Mark 12:12

12 Then the religious leaders looked for a way to arrest Jesus. They knew he had told the story against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away.

Mark 12:12 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:12

They sought to lay held on him
That is, the chief priests, Scribes, and elders, after they had heard the parables he spake to them, were greatly irritated, and provoked, and had a good will to have seized him, and carried him away, and have had him before their court, and condemn him:

but feared the people;
lest they should rise up in his defence, and fall on them; for many of them liked; and were attached to his ministry; and others had received favours of one kind or another from him through his miracles:

for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them:
and that they were the husbandmen designed, who had not brought the fruit of the vineyard to their lord, but had ill treated his servants, and would his son.

And they left him;
in the temple, not daring to do any thing to him:

and went their way;
to their council chamber, perhaps to consult what measures to take, and how to destroy him.

Mark 12:12 In-Context

10 "Haven't you read what Scripture says, " 'The stone the builders didn't accept has become the most important stone of all.

11 The Lord has done it. It is wonderful in our eyes'?" (Psalm 118:22,23)

12 Then the religious leaders looked for a way to arrest Jesus. They knew he had told the story against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away.

13 Later the religious leaders sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus. They wanted to trap him with his own words.

14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of honor. You don't let others tell you what to do or say. You don't care how important they are. But you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?