Mark 12:6
Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
Mark 12:6 (KJV)
Context
This verse belongs to Jesus’ parable of the wicked husbandmen, recorded in Mark 12:1-12. In the parable, a man plants a vineyard, leases it to tenants, and goes into a far country. At harvest time he sends a servant to collect fruit, but the tenants beat him and send him away empty. He sends other servants; some they wound, some they kill. Finally, he has one remaining person to send: his beloved son.
The immediate preceding line records that the tenants killed another servant, and many others were beaten or killed. The following line records the tenants’ reaction: “But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.” Together, these lines place Mark 12:6 within its immediate sequence, showing the escalating rejection and the father’s final, decisive action.
Meaning
The verse centres on the father’s sending of “one son, his wellbeloved.” The word “wellbeloved” (Greek, agapētos) emphasizes the son’s unique and cherished place in the father’s heart. The father’s expectation, “They will reverence my son,” expresses a hope that the tenants will honour the son because of who he is. The son is not merely another servant; he is the heir, the one who stands in a unique relationship to the father.
In the parable, the son represents the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God the Father. God declared Him to be His beloved Son at His baptism and at His transfiguration. The father’s sending of his son “last” underscores that this is the final and greatest messenger; after this, no other will be sent. The expectation of reverence contrasts sharply with the rejection that follows, as the tenants plot to kill the heir and seize the inheritance.
Biblical connections
The parable directly foreshadows the rejection and crucifixion of Christ by the religious leaders. The tenants’ plot in Mark 12:7-8 parallels the Jewish leaders’ rejection of Jesus, who is the heir of all things. The vineyard imagery recalls Isaiah 5:1-7, where Israel is depicted as God’s vineyard, and the servants sent by the owner represent the prophets whom Israel rejected. The sending of the son is the climax of God’s patient dealings with His people, and the rejection of the son brings judgment and the transfer of the vineyard to others.
Application
The verse calls readers to consider how they respond to God’s Son. The father’s expectation that the son would be reverenced highlights the honour due to Christ. Rejection of the Son is not merely a historical event; it is a present danger for all who hear the gospel. The parable warns that those who reject the Son will face judgment, while those who honour Him receive the inheritance. It also reveals the depth of God’s love: He gave His beloved Son, even knowing the rejection He would face. This should lead to trust, obedience, and worship of Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of God.
Reflection
The father’s patient sending of servant after servant, and finally his son, reveals God’s long-suffering mercy. Yet the rejection of the son brings the matter to a decisive point. The question for every reader is whether they will reverence the Son or join the tenants in rejecting Him. The verse invites self-examination: do we honour Christ as the beloved Son of God, or do we treat Him as merely another messenger? The parable ends with the stone that the builders rejected becoming the head of the corner, a reminder that God’s purposes are fulfilled even through human rejection.
