Mark 12:12

12 At this, the leaders sought ^[a] to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, 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 Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

11 This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?”

12 At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.

13 Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words.

14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”

Footnotes

• [a] Literally they sought