Mark 12:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.

NIV: So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

NASB: And they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

CSB: So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

NLT: So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard.

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

NKJV: So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

The Jewish leaders have asked Jesus who gave Him authority to toss over the tables used by the money changers and merchants in the temple courtyard. Jesus responds with a parable that goes much deeper than their original question.

It's not a question of which earthly authority empowered Jesus. It's not even about which earthly authority gave the chief priests, scribes, and Jerusalem elders authority to hold their positions. All their authority is granted by God according to His instruction. The priests are to perform their duties according to the Mosaic law. The scribes are to explain what the law means. The elders are to apply the Law to day-to-day situations. But like the second son in Jesus' prior parable (Matthew 21:28–32), they promise to obey God and then don't.

Jesus has made the point that He is there to do His Father's will (John 6:38), up to and including dying on a cross (Mark 14:36). The issue isn't a matter of who grants the authority given to Jesus and the others but who is obeying that authority. We can't injure God directly. We can't physically harm Him or take from His glory and sovereignty. He is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Although we can refuse to acknowledge His majesty, we can't take away from it. We can injure His representatives. In the Old Testament, those who refused to respect God showed their disrespect by harming God's emissaries—His prophets. In the New Testament, they kill His Son.

The religious and civil leaders kill Jesus because they don't want to give up the corrupted version of Judaism which they created: one that gives them power and authority God never intended. They don't realize that by rejecting God's authority, they are also rejecting God's protection. Within forty years of this incident, Jerusalem will be destroyed, Judaism will be in exile, and God will give the job of serving and worshiping Him to others (Mark 12:9).

Mark 12:1–12 takes place days before the crucifixion, while Jesus is in the temple courtyard, teaching. Chief priests, elders, and scribes—representatives of the Sanhedrin—have demanded to know the source of Jesus' authority to cleanse the Temple (Mark 11:27–28, 15–19). After exposing their hypocrisy, Jesus tells at least three additional stories that show how God will replace falsely-pious religious leaders with sinners who truly follow Him (Matthew 21:28—22:14). The second of these three stories is recorded here, in Matthew 21:33–46, and in Luke 20:9–19.

This chapter contains lessons taught by Jesus in various circumstances. He explains the eventual destruction of traditional Judaism, the relationship between secular and sacred obligations, the nature of the resurrection, and the most important of God's commandments. Jesus also expounds on Messianic statements in the Old Testament. Jesus also condemns the glory-seeking shallowness of the scribes, and extolls the virtues of sincere, faith-based giving.

Days before, Jesus has entered Jerusalem, hailed as a hero by the people (Mark 11:1–11). While teaching in the temple courtyard, Jesus shows superior understanding of Scripture over the chief priests, scribes, and elders (Mark 12:27–33), the Pharisees and Herodians (Mark 12:13), the Sadducees (Mark 12:18), and the scribes again (Mark 12:35, 38). Sadly, even in the instance where a scribe does understand Scripture, that is no guarantee he will follow it to its logical conclusion: Jesus (Mark 12:28–34). In contrast, a humble widow exemplifies the faithfulness and piety the leaders lack (Mark 12:41–44). Jesus leaves the temple for the last time to teach the disciples on the Mount of Olives (Mark 13). In Mark 14, He prepares for the crucifixion.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.