Mark 12:1-12
Q.1. To whom did Jesus address His parable? Did they know the story? Was the response of the owner and tenants appropriate? – (Mk.12:1-8)
Jesus had just clashed with the Chief Priests, the Scribes, and the elders … the rulers of the nation – and He began to speak to them in parables (Mk.12:1 c.f. Mk.11:27). His story was based on a well-known parable that Isaiah applied to the nation – for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant … (Isa.5:7 c.f. Isa.5:1-6). The owner was obviously wanting produce from the tenants and repeatedly sent servants for fruit (Mk.12:2-5). However, they beat his servants and sent them back empty-handed. Some they treated shamefully and others they killed (Mk.12:5).
Q.2. Who were the owner’s servants? What did Jesus prophecy about Israel and Himself? How did the leaders respond to Jesus? – (Mk.12:6-12)
He continued pointedly – 6 He had one more to send, a beloved son; he sent him last of all to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those vine-growers said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!’ 8 They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard (Mk.12:6-8). A recurring message from the Lord was – If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened (Jer.26:4-5 c.f. Jer.7:25; 29:19; 35:15; 44:4 c.f. Mt.23:34-35). The leaders would have known that Jesus was speaking about Israel’s treatment of the prophets. He had also referred to Himself as the Son, and they were plotting to kill Him (c.f. Mk.11:18 c.f. Mk.2:7-12; Jn.5:18; 10:24-33). Jesus went on to make two specific prophecies: (i) He stated about Israel – He will come and destroy the vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others (Mk.12:9). (ii) He predicted about Himself that – 10 … The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; 11 This came about from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes’?” (Mk.12:10-11 c.f. Ps.118:22-23). His rejection would not be the end for Him. Paul applied this Scripture to the Gentiles’ entering into the blessings of Israel (Eph.2:11-22). Consequently, the leaders – … were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them (Mk.12:12).