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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 12:1-11

Mark 12:1-11. He began to speak unto them by parables “Christ having showed the rulers, chief priests, and scribes, the heinousness of their sin, in rejecting John the Baptist, (Matthew 21:28-32,) judged it proper, likewise, publicly to represent the crime of the nation, in rejecting all the messengers of God from first to last, and among the rest his only-begotten Son; and in mis-improving the Mosaic dispensation, under which they lived. At the same time, he warned them plainly of their... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Mark 12:1-12

123. The wicked vineyard keepers (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-18)This parable pictures Israel as a vineyard, God as the owner of the vineyard, and the Jewish religious leaders as the tenants who looked after it. Just as the tenants beat and killed the servants whom the owner sent to them, so Israel’s leaders persecuted and killed God’s messengers, from Old Testament prophets to John the Baptist. Now they were about to reject God’s Son himself (Matthew 21:33-39). By rejecting him... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Mark 12:2

at the season. The fourth year after planting it; no profit till then. See Leviticus 19:23 , Leviticus 19:24 . to. Greek. pros. App-104 . servant = bond-servant. from. Greek. para. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Mark 12:25 , Mark 12:34 . of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 . Same word as in Mark 12:38 ; not the same as in Mark 12:44 . This shows that part of, or the whole rent was to be paid in kind. See note on "let it out", Matthew 21:33 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 12:2

And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruits of the vineyard.At the season ... stands for those particular times when God expected of Israel the fruits of true religion, most of all desiring that they should manifest some consciousness of their need for redemption. God, of course, expected such at all times; but upon special occasions when God sent prophets to Israel, that expectation was more urgent.A servant ... Cranfield... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 12:1-12

The parable of the wicked tenant farmers 12:1-12 (cf. Matthew 21:33-46; Luke 20:9-19)"The other major example of the concentric [chiastic] pattern in Mark’s story [beside Mark 2:1 to Mark 3:6] is the series of Jesus’ conflicts with the authorities in Jerusalem [ch. 12], comprised of seven episodes: Episodes A and A1 involve Jesus’ statement of judgment against the authorities (the riddle of the wicked tenants and the warning against the scribes). Episodes B and B1 include a quotation from the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 12:2-5

The harvest time stands for the time when God expected to obtain some reward for His investment in Israel. The servants represent the prophets whom Israel’s leaders typically rejected, persecuted, and even in some cases murdered. The main point of the parable is the wicked treatment Israel’s leaders had given the servants whom God had sent to them. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 12:1-44

Various Incidents and Discourses in the Temple1-12. The wicked husbandmen (Matthew 21:33; Luke 20:9). See on Mt.13-17. The tribute money (Matthew 22:15; Luke 20:20). See on Mt.18-27. The Sadducees and the Resurrection (Matthew 22:23; Luke 20:27). See on Mt. 26. In the bush] RV ’in the place’ (i.e. passage) ’concerning the bush.’28-34. The great commandment (Matthew 22:34). See on Mt.35-37. Is Christ the son of David (Matthew 22:41; Luke 20:41). See on Mt.38-40. Warning against the scribes (Luke... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Mark 12:1-12

XII.(1-12) And he began to speak unto them by parables.—See Notes on Matthew 21:33-36. The parable which, like that of the Sower, and like that only, is related in all the first three Gospels, was one which had obviously impressed itself strongly, as that had done, on the minds of those who heard it, and was reproduced by independent reporters with an almost textual exactness.A place for the winefat.—Better, simply, a vine vat. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Mark 12:2

(2) A servant.—The variations in the reports are, as has been said, few and slight, but it may as well be noted that St. Mark speaks of “one servant” having been sent, and then another, and another, and then many others, while St. Matthew divides them simply into two great groups. St. Mark, characteristically, seizes on the most vivid presentation of the facts. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Mark 12:1-44

Not Far From the Kingdom Mark 12:34 What became of this hopeful young lawyer I cannot tell. Whether he actually reached and entered the kingdom he was so near to, we are not informed. I. He was 'not far from the kingdom,' because he had begun to think seriously on religion. II. Because he had already begun to attach greater importance to the spirit than to the letter. III. Because he was sincerely desirous of acting up to the measure of light which he possessed. IV. Because he was amiable and... read more

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