Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Jesus then drew out the meaning of the parable with a question and proceeded to answer it himself. His answer underscores the seriousness of the action of the wicked tenants. Their punishment would be capital (cf. Isaiah 5:5–7), and the vineyard would be let to other tenants. The killing of the tenants may be a notso-veiled prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the “others” to which the vineyard would be given those who believe in Jesus.