COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 126
“ Mark 12:1 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. 2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 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. 5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.”
(Mark 12:1-5; Matthew 21:33-36; Luke 20:9-12)
JESUS BEGINS TO SPEAK IN PARABLES
INTRODUCTION
As Jesus prepares to give Himself as a ransom for many, He is confronted with the spiritual dulness of the people. First, the children have outdone the adults in receiving Him. Secondly, He has confronted merchandising in the Temple, and has driven the offenders and their goods from the premises. Third, he has been faced with pretentious religious officials who have challenged His authority. During this time He has even beheld a leafy fig tree that had no fruit for Him when he was hungry. These are hardly circumstances that would encourage Him to give up His life for that nation, and other sheep who were not of them. Yet, He proceeds deliberately toward the fulfillment of the Father’s commandment to lay down His life and take it up again. Here He lives out the great principle of the Kingdom, which is doing the Father’s will regardless of the circumstances, and even when appearance does not justify the doing of it. Jesus lived His life with his Father in mind, not the responses of the people. That is the only proper way to live in this world. Should we become occupied with appearance, there will be too many discouragements. Now Jesus begins to speak to the people in parables that reflect the real situation. Even though this is a high feast day, and Jews have come from all over the world to observe it, yet the stench of spiritual death was rising from the carcass of Jerusalem. There was a lot of religious activity, but there was very little substance in it. The next few days would confirm how hard-hearted the people were – particularly their leaders.
A VINEYARD PLANTED, HEDGED, AND FULLY PROVIDED FOR
“ Mark 12:1 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.”
Keep in mind, these are the last few days of Jesus’ ministry. This time will consummate in His death for the sins of the world. That will be a time when He will fulfill the commandment delivered to Him by the Father – to lay down His life and take it up again (John 10:17-18). In these last days, Jesus does a lot of speaking. He addressed a rich young ruler (Mk 10:18-21), the Pharisees (Mk 10:2-10), and the chief priests and scribes (Mk 11:27-33). He also teaches His disciples (Mk 10:10-12, 14-16, 23-27, 33–34, 42-45; 11:22-26). He even took time to heal the blind and lame who came to Him in the Temple (Matt 21:14).
The versatility of Jesus exposes us to the Divine nature, and the manner in which Kingdom matters are addressed. Jesus is obeying the Father – fulfilling what He has been given to do. But behold what activities are associated with that obedience! This is a sterling example of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Obedience is accomplished within the framework of Kingdom activity, an acute consciousness of God, and addressing life with the wisdom of God.
HE BEGAN TO SPEAK IN PARABLES. Remember, Jesus is walking about in the Temple complex (Mk 11:27). People are clustered about Him, moving along wherever He went. Now He will speak to the people “in parables.” These are parallels of truth in the natural order. However, the parallel is not obvious to the hearer, which is the unique thing about a parable. Jesus said parables concealed the truth (Matt 13:13). The only way they could be understood is for men to inquire concerning their meaning. They were actually a means of drawing out honest and good hearts. So far as the record is concerned, Jesus’ disciples are the only ones who ever asked Him to explain a parable (Mk 4:10; 7:17; Lk 8:9). It is also written, “But without a parable spake He not unto them: and when they were alone, He expounded all things to His disciples” (Mark 4:34). Jesus also said He spoke in parables to the multitudes because it was “not given” them to understand. The reason He said He explained them to his disciples is “because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom” (Mk 4:11). Here is an aspect of Jesus with which leaders who neglect feeding the flock of God will be faced on the day of judgment. They will give an account of ignoring this matter.
A CERTAIN MAN PLANTED A VINEYARD. Jesus delivers this parable in view of Jerusalem’s rejection of Him, and the consequent judgment that would come upon them (Lk 19:42-44). This confirms that anyone who is exposed to the truth of Christ must take the matter seriously. The fact that the truth was placed before them makes them responsible for receiving it, and they will be so judged.
In His parable, Jesus states that a vineyard was planted. It was protected by a hedge, or wall, which kept out intruders, and allowed for the safety of the planting of the Lord. He also dug a winepress, where the grapes could be pressed, and the wine harvested from them. He also built a watchtower, so that imminent danger would be detected, and the crop protected. He then rented the vineyard to caretakers to tend it and harvest the grapes, while he himself went into as far country, removed from his own vineyard.
There are several things to be noted here. First, the vineyard had its origin with its owner. Second, there was adequate provision for protection. Third, there was provision for handling the harvest. Fourth, there was provision for the detection of coming danger. It ought to be observed that these are characteristic of the work of the Lord. If the work of God is successfully assaulted, it is not because there was no protection. If the fruit is not gathered and processed, it is not because there were not means to do it. If danger comes unexpectedly, and pollution enters in undetected, it is not because there was not provision for warning.
In this parable, those who are familiar with the Prophets will at once recall what is intended by these words. There are three prophetic references to Israel as a vine or vineyard. These are in Christ’s mind as He speaks. The deplorable condition of Israel will be confirmed by their rejection of Jesus, His betrayal, and them delivering Him to be crucified.
Psalm 80:8-16 likens Israel to vine “brought out of Egypt.” It was brought to a land from which the heathen were expelled, and there caused to take “deep root,” flourish, and fill the land. Yet, God visited the vine and broke down its hedges, exposing it to danger.
Isaiah 5:1-4 likens Israel to a vineyard planted in a “very fruitful hill.” A fence was put around it, the stones were gathered out, a tower was built, and a winepress put in place. Yet, even though it started as “the choicest vine,” it yielded “wild grapes.”
Jeremiah 2:21 likens Israel as a nation planted “a noble vine, wholly a right seed.” It had a wonderful beginning, and expectations were high. Yet this vine “turned into a degenerate vine” unto the Lord. Thus Israel was given every advantage, yet yielded miserable results.
THE TIME OF FRUIT ARRIVES
“ 2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.”
Jesus is going to confirm that more is involved in God finishing the work than meets the eye of carnal men. Although it may seem to contradict the theology of some, everything that had a Divine beginning does not end well. Just a little thought will yield several examples: Satan, his angels, Adam, Eve, Cain, Saul, Solomon, Judas, Phygellus and Hermogenes, and Demas – to name a few. Israel is a particular example of not becoming what God expected. That expectation was not a mere wish. Full provision was made for the realization of a holy anticipation.
God’s dealings with men are being wrought out in a moral arena – that is, a realm where there are competing influences. There are contradicting appeals made to men by opposing forces. In this kind of environment, the people cannot detach themselves from the will of their Maker by imagining He is going to work favorably in them without their involvement. While there is some element of mystery in all of this, the mystery itself is designed to discover those with honest and good hearts, and those whose hearts are corrupt.
The nature of people, as well as the outcome of all things, is fully known to the Lord. However, God is displaying His wisdom to a gallery of witnesses – namely “principalities and powers in heavenly places” (Eph 3:10). In addition to these, there are also “the spirits of just men made perfect” who are also privy to Divine workings (Rev 6:9-11). At the bottom of the hierarchy of witnesses are the saints on earth who are given to behold the working of the Lord and conclude, “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psa 118:23). In view of this rather complex circumstance, we cannot afford to adopt a simplistic theology.
THE SEASON. Matthew says, “when the time of the fruit drew near” (Matt 21:33). There came a time when fruit was expected from the vineyard – “the season.” The vine had been in the soil long enough to produce some fruit, for that was the purpose for planting it in the first place. God does not plant to produce a mere spectacle for the eye. In an institutional setting, there is little understanding about “the season” when fruit is expected. In every natural realm, “fruit” is associated with growth, maturity, and seasons. But in an institutional religious setting, no such associations are made, and fruit is not really expected. Here, however, Jesus reveals that there does come a time when fruit is intended to be found. He has already confirmed the Divine reaction to a lack of fruit in the cursing of the fig tree.
One “fruit” that is rarely mentioned these days is teaching. Yet, God has spoken to this subject. The book of Hebrews was written to retrogressing Christians who, like the Galatians, were leaning toward Law. In their backward propensity, they were found in the time of fruit bearing, yet were barren like the fig tree Jesus cursed. Thus they were told, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Heb 5:12). Paul also alluded to this time when writing to the Corinthians. “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (1 Cor 14:20). Again, he spoke of the time of spiritual maturity, likening it to the cycles of natural life. “when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor 13:11).
The besetting sin of the Gentile church is its perpetual juvenility. It is not able to discern either sound or corrupt doctrine. God takes due note of this condition, and the time will come when He will deal with it forthrightly. Such a state is deliberate, and out of keeping with the nature of spiritual life. However, before God deals with it, He sends His servants.
HE SENT A SERVANT. The purpose of the servant was to receive from the keeper of the vineyard the fruit that was expected from it. After Israel had been planted in the promised land, God sent His servants to direct the people, and to gather some fruit when it was due. Samuel was one of the first prophets sent to gather fruit from Israel. He was a noble man, and a good teacher, able to declare unto them “the manner of the kingdom” (1 Sam 10:25). Yet the people finally rejected him, preferring to have a king like other nations (1 Sam 8:4-7).
David was another “servant,” sent to gather the fruit from God’s vineyard. Five times during his lifetime, God referred to “My servant David” (2 Sam 3:18; 7:5,8; 1 Kgs 14:8; 1 Chron 17:7). His Psalms are filled with exhortations for the people to give thanks to God, praise Him, and give Him glory (Psa 22:23; 107:32; 117:1; 135:1; 150:1-6). He established a framework for insightful praise in the worship of the Lord (1 Chron 5:16-24; 23:5; 2 Chron 7:6; 2 Chron 29;26-27). Yet, when times were hard, the people rebelled against David (2 Sam 19:9). They even allowed Absalom, a rebel, to steal their hearts (2 Sam 15:6). Here was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22). David became king nearly 400 years after Israel had taken the land of Canaan. It was certainly time for some fruit to be gathered from this nation. However, Israel was not noted for being godly or spiritual during his reign – even though He was a prophet.
A SECOND AND THIRD EFFORT TO GATHER THE FRUIT
“ 4 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. 5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.”
Now Jesus refers to the long period between David and the coming of John the Baptist. At sundry times and in divers manners, God spoke “in time past unto the fathers by the prophets” (Heb 1:1). These were times when fruit was sought. The prophets even rebuked and exhorted the people in a concerted effort for fruit to be produced from this “planting of the Lord.”
HE SENT ANOTHER SERVANT . . . AND AGAIN HE SENT ANOTHER. The prophets themselves made a point of the repeated sending of the prophets to the people. Early in their history it is said, “Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets” (2 Kgs17:13). As time continued to progress, God sent them more prophets, for the time for them to bear fruit had come. “Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear”(2 Chr 24:19).
The prophets were always sent in a timely manner – at “the season,” so to speak, or “when the time of the fruit drew near.” They came early enough to ensure that it was possible for A harvest to be realized by the Owner of the vineyard. In fact, a point is made of this in Scripture.
“Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them”(Jer 7:25). Six times Jeremiah refers to God “rising up early” and sending the prophets (Jer 7:13,25; 26:5; 29:19; 32:33; 35:15). The Owner was certainly faithful in providing for a good harvest from the vineyard.
WOUNDED, SHAMEFULLY HANDLED, BEATING, AND KILLING. What tragic words these are to read! God’s own servants wounded “in the head,” treated “shamefully,” struck repeatedly, and even killed. This was all done by the ones who were left in charge of the vineyard – the stewards of God! Matthew reads, “And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another” (Matt 21:35).
During the days of Jeremiah it was written, “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy” (2 Chron 36:16). Jeremiah told the people, “your own sword hath devoured your prophets” (Jer 2:30). Amos rebuked the people because after God had raised up prophets and Nazarites among them, they “gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not” (Amos 2:11-12).
Jeremiah was “shamefully treated” when he was thrown into a pit, and sunk down into its mire (Jer 38:6). When Zechariah prophesied against the people, they stoned him to death “in the court of the house of the Lord” (2 Chron 24:21).
Jesus chided the scribes and Pharisees for their hard-heartedness, telling them it was going to continue and be evidenced by the further rejection of God’s messengers. “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city” (Mat 23:34). He also addressed Jerusalem, calling attention to its consistent rejection of the prophets: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto Thee” (Matt 23:37). Paul says the Jews, “killed . . . their own prophets” (1 Thess 2:15).
These people were aggressive in their opposition to the prophets. In this parable, Jesus portrayed this rejection in a most vivid manner: “they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty . . . at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled . . . and him they killed, and many others; beating some and killing some.” Matthew says they “took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another” (Matt 21:35). Luke also has them beating the servants, sending them away empty, treating them shamefully, wounding, and casting them out (Lk 20:10-12).
None of these things can be done accidently or inadvertently. They can only be done deliberately and with aggressiveness. Such reactions are not the result of mere misunderstanding. Rather, they are the result of a stubborn refusal to hear the word of the Lord. They are driven by hardheartedness, and a love for what God hates. No person who rejects and opposes the servants of the Lord is treated as though he was innocent, or naive, or simply because they did not understand. Israel was sent into captivity because of their rebellion (1 Chron 6:15). God testified to the world concerning His judgment of the ancient people of Israel, “Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto My words, nor to My law, but rejected it” (Jer 6:19).
The gravity of their sin is why Jesus is speaking this parable. He will show them that under any other circumstances, they could see such a reaction to good expectation was wrong.