. The landlord sent three servants in succession to collect the payment, but the tenants repudiated the agreement. Instead they beat up the first two servants and killed the third. By referring to “many others,” Jesus was forcing his listeners to think beyond the parable to the history of Israel and the rejection of the prophets, God’s sent servants (cf. Jeremiah 7:25–26; 25:4; Amos 3:7; Zechariah 1:6).
"And again he sent unto them another servant; and him they wounded in the head, and handled shamefully." — Mark 12:4 (ASV)
When harvest time came, the absentee landlord sent one of his servants to collect what was due him from the tenants. The payment was to be made in produce of the land according to a previously arranged percentage. The landlord sent three servants in succession to collect the payment, but the tenants repudiated the agreement. Instead they beat up the first two servants and killed the third. By referring to “many others,” Jesus was forcing his listeners to think beyond the parable to the history of Israel and the rejection of the prophets, God’s sent servants (cf. Jeremiah 7:25–26; 25:4; Amos 3:7; Zechariah 1:6).
"And he sent another; and him they killed: and many others; beating some, and killing some." — Mark 12:5 (ASV)
When harvest time came, the absentee landlord sent one of his servants to collect what was due him from the tenants. The payment was to be made in produce of the land according to a previously arranged percentage. The landlord sent three servants in succession to collect the payment, but the tenants repudiated the agreement. Instead they beat up the first two servants and killed the third. By referring to “many others,” Jesus was forcing his listeners to think beyond the parable to the history of Israel and the rejection of the prophets, God’s sent servants (cf. Jeremiah 7:25–26; 25:4; Amos 3:7; Zechariah 1:6).
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