At harvest timeIn the biblical context, harvest time is often associated with judgment and the fulfillment of God's promises. The harvest represents a time of reckoning when the fruits of one's labor are gathered. In the Old Testament, harvest festivals like the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) were times of celebration and gratitude to God for His provision (
Exodus 23:16). Spiritually, harvest time can symbolize the end of the age when God will gather His people (
Matthew 13:39).
he sent a servant
The sending of a servant reflects the role of prophets in the Old Testament, whom God sent to Israel to call them back to faithfulness. Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah were often rejected by the people, similar to the treatment of the servants in this parable (Jeremiah 7:25-26). This action foreshadows the sending of Jesus, God's ultimate messenger, who was also rejected.
to the tenants
The tenants represent the religious leaders of Israel, who were entrusted with the care of God's people. In the historical context, tenant farming was common in ancient Palestine, where landowners would lease their land to farmers in exchange for a portion of the produce. The tenants' responsibility was to manage the vineyard and produce fruit, symbolizing the leaders' duty to guide the people in righteousness.
to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard
The vineyard is a metaphor for Israel, as seen inIsaiah 5:1-7, where God describes Israel as His vineyard. The expectation of fruit signifies God's desire for righteousness and justice from His people. The owner's share represents God's rightful claim to the fruits of His people's labor, which includes faithfulness, obedience, and worship. The failure to produce fruit is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings, highlighting the spiritual barrenness of Israel's leaders (Matthew 21:43).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Vineyard OwnerRepresents God, who has established His people and expects them to bear fruit.
2.
The VineyardSymbolizes Israel, God's chosen people, entrusted with His laws and blessings.
3.
The TenantsRepresent the religious leaders of Israel who were responsible for guiding the people but failed to do so faithfully.
4.
The ServantSymbolizes the prophets sent by God to call His people to repentance and faithfulness.
5.
Harvest TimeRepresents the time of accountability and judgment when God expects to see the fruits of righteousness.
Teaching Points
God's Expectation of FruitfulnessGod expects His people to bear spiritual fruit, reflecting His character and purposes in the world.
Accountability to GodJust as the tenants were accountable to the vineyard owner, we are accountable to God for how we live and steward His gifts.
Rejection of God's MessengersThe parable warns against rejecting those whom God sends to guide and correct us, including His Word and His Spirit.
The Patience and Justice of GodGod is patient, sending multiple servants, but His justice will ultimately prevail if there is continued unfaithfulness.
The Role of Prophets and LeadersSpiritual leaders are called to be faithful stewards, guiding others in truth and righteousness.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Mark 12:2?
2.How does Mark 12:2 illustrate God's patience with His people?
3.What does the servant symbolize in Mark 12:2's parable?
4.How can we recognize and respond to God's messengers today?
5.Compare Mark 12:2 with Isaiah 5:1-7. What similarities do you find?
6.What actions can we take to avoid rejecting God's messages?
7.What does Mark 12:2 reveal about God's expectations for His people?
8.How does Mark 12:2 illustrate the concept of divine patience?
9.What historical context is essential to understanding Mark 12:2?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 12?
11.Who are the 144,000 mentioned in religious texts?
12.What parables did Jesus teach in the Bible?
13.What does 'husbandman' mean in the Bible?
14.What guidance does the Bible offer on stepparenting?What Does Mark 12:2 Mean
At harvest time- Jesus places this moment at the season of expected results. The owner’s patience has already been demonstrated (Mark 12:1), and now comes the rightful time for return.
- Scripture often links harvest with accountability—Joel 3:13;Revelation 14:15. God allows ample time for fruit to grow, but the day of reckoning is fixed.
- The verse affirms that God’s timetable, not human convenience, determines when He calls for fruit (Galatians 6:7–9).
he sent a servant- The servant represents the prophets God faithfully dispatched to Israel (2 Kings 17:13;Jeremiah 7:25).
- Sending, rather than going Himself, highlights God’s grace—He begins with messengers before final judgment (Hebrews 1:1).
- The servant’s authority rests in the sender, underscoring that rejecting the messenger equals rejecting the Master (1 Samuel 8:7).
to the tenants- The tenants symbolize Israel’s religious leaders entrusted with God’s vineyard (Isaiah 5:1–7;Matthew 21:45).
- Stewardship brings responsibility: leaders are caretakers, not owners (1 Corinthians 4:1–2).
- By addressing tenants, Jesus exposes misplaced ownership claims. Everything still belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1).
to collect his share- God’s claim is just; He seeks what is rightfully His—obedience, worship, righteousness (Micah 6:8;John 15:8).
- “His share” reminds us that fruitfulness is for the Owner’s delight, not the tenants’ control (Romans 11:36).
- Refusal to render fruit equates to robbery of God (Malachi 3:8–10).
of the fruit of the vineyard- Fruit points to tangible evidence of covenant faithfulness—justice, mercy, faith (Hosea 10:12;Matthew 23:23).
- In Jesus’ teaching, fruitlessness cannot hide behind religious appearance (Mark 11:13–14).
- True fruit proves relationship; barren vines face removal (John 15:2–6).
summaryMark 12:2 pictures God coming at the appointed harvest, graciously sending His prophet to leaders who manage His vineyard. He seeks the rightful fruit of obedience and righteousness. The verse underscores divine ownership, patient expectation, and inevitable accountability. Rejecting the servant means spurning God Himself, setting the stage for the parable’s sober warning and for Christ, the Son, whom the Father will send next.
(2)
A servant.--The variations in the reports are, as has been said, few and slight, but it may as well be noted that St. Mark speaks of "one servant" having been sent, and then another, and another, and then many others, while St. Matthew divides them simply into two great groups. St. Mark, characteristically, seizes on the most vivid presentation of the facts.
Verses 2-5. -
And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruits of the vineyard. St. Matthew (
Matthew 21:34) says he sent "his servants." St. Mark mentions them in detail. These servants were the prophets, as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others, whom the Jews persecuted and slew in different ways, as the reprovers of their vices. But the mercy of God was long-suffering, and still triumphed over their wickedness. In his account of this parable St. Mark is very minute. The first servant that was sent received no fruit, and was beaten. The second received much worse usage. According to the Authorized Version the words are,
At him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled (
κἀκεῖνον λιθοβολήσαντες ἐκεφαλαίωσαν καὶ ἀπέστειλαν ἠτιμωμένον). The word
λιθοβολήσαντες is, however, not to be found in the best authorities; and the right reading of the next word is apparently
ἐκεφαλίωσαν a very unusual word; but the context makes it plain that it expresses some injury done to the head. The other form of the word is usual enough; but it ordinarily signifies "a summing up," "a gathering up into a head."
And handled shamefullyἠτιμωμένον); literally,
dishonored. The third messenger they killed outright. The words run.
And him they killed; and many others; beating some, and killing some. The construction here is incomplete, although the meaning is plain. The complete sentence would be, "And him they killed; and they did violence to many others, beating some and killing some."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
At harvest time,καιρῷ(kairō)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2540:Fitting season, season, opportunity, occasion, time. Of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. Set or proper time.he sentἀπέστειλεν(apesteilen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 649:From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.a servantδοῦλον(doulon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1401:(a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.toπρὸς(pros)Preposition
Strong's 4314:To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.theτοὺς(tous)Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.tenantsγεωργοὺς(geōrgous)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1092:From ge and the base of ergon; a land-worker, i.e. Farmer.toἵνα(hina)Conjunction
Strong's 2443:In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.collectλάβῃ(labē)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2983:(a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.[his share] ofἀπὸ(apo)Preposition
Strong's 575:From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.theτῶν(tōn)Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.fruitκαρπῶν(karpōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2590:Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit, literally or figuratively.of theτοῦ(tou)Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.vineyard.ἀμπελῶνος(ampelōnos)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 290:A vineyard. From ampelos; a vineyard.
Links
Mark 12:2 NIVMark 12:2 NLTMark 12:2 ESVMark 12:2 NASBMark 12:2 KJV
Mark 12:2 BibleApps.comMark 12:2 Biblia ParalelaMark 12:2 Chinese BibleMark 12:2 French BibleMark 12:2 Catholic Bible
NT Gospels: Mark 12:2 When it was time he sent (Mar Mk Mr) 
