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Mark 12

And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.

Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,

Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.

In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

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

For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

What does Mark 12:9 mean?

Explanation

This verse, Mark 12:9, is part of the Parable of the Tenants, which Jesus tells to illustrate how God's kingdom has been rejected by those who were entrusted with it.

In the story, a man plants a vineyard, sets up all the necessities for it to produce wine, and then rents it out to some farmers before leaving on a journey.

At harvest time, he sends servants to collect some of the fruit, but the tenants mistreat the servants, beating and even killing some.

Finally, the owner sends his son, thinking they will respect him, but they kill the son in an attempt to seize his inheritance.

The verse in question is the culmination of the parable where Jesus asks, rhetorically, what the owner of the vineyard will do.

The answer is that he will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.

Literally, it suggests a judgment and retribution upon those who have been violent and unfaithful stewards.

The deeper meaning, especially in the context of Jesus' teaching, is widely understood to represent the judgment upon those in Israel, particularly its leaders, who have not been faithful to God’s covenant.

The son in the parable represents Jesus, and his rejection foreshadows Jesus' own crucifixion.

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Historical Context

Mark's Gospel is generally considered to be the earliest of the four canonical gospels and is believed to have been written around AD 66–70. This was a period of escalating conflict between Rome and the Jewish people, culminating in the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70.

The religious and cultural context includes the expectation of a Messiah and the widespread belief among Jesus' audience that they were God's chosen people, with a special place in His plans.

Meanwhile, there were many tensions within Jewish society, including those between the religious leaders and the common people.

The parable was a direct critique of the religious leadership, suggesting that they were failing to lead the people according to God's will.

Theological Insights

Christian theology often interprets this parable as a warning against the danger of failing to recognize and accept God’s messengers, including Jesus himself.

From a Christian perspective, the vineyard symbolizes Israel or more broadly God's kingdom on Earth, the tenants represent the religious leaders, the servants are the prophets sent by God, and the beloved son is Jesus Christ.

The destruction of the husbandmen and passing of the vineyard to others indicates the opening of God's kingdom to the Gentiles and to all who will accept Jesus as the Christ.

This reflects the Christian belief that the rejection of Jesus by many in Israel led to the new covenant in which salvation is available to all people through Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Mark 12:9 extends to the understanding of stewardship and responsibility.

It can remind individuals and communities to be faithful and just stewards of what has been entrusted to them, be it leadership, resources, or opportunities.

In daily life, it can also serve as a warning against the abuse of privilege and power, and an exhortation to be receptive and welcoming of truth, even when it comes in a form that may be unexpected or unwelcome.

Cross-References

Matthew 21:40-41 - "When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?"
Luke 20:15-16 - "What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?"
Isaiah 5:1-7 - Describes the vineyard of the Lord as the house of Israel and the men of Judah.
Psalm 80:8-16 - A reference to Israel as a vine that God brought out of Egypt.
Jeremiah 12:10 - "Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key words such as "vineyard" (ἀμπελῶν or "ampelon") and "destroy" (ἀπολέσει or "apolesei") carry strong connotations.

"Ampelon" is often symbolic of Israel itself, a place where God's people are meant to bear fruit.

"Apolesei," a future active indicative form of "apollymi," indicates a strong and decisive action of destruction or ruin.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, the vineyard was a common metaphor for fertility, prosperity, and divine blessing.

In the context of the Hebrew Bible, the vineyard often represents God's care for Israel and their failings despite His blessings.

Comparatively, in other ancient mythologies and religions, similar stories exist where the gods pass judgment on mortal stewards who fail to manage divine gifts properly.

These stories all convey a moral lesson about responsibility and the consequences of greed and betrayal.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives might not be directly applicable to this verse since it deals with a parable that is principally theological and moral in nature.

However, social sciences such as sociology or psychology could offer insights into the human behaviors and institutional dynamics represented in the parable, such as the abuse of power and the reaction to prophetic voices.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have provided insights into Mark 12:9. For instance:

William Barclay notes the boldness of Jesus in telling this parable, which was a clear condemnation of the leaders who stood before him.
Craig L.

Blomberg, in his work on the parables, points to the replacement of Israel with the church made up of both Jews and Gentiles who follow Jesus.

N.T.

Wright emphasizes the eschatological and covenantal dimensions of the parable, seeing it as a declaration not just of judgment but also of the vindication of God's plan through Jesus.

Commentators often agree that the parable's primary focus is not on the vineyard but on the leaders' relationship to God's calling and mission. Their unanimous rejection and violence towards the son directly critique the religious leaders' actions leading up to and during Jesus' ministry.

Mark 12

Mark 12

What does Mark 12:9 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 12:9 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?