Mark 12:7
But those husbandmen said amongst themselues, This is the heire, come, let vs kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. Mark 12:7 (KJV)
Mark 12:7 (KJV) records a line from the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, also called the Parable of the Tenants. This parable teaches about the rejection of God’s messengers and the severe consequences of disobedience.
The full parable (Mark 12:1‑12, KJV) reads: “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. 6 Having yet therefore one son, his well‑beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8 And they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen and will give the vineyard unto others. 10 And have ye not read this scripture: The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: 11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people, for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them. And they left him and went their way.”
In the illustration, the man who planted the vineyard represents God, while the vineyard symbolizes the people of Israel. The hedge, winefat, and tower signify the protection, abundance, and security that God provided for His people. The husbandmen are the religious leaders entrusted with the care of the vineyard and the spiritual welfare of the nation.
The owner’s servants stand for the prophets whom God sent repeatedly to call the people to righteousness. Each servant is mistreated, beaten, or killed by the wicked husbandmen, reflecting the historical rejection of God’s messengers throughout Israel’s history.
When the owner finally sends his beloved son, the expectation is that the husbandmen will honor him. Instead, they conspire to kill the son, believing that by eliminating him they will seize the inheritance. This plot mirrors the rejection of Jesus by the religious authorities during His earthly ministry. They recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and feared that His influence would undermine their authority and control over the people, leading them to conspire to have Him crucified.
Jesus then asks the listeners what the owner of the vineyard will do to the wicked tenants. The crowd answers that the owner will come, destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. This response points to the judgment that will fall on the unfaithful leaders and the subsequent opening of God’s blessings to the Gentiles.
In summary, Mark 12:7, within the context of the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, illustrates the rejection of God’s messengers and ultimately the rejection of Jesus Christ by Israel’s leaders. It warns of the severe consequences of disobedience, emphasizes the transfer of God’s plan and blessings to those who accept Christ, and encourages believers to recognize Jesus as the cornerstone of their lives, to faithfully respond to God’s messengers, and to bear the fruits of righteousness and obedience. The passage reminds us that human resistance cannot thwart God’s purpose; His will ultimately prevails.
