Mark 12 6

Mark 12:6 kjv

Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

Mark 12:6 nkjv

Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

Mark 12:6 niv

"He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

Mark 12:6 esv

He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

Mark 12:6 nlt

until there was only one left ? his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 6 Meaning

Mark 12:6 portrays the vineyard owner's ultimate act of grace and patience in the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. After numerous rejections of his servants (prophets), he makes a final, unparalleled effort: he sends his one, uniquely "beloved son." The owner's expectation, central to this verse, is that the tenants will finally show reverence and respect to such a personage, given his supreme status. This action underscores God's persistent and escalating revelation to humanity, culminating in the sending of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, with the hope that His unique identity would command the respect previously denied to lesser messengers.

Mark 12 6 Context

Mark 12:6 is situated within Jesus' powerful and provocative teachings in Jerusalem, shortly before His crucifixion. The chapter opens with Jesus telling the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mk 12:1-12), which He delivers in the Temple courts immediately after the Jewish religious leaders have publicly challenged His authority (Mk 11:27-33). The parable serves as a direct indictment of these leaders and a chilling prophecy of their coming actions against Him.

In this allegorical narrative, the "landowner" represents God, the "vineyard" represents Israel (often used in OT, e.g., Is 5), the "tenants" represent the Jewish leadership who were entrusted with God's people, and the "servants" sent earlier represent the prophets sent by God throughout history. Mark 12:6 specifically describes the Landowner's final, desperate act of sending his "beloved son," clearly representing Jesus Himself. The landowner's internal thought, "They will respect my son," sets up the dramatic and tragic irony, as the narrative quickly unfolds to reveal the tenants' murderous intent. The parable culminates in Jesus' quotation of Ps 118:22-23 about the rejected cornerstone, directly linking His impending suffering and eventual triumph to the rejection prophesied in the parable. This immediate context underscores the escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish authorities and highlights the supreme Christological significance of His person and mission.

Mark 12 6 Word analysis

• He had still one (Ἔτι ἕνα – Eti hena):

  • Eti: Greek for "still" or "yet." It implies continuation and perseverance, signifying the landowner's persistent and long-suffering nature. Despite repeated failures, he still has another, ultimate plan.
  • Hena: Greek for "one." It emphasizes singularity, uniqueness, and irreplaceability. This messenger is not just another servant; he is the one remaining, highlighting his supreme significance.

• a beloved son. (υἱὸν ἀγαπητόν – huion agapeton):

  • Huion: Greek for "son." Indicates a direct, intimate, and legitimate heir.
  • Agapeton: Greek for "beloved," "only beloved," or "dearly loved." This precise phrase, "my beloved son" (ho huios mou ho agapetos), is directly echoed from the divine proclamations at Jesus' baptism (Mk 1:11) and Transfiguration (Mk 9:7). It unmistakably identifies Jesus as the Son of God, supremely loved and unique. It communicates absolute endearment and the special, ultimate relationship of this "son" to the "owner."

• He sent him last of all to them, (ἔσχατον ἀπέστειλεν αὐτόν πρὸς αὐτούς – eschaton apesteilen auton pros autous):

  • Eschaton: Greek for "last," "finally." Signifies the culminating, definitive, and ultimate act. No further messengers will come after him. This indicates that Jesus is God's ultimate and complete revelation (cf. Heb 1:1-2).
  • Apesteilen: Greek verb "to send" (from apostello), meaning to dispatch with authority and commission. It highlights the divine initiative behind Jesus' mission.
  • Auton pros autous: "him to them." Clearly defines the recipient of this ultimate envoy, namely, the very ones who had previously rejected all the others, emphasizing their heightened responsibility.

• saying, (λέγων – legōn):

  • Greek participle "saying." Introduces the landowner's inner thought, revealing his expectation, hope, or even naive belief regarding the tenants' response.

• 'They will respect my son.' (Ἐντραπήσονται τὸν υἱόν μου – Entrapēsontai ton huion mou):

  • Entrapēsontai: Greek future passive from entrepo, meaning "they will reverence," "they will respect," "they will feel shame before," or "they will show deference to." The owner's hope is that the son's superior status will evoke respect or even make the tenants ashamed of their prior misconduct, thus preventing further rebellion. The irony is poignant, as this expectation is brutally unmet.
  • Ton huion mou: "my son." Reaffirms the special relationship and inherent authority that should compel respect.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "He had still one, a beloved son": This phrase highlights God's inexhaustible patience and the supreme value He placed on His ultimate emissary. The identity of the "beloved son" transcends that of mere messengers, pointing directly to the divine nature and unique standing of Jesus as the Christ.
  • "He sent him last of all to them": This action marks the climax of salvation history, presenting Jesus as God's final, definitive word to humanity. It underscores the urgency and unparalleled significance of His coming, implying that with Him, God has given His best and His last.
  • "saying, 'They will respect my son.'": This expresses the owner's profound hope, which tragically contrasts with the tenants' depravity. It functions as a sharp, dramatic irony, foregrounding the egregious sin of those who, instead of showing reverence for God's ultimate messenger, choose violence and murder. This illustrates the depth of human rebellion against divine grace and authority.

Mark 12 6 Bonus section

• The parable, with Mark 12:6 as its focal point, transforms from a simple story into an allegorical prophecy of Jesus' impending passion and death. It speaks to the blindness and hardness of heart of those religious leaders who would orchestrate His crucifixion.
• The phrase "beloved son" highlights Jesus' unique standing not just as a prophet or servant, but as the direct and sole Heir of God (Mk 12:7). This unique relationship dictates the ultimate severity of their rejection.
• The owner's hope that "they will respect my son" could also imply a divine test. It was an ultimate opportunity for the tenants (Jewish leaders) to repent and change course, but one they profoundly failed.
• The concept of God sending His Son, even to the point of His suffering, demonstrates the profound extent of divine love and forbearance, enduring repeated rebellion until the very final, and greatest, offering.
• This verse contributes significantly to the early church's understanding of Jesus' unique identity and His central role in God's redemptive plan, often reflected in apostolic preaching that portrayed Jesus as the "sent one" who was rejected by His own.

Mark 12 6 Commentary

Mark 12:6 captures the apex of the Landowner's grace and strategic sending in the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. This single verse is rich in Christological and theological depth. By sending his "beloved son," identified unequivocally with Jesus through the echoing of divine declarations, God offers humanity His supreme revelation and His most intimate presence. The phrase "last of all" emphasizes that Jesus' coming is the ultimate divine initiative; there will be no other mediator, no higher authority sent by God after Him. His advent signifies the definitive and final phase of God's redemptive plan for His people.

The landowner's poignant expectation, "They will respect my son," reflects divine patience and a deep, even tragic, hope. It suggests that the inherent dignity, authority, and unique relationship of the Son should logically command reverence where previous lesser appeals failed. However, this hope serves as a stark premonition of the profound rejection Jesus would face. Rather than being shamed into respect, the tenants would instead plot His murder (as unfolded in the subsequent verses), revealing the true depth of human rebellion against God's ultimate love and final appeal. Thus, Mark 12:6 succinctly presents both God's maximal loving effort and the chilling foreshadowing of the rejection and suffering that the Son of God would endure at the hands of those who should have welcomed Him. It sets the stage for understanding the radical nature of the cross, where the one sent by God, deserving of all respect, was utterly despised.