Mark 12:12

12 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 12:12 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 Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

11 This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’ ”

12 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.

13 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.

14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

Footnotes

• [a]. Greek They.