The Gospels Mark

The Parable of the Vineyard

Discover Jesus as: Servant Mark 12 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 150 of 730
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INTRO

Mark 12 gives us an opportunity to study another parable today. A parable uses an everyday object to teach a spiritual lesson.

TEACHING

Mark 12:1: A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it. He then “dug out a pit for a winepress and built a watchtower” (v. 1). The owner leased it out to some farmers and left. The vineyard, the fence, the pit, a watchtower, and the people in the story, are objects for the parable. A watchtower was there as a lookout post, a shelter, and tool storage.

MacArthur explains, “The owner made an agreement with men he believed were reliable caretakers, who were to pay a certain percentage of the proceeds to him as rent.”1The rest of the money went to the tenant farmers. The image of a vineyard was very common in the region. MacArthur says, “The hillsides of Palestine were covered with grape vineyards, the backbone of the economy.”2When the backbone of the economy is doing well, the entire country is doing well. When the backbone breaks, the entire country suffers. The vineyard was used as a symbol for Israel, both good and bad (Psalm 80:8-16; Jeremiah 2:21). Jesus used Isaiah 5:1-2,7 as the basis for this parable about Israel (the vineyard) and God (the owner).

Mark 12:2-5: A slave showed up to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard, but they mistreated him and sent him away with nothing (vv. 2-3). Then, the owner sent a second slave who was treated shamefully (v. 4). The owner sent several others who were mistreated and/or killed, and then, he sent many others, some of which were killed (v. 5). Wiersbe says that, “If Mark 12:2-5 covers the three years when the fruit was not used, then it was in the fourth year that the beloved Son was sent.”3Thereforethese slaves represent the prophets who had been released to proclaim a message from God, and they constantly pointed to the coming Messiah. In this parable, God was sending people to speak to the tenant farmers (who represent the Jewish religious leaders in this parable). Repeatedly, the religious leaders refused to hear the message from the prophets. Nelson’s Commentary points out that “this story illustrates the immense patience God had with Israel.”4

Mark 12:6-8: The owner (God) had one more person to send––His Son (v. 6). The tenant farmers recognized the son as the heir and decided to kill him so they would receive his inheritance (v. 7). MacArthur says “the vinedressers were greedy” and “wanted the entire harvest and the vineyard for themselves.”5The tenants wanted everything for themselves, so they killed the son and threw him “out of the vineyard” (v. 8). Jesus too was put outside the gates (Hebrews 13:12-13). Three times in Mark, Jesus predicted His own death, burial, and resurrection. In this parable, Jesus showed that it was already taking place. The fourth year was “the year when the fruit was devoted to the Lord (Leviticus 19:24).”6This makes the coming of the Son as an offering devoted to the Lord even more significant.

Mark 12:9-11: “Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do?” (v. 9). He will destroy the farmers and give the vineyard to others. The destruction of the farmers took place in AD 70 when Rome destroyed the temple. MacArthur explains that giving the vineyard to others was being “fulfilled in the establishment of Christ’s church and its leaders, who were mostly Gentiles.”7(Psalm 118:22-23).

Mark 12:12: Jesus told a parable about a vineyard, and this time, the religious leaders understood the parable.

The vineyard represents the Jews. Why did God give the vineyard to the Jews and not us? John Piper states “the Jews have priority over the Gentiles, as the chosen people of God” (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Nehemiah 9:7; Amos 3:2). Second, Piper states “the Jews have a priority over the Gentiles as guardians of God’s special revelation––the Old Testament Scriptures” (Romans 3:1-2; 9:4).

Third, Piper states “the Jews have a priority over the Gentiles in that the Messiah Himself, Jesus, came first as a Jew to the Jews” (Matthew 10:5-6; 15:24; Romans 1:3; 9:5). Fourth, Piper states “the Jews have a priority over Gentiles in that salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22).8

John 1:11-12 says: “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Because of rejection (Mark 12:9), God will destroy the farmers and give the vineyard to others. Romans 11:11-12 explains who the others are—the Gentiles. Romans 11:25 summarizes this: “So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: A partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.”

CLOSING

In all of this, God had a plan. Despite the rejection of the prophets and the rejection of His Son, God had a plan that included the Gentiles––us!

  1. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2005), p. 1240.

  2. MacArthur, p. 1240.

  3. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary(Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 1989), p. 151.

  4. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 1230.

  5. MacArthur, p. 1240.

  6. Wiersbe, p. 151.

  7. MacArthur, p. 1240.

  8. John Piper, “To the Jew First, and Also to the Greek”; available online at https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/to-the-jew-first-and-also-to-the-greek.

Questions

  1. Jesus spoke to a Jewish audience about the vineyard because they knew the vineyard was used in the Old Testament as a picture of what? (Isaiah 5:1-7)
  2. Which Old Testament verse was Jesus quoting in Mark 12:10-11? How did the religious leaders react to the parable of the wicked vinedressers? How should we respond when we are convicted about something by the Holy Spirit? (John 16:8; Acts 17:30; Hebrews 4:12)
  3. Why did those trying to trap and arrest Jesus compliment Him in Mark 12:14? Was this compliment sincere? Why or why not?
  4. Jesus stated that the Sadducees did not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Why is it important that we know Scripture and understand the power of God?
  5. Why was Jesus so impressed with how much the poor widow gave in the collection box? (2 Samuel 24:24; 2 Corinthians 8:12)
  6. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Mark 12 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Mark 12:42-43

“And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning His disciples, He said to them, ‘I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury.’”

Jesus and the disciples were at the Temple treasury. Jesus watched as individuals dropped their money into thirteen trumpet-shaped chests used for the worshippers to place their freewill offerings. Jesus saw the rich people offering large sums of money, and He also saw a widow offering a small amount of two tiny coins. But Jesus saw more than people putting money into the treasury, He saw their hearts as they gave. Even though the amount the widow gave was physically worth very little, spiritually, the gift of her heart was greater than all the others.

Jesus had previously shared with the disciples that the greatest commandment was to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. The widow put this love of the Lord her God into action. As you give your money, time, or talent to the Lord, give from a place of loving Jesus with all you have. He doesn’t call you to give just because it’s a duty or a law. No, He wants you to give because of your love for Him. And because you love Jesus, you love others. Therefore, it is a joy to give with all you are and with all you have. Today, check your heart. Are you giving from a heart that loves Jesus or because you feel it’s your Christian duty?

“And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning His disciples, He said to them, ‘I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury.’”

—Mark 12:42-43

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Matthew 6:21 — “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
  • 2 Corinthians 8:1-3 — “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability.”
  • 2 Corinthians 9:7 — “Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.”