Mark 12:1-27
Dear RTB’ers,
An STS note tells us that the Lord was using Isaiah 5:1-7 as backdrop for this parable. You might want to go to Isaiah and read that short section. {Copying John: “Go ahead, I’ll wait.”) So as Jesus began this parable, especially the first two verses, he clearly has his audience listening – the Jewish leaders in particular, in that they knew that Isaiah was referring to the nation of Israel in his prophecy (Isaiah 5:7). But then in today’s third verse Jesus completely changes Isaiah’s story. Isaiah has the vineyard producing bad grapes instead of good grapes, with the owner of the vineyard asking what to do with the vineyard that is not producing well. But Jesus has the vineyard producing good grapes as it should and the owner sending slaves – and then his son – to collect rent from the tenants. So Jesus’ twist in His parable is about the tenants, not about the vineyard fruit. Jesus has His listeners’ attention, with them expecting His reflection on Isaiah’s words, but He then turns the story upside down. Jesus’ twist to Isaiah’s story angered the Jewish leaders, but there was nothing they could do: And they were seeking to arrest Him but feared the people, for they perceived that He had told the parable against them. So they left Him and went away. (v. 12)
Then in the very next verse, they return! And they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap Him in His talk. (v. 13) Again, Jesus’ response to their trap leaves them speechless. Finally the Sadducees decide to give it a try, with their own twisted take on Moses’ teaching and He dismisses them forcefully: “You are quite wrong.” Tomorrow we will see a Scribe questioning Jesus. (Mark 12:28)
Scholars suggest that today’s incidents took place on the Tuesday or Wednesday of Holy Week. (Recall that Mark’s previous chapter was Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.) The Jewish leaders’ frustrations with Jesus are reaching a very high level, such that simple discourse with Him or trickery against Him gains them nothing. So, what comes next? We have reached the beginning of the end for Jesus.
Blessings!
See also: