Jesus shares this parable to reveal the persistent rejection of God’s messengers and ultimately of God’s own Son, yet also to proclaim God’s sovereign plan in exalting the rejected Savior as the cornerstone of His kingdom.
As Jesus continues teaching, He begins with these words: And He began to speak to them in parables: A man PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT, AND DUG A VAT UNDER THE WINE PRESS AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey (v. 1). This imagery calls to mind the care and foresight required to establish a vineyard, reminiscent of how God provided abundantly for His people Israel. The mention of a wall, a wine press, and a tower evokes the protective and purposeful measures set in place by the owner, who entrusts the care of the vineyard to others. In ancient Israel, vineyards were commonly found throughout the countryside, particularly in the fertile regions around Judea and Galilee. By the time of Jesus’ ministry (roughly AD 30-33), vine cultivation was a vital part of daily life.
The parable continues, At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, in order to receive some of the produce of the vineyard from the vine-growers (v. 2). Harvest marked a season of gathering what has been nurtured and cultivated. The owner seeking produce from his tenants symbolizes God expecting righteous fruit from His people. This sets the stage for the conflict: will the tenants honor their agreement with the landowner who gave them everything they needed to thrive?
Next, They took him, and beat him and sent him away empty-handed (v. 3). Instead of rendering the expected produce, the tenants mistreat the slave. Jesus employs this harsh treatment to depict the rebellion and disrespect that God’s messengers often met throughout Biblical history. Prophets—like Elijah (active in 9th century BC), Isaiah (active in 8th century BC), and Jeremiah (active around late 7th to early 6th century BC)—frequently faced rejection and violence from Israel, foreshadowing what would happen next in the parable.
Then, Again he sent them another slave, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully (v. 4). The escalation of violence underscores the tenants’ heightened resistance. Each envoy is sent under the authority of the vineyard owner, revealing how God persistently reaches out to His people through multiple warnings and exhortations, only to be rebuffed time after time.
Again, he sent another, and that one they killed; and so with many others, beating some and killing others (v. 5). Here, the pattern of hostility culminates in death. The parable highlights a systemic refusal to yield to the rightful authority of the landowner, alluding to how prophets and other godly messengers repeatedly suffered in Israel’s history. The escalation exposes the willful rebellion of the tenants and readies the audience for the final, pivotal moment.
Finally, Hehad one more to send, a beloved son; he sent him last of all to them, saying, They will respect my son (v. 6). The landowner’s beloved son represents the crowning effort to bring the tenants to repentance. By identifying Himself as the beloved Son, Jesus makes a bold claim of familial connection to the heavenly Father.
Greedily, those vine-growers said to one another, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours! (v. 7). Seized by selfish ambition, the tenants refuse any sense of grateful duty toward the rightful owner. Instead, they plot to seize more than what was ever theirs by eliminating the only legitimate heir. This is a direct parallel to the scribes and chief priests of Jesus’ day, who conspired to kill Him out of jealousy and fear of losing their authority (see John 11:47-53John 11:47-53 commentary).
They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard (v. 8). The brutality here reflects the ultimate rejection aimed at the beloved Son Himself. Much like the religious leaders delivered Jesus to be crucified outside the city walls (see Hebrews 13:12Hebrews 13:12 commentary), this also symbolizes the height of rebellion against God’s gracious outreach. The parable intensifies the listeners’ sense that justice must come in response to so grievous a crime.
Jesus then asks a question and answers it, What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others (v. 9). Jesus poses this question to lead His audience to its sobering climax. The rightful owner is not indifferent. While God is abundantly patient, He will bring judgment on those who constantly reject Him. Yet amid this judgment is the message of hope: the vineyard will be given to others—a picture of God entrusting His kingdom to those who will bear fruit (see Acts 13:46Acts 13:46 commentary).
Jesus then points out a prophecy that the Jewish religious leaders would have been well acquainted with, "Have you not even read this Scripture: THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone" (v. 10). This direct citation is from Psalm 118Psalm 118 commentary (written centuries before Jesus was born) and proclaims that the rejected stone—Jesus—is actually the key foundation. The mention of “builders” represents those entrusted to lead God’s people, but who were blinded to the true Messiah. Through Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation, God establishes Him as the cornerstone of salvation (Ephesians 2:20Ephesians 2:20 commentary).
THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES (v. 11). Despite the sinister plans of human beings, God’s overarching purpose triumphs. The Son, cast aside and murdered, rises to be the triumphant cornerstone of the community of faith. Truly, it is a marvelous and awe-inspiring work of God that the darkest deed of humanity is transformed into the basis of redemption for all who believe.
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Mark 12:1-11 meaning
As Jesus continues teaching, He begins with these words: And He began to speak to them in parables: A man PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT, AND DUG A VAT UNDER THE WINE PRESS AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey (v. 1). This imagery calls to mind the care and foresight required to establish a vineyard, reminiscent of how God provided abundantly for His people Israel. The mention of a wall, a wine press, and a tower evokes the protective and purposeful measures set in place by the owner, who entrusts the care of the vineyard to others. In ancient Israel, vineyards were commonly found throughout the countryside, particularly in the fertile regions around Judea and Galilee. By the time of Jesus’ ministry (roughly AD 30-33), vine cultivation was a vital part of daily life.
The parable continues, At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, in order to receive some of the produce of the vineyard from the vine-growers (v. 2). Harvest marked a season of gathering what has been nurtured and cultivated. The owner seeking produce from his tenants symbolizes God expecting righteous fruit from His people. This sets the stage for the conflict: will the tenants honor their agreement with the landowner who gave them everything they needed to thrive?
Next, They took him, and beat him and sent him away empty-handed (v. 3). Instead of rendering the expected produce, the tenants mistreat the slave. Jesus employs this harsh treatment to depict the rebellion and disrespect that God’s messengers often met throughout Biblical history. Prophets—like Elijah (active in 9th century BC), Isaiah (active in 8th century BC), and Jeremiah (active around late 7th to early 6th century BC)—frequently faced rejection and violence from Israel, foreshadowing what would happen next in the parable.
Then, Again he sent them another slave, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully (v. 4). The escalation of violence underscores the tenants’ heightened resistance. Each envoy is sent under the authority of the vineyard owner, revealing how God persistently reaches out to His people through multiple warnings and exhortations, only to be rebuffed time after time.
Again, he sent another, and that one they killed; and so with many others, beating some and killing others (v. 5). Here, the pattern of hostility culminates in death. The parable highlights a systemic refusal to yield to the rightful authority of the landowner, alluding to how prophets and other godly messengers repeatedly suffered in Israel’s history. The escalation exposes the willful rebellion of the tenants and readies the audience for the final, pivotal moment.
Finally, He had one more to send, a beloved son; he sent him last of all to them, saying, They will respect my son (v. 6). The landowner’s beloved son represents the crowning effort to bring the tenants to repentance. By identifying Himself as the beloved Son, Jesus makes a bold claim of familial connection to the heavenly Father.
Greedily, those vine-growers said to one another, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours! (v. 7). Seized by selfish ambition, the tenants refuse any sense of grateful duty toward the rightful owner. Instead, they plot to seize more than what was ever theirs by eliminating the only legitimate heir. This is a direct parallel to the scribes and chief priests of Jesus’ day, who conspired to kill Him out of jealousy and fear of losing their authority (see John 11:47-53John 11:47-53 commentary).
They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard (v. 8). The brutality here reflects the ultimate rejection aimed at the beloved Son Himself. Much like the religious leaders delivered Jesus to be crucified outside the city walls (see Hebrews 13:12Hebrews 13:12 commentary), this also symbolizes the height of rebellion against God’s gracious outreach. The parable intensifies the listeners’ sense that justice must come in response to so grievous a crime.
Jesus then asks a question and answers it, What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others (v. 9). Jesus poses this question to lead His audience to its sobering climax. The rightful owner is not indifferent. While God is abundantly patient, He will bring judgment on those who constantly reject Him. Yet amid this judgment is the message of hope: the vineyard will be given to others—a picture of God entrusting His kingdom to those who will bear fruit (see Acts 13:46Acts 13:46 commentary).
Jesus then points out a prophecy that the Jewish religious leaders would have been well acquainted with, "Have you not even read this Scripture: THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone" (v. 10). This direct citation is from Psalm 118Psalm 118 commentary (written centuries before Jesus was born) and proclaims that the rejected stone—Jesus—is actually the key foundation. The mention of “builders” represents those entrusted to lead God’s people, but who were blinded to the true Messiah. Through Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation, God establishes Him as the cornerstone of salvation (Ephesians 2:20Ephesians 2:20 commentary).
THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES (v. 11). Despite the sinister plans of human beings, God’s overarching purpose triumphs. The Son, cast aside and murdered, rises to be the triumphant cornerstone of the community of faith. Truly, it is a marvelous and awe-inspiring work of God that the darkest deed of humanity is transformed into the basis of redemption for all who believe.