Mark 12 2

Mark 12:2 kjv

And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

Mark 12:2 nkjv

Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.

Mark 12:2 niv

At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.

Mark 12:2 esv

When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.

Mark 12:2 nlt

At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop.

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 2 Meaning

Mark 12:2 is a verse within the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, spoken by Jesus. It describes the owner of a vineyard sending a servant at the appointed time to collect his rightful share of the harvest from the tenant farmers, the "husbandmen." This act represents God, the vineyard owner, repeatedly sending His prophets to Israel, represented by the vineyard and its produce, to call for repentance and righteous living from its spiritual leaders, the husbandmen. The expected "fruit" symbolizes the spiritual obedience and faithfulness due to God.

Mark 12 2 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Mk 12:1-12), spoken directly after He challenged the authority of the chief priests, scribes, and elders in the Temple courts (Mk 11:27-33). The parable is Jesus' answer and a severe condemnation of the Jewish religious leaders who had rejected God's past messengers (the prophets) and were about to reject His Son. The setting is the last week of Jesus' life in Jerusalem, highlighting the direct confrontation between Jesus and the established religious authority. Historically, tenants failing to render a share of crops was a common dispute, but here it escalates to violence against the owner's representatives. Culturally, the vineyard image immediately evoked Israel in the minds of Jewish listeners due to Old Testament prophecies (e.g., Isa 5:1-7). The expectation of "fruit" was a powerful metaphor for righteous living and obedience that God required from His covenant people.

Mark 12 2 Word analysis

• And (Καί, Kai): Connects the owner's action to the preceding setting of the vineyard. It marks the progression of the parable.
• at the season (τῷ καιρῷ, tō kairō): Greek kairos denotes an opportune, fitting, or appointed time, not merely chronological time (chronos). This implies that the owner's request was not arbitrary but came at the expected time for the harvest, when the "fruit" was due. For God, this signifies a moment of accountability or judgment, a divine appointed time.
• he sent (ἀπέστειλεν, apesteilen): The verb apostellō signifies a deliberate sending, often with a specific mission or authority. This highlights the owner's (God's) initiative and continued patience in trying to obtain His rightful due.
• to the husbandmen (πρὸς τοὺς γεωργούς, pros tous geōrgous): The tenant farmers, those entrusted with the care of the vineyard. In the parable, they represent the Jewish religious leaders and, by extension, the people of Israel whom they were supposed to lead.
• a servant (δοῦλον, doulon): Singular, "a slave" or "a servant." This servant is the first of several messengers sent by the owner. The servants allegorically represent the Old Testament prophets whom God sent to Israel to call for repentance and faithfulness.
• that he might receive (ἵνα λάβῃ, hina labē): A purpose clause. The owner's specific objective for sending the servant. It was to take what was his, highlighting his legal right to the "fruit." This emphasizes the owner's rightful claim.
• from the husbandmen (παρὰ τῶν γεωργῶν, para tōn geōrgōn): Reemphasizes that the expectation and rightful claim for the produce lie directly with the tenants to whom the vineyard was leased.
• of the fruit (τῶν καρπῶν, tōn karpōn): "The fruits" or "some of the fruits," implying a portion of the produce or a share of the harvest that was rightfully due to the owner according to their agreement. Spiritually, this signifies the righteous works, obedience, worship, and faithful stewardship expected by God from His people.
• of the vineyard (τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, tou ampelōnos): Refers to the physical source of the fruit. Allegorically, the vineyard symbolizes Israel as God's chosen nation, which was planted and cared for by God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And at the season he sent": This phrase underlines God's intentionality and patience. The owner's action is timely and purposeful. It’s not an abrupt demand but an expected action when returns are due.
• "to the husbandmen a servant": This reveals God's consistent approach through His chosen messengers to call His people to account, specifically their leaders. The repeated sending highlights divine long-suffering.
• "that he might receive ... of the fruit of the vineyard": This succinctly states God's enduring expectation. The desired outcome is spiritual yield and righteousness, a reflection of faithful stewardship from those entrusted with His kingdom. It signifies that God is owed a return for His investment and care.

Mark 12 2 Bonus section

• The parable's allegorical nature reveals a progressive divine plan and rejection: from multiple servants (prophets) to the unique Son (Jesus). This verse details the crucial initial step in this progression.
• The emphasis on "fruit" highlights a recurring biblical theme that God seeks active response and productive righteousness from His people, not just passive existence.
• The use of kairos ("season") suggests not only a harvest time but also a divinely appointed moment of opportunity and reckoning for the husbandmen. It implies a fixed period after which the terms of the lease or the divine patience might change.

Mark 12 2 Commentary

Mark 12:2 lays the groundwork for the escalating tragedy in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. It immediately follows the setup where God (the owner) leases His "vineyard" (Israel) to "husbandmen" (religious leaders). The sending of the first servant at "the season" underscores God's patient yet firm expectation of a return for His care. This "fruit" is not merely physical produce but represents the obedience, faithfulness, and righteous living that should flow from a people covenanted with God and from their leaders. The Jewish leaders' recognition of themselves as the "husbandmen" in this parable would have been a stark moment of realization for Jesus' listeners, revealing their failure to render spiritual fruit and their abuse of stewardship over God's people. This parable also sets the stage for the climactic sending of the "beloved son" (Jesus) and foreshadows His ultimate rejection and crucifixion at the hands of those very leaders. It implies accountability for those in positions of spiritual authority and for how they manage what God has entrusted to them.