Mark 12 12

Mark 12:12 kjv

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.

Mark 12:12 nkjv

And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

Mark 12:12 niv

Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

Mark 12:12 esv

And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.

Mark 12:12 nlt

The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story against them ? they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 12 Meaning

Mark 12:12 describes the immediate, hostile reaction of the chief priests, scribes, and elders (the religious authorities addressed in the parable) to Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants. They clearly understood that Jesus had spoken this challenging allegory, with its implied judgment, directly against them, revealing their rejection of God's messengers and Son. Their intention was to seize Jesus immediately, but this intention was overridden by their fear of the large crowd who held Jesus in high regard. Consequently, they postponed their direct confrontation, leaving Him for the time being.

Mark 12 12 Context

Mark 12:12 is the culmination of Jesus' interaction with the religious authorities in the temple, specifically following His parable of the wicked tenants (Mark 12:1-11). Jesus had just exposed their failure as the spiritual stewards of Israel, symbolized by the vineyard, and their rejection and murder of God's messengers (the prophets), culminating in their planned rejection and murder of God's beloved Son (Jesus Himself). The parable explicitly incorporates a prophecy from Psalm 118 concerning the "rejected stone becoming the cornerstone," directly pointing to Jesus' unique identity and ultimate triumph despite their hostility. The historical context reveals that these leaders, while powerful, operated under Roman oversight and keenly valued public opinion to maintain their influence and prevent Roman intervention. Jesus' direct challenge in the temple, in full view and hearing of the people, therefore provoked a visceral reaction that mixed seething hatred with political caution. Their understanding of the parable's implication was complete; Jesus had launched a direct polemic against their leadership, their self-righteousness, and their ultimate culpability in resisting God's redemptive plan.

Mark 12 12 Word analysis

• And they sought (Καὶ ἐζήτουν - Kai ezētoun):
  • Kai: "And," indicating continuity from the parable.
  • ezētoun: Imperfect active indicative of ζητέω (zēteō), "to seek, endeavor, demand." The imperfect tense suggests an ongoing, persistent desire or immediate intent forming in their minds to act upon it. It conveys their active, almost visceral reaction.
• to seize him (αὐτὸν κρατῆσαι - auton kratēsai):
  • auton: "him" (referring to Jesus).
  • kratēsai: Aorist active infinitive of κρατέω (krateō), "to seize, grasp, take hold of, gain control over, apprehend." It signifies a decisive act of taking by force or authority, implying arrest or violence. This was their immediate, vengeful goal.
• but feared (ἐφοβήθησαν - ephobēthēsan):
  • ephobēthēsan: Aorist passive indicative of φοβέω (phobeō), "to fear, be afraid." This indicates a completed action in the past: their fear gripped them. It contrasts sharply with their intent to seize Jesus, revealing a stronger, inhibiting force.
• the crowd (τὸν ὄχλον - ton ochlon):
  • ton ochlon: "the multitude, throng, common people." The singular article emphasizes the collective body. Their fear was not of divine judgment, but of human reaction and potential uprising. This highlights their concern for human approval and earthly power over divine truth.
• for they perceived (γὰρ ἔγνωσαν - gar egnōsan):
  • gar: "for," providing the reason for their fear and delayed action.
  • egnōsan: Aorist active indicative of γινώσκω (ginōskō), "to know, perceive, understand fully, recognize." The aorist indicates a definitive, clear recognition. They didn't just guess; they fully grasped the implication of Jesus' words.
• that he had spoken (ὅτι πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὴν παραβολὴν εἶπεν - hoti pros autous tēn parabolēn eipen):
  • hoti: "that," introducing a subordinate clause.
  • pros autous: "against them, concerning them, towards them." This phrase emphatically clarifies the direct target of the parable.
  • tēn parabolēn: "the parable," referring to the one just told.
  • eipen: Aorist active indicative of λέγω (legō), "to say, speak." It means He "said" or "spoke" the parable. Their perception was precisely accurate.
• So they left him and went away (καὶ ἀφέντες αὐτὸν ἀπῆλθον - kai aphentes auton apēlthon):
  • kai: "And," indicating a consequence.
  • aphentes: Aorist active participle of ἀφίημι (aphiēmi), "to let go, leave, dismiss." It signifies the act of abandoning their immediate intent concerning Jesus.
  • auton: "him."
  • apēlthon: Aorist active indicative of ἀπέρχομαι (aperchomai), "to go away, depart." This denotes their immediate withdrawal from the scene. They were forced to retreat, though their hostile intentions remained.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they sought to seize him, but feared the crowd": This phrase succinctly captures the central conflict: their murderous intent contrasted with their immediate, overriding political pragmatism. Their actions were not governed by conscience or the fear of God, but by the pragmatic fear of popular disapproval and potential uprising against them. This illustrates a key aspect of their leadership – power preservation.
• "for they perceived that he had spoken the parable against them": This clarifies the specific cause of their seeking to seize Him and their fear. Their understanding was intellectually sharp; they recognized themselves as the "wicked tenants" and Jesus as the "son." The parable, meant to be revelatory, confirmed their hardness of heart, moving them from challenged to further hardened in their opposition. This perception of being directly challenged explains their seething rage, not a move towards repentance.

Mark 12 12 Bonus section

The verse underscores the tragic irony that those entrusted with leading God's people clearly understood God's message and the identity of His Son, yet this understanding solidified their rejection rather than prompting a saving response. Their gnosis (knowledge/perception) of Jesus' target in the parable deepened their animosity, setting them on an irreversible path towards rejecting their Messiah. This highlights a critical truth: knowing intellectual truths about God and His Christ without spiritual transformation leads to greater condemnation, especially for those in positions of spiritual authority. It reveals the blindness that comes from loving honor from men more than the honor from God.

Mark 12 12 Commentary

Mark 12:12 provides a stark glimpse into the hardened hearts of the religious leaders. Jesus' powerful parable, drawing on prophetic imagery and ultimately pointing to Himself as God's final messenger and beloved Son, struck directly at their conscience and authority. Their immediate desire "to seize him" demonstrates their full comprehension of the parable's polemical thrust—it was unmistakably "against them." This accurate perception, however, did not lead to repentance but to escalated enmity, confirming their status as the very "wicked tenants" and "rejecting builders" in Jesus' narrative. The only immediate deterrent was their "fear of the crowd." This reveals a leadership more concerned with popular opinion and the maintenance of their earthly power and status than with divine truth or accountability. Their human fear temporarily constrained their murderous intentions, yet it did not alter their internal resolve. They postponed their action, not abandoned it, demonstrating their hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy, laying the groundwork for the future plot to capture Jesus subtly away from the crowds.