What is the meaning of Mark 12:12? At this “At this” points us back to the parable of the wicked tenants (Mark 12:1-11). Jesus has just declared, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” quoting Psalm 118:22. • The moment follows a piercing indictment, similar to Nathan’s “You are the man!” to David (2 Samuel 12:7). • Earlier confrontations have been building toward a crisis (Mark 11:27-33). The phrase signals a turning point: truth has been spoken, hearts are exposed, and the scene is set for immediate reaction. the leaders sought to arrest Jesus The chief priests, scribes, and elders move from verbal sparring to plotting physical seizure. • Previous plots (Mark 3:6; John 7:30) now harden into action; hostility is no longer hidden. • Their desire to silence Jesus fulfills the prophetic pattern of righteous sufferers (Isaiah 53:9; Psalm 2:2). • Notice the blindness of men who manage worship yet reject the very Lord of the vineyard (Malachi 3:1). for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them Conviction is clear: they “knew.” • The Word of God penetrates and divides motives (Hebrews 4:12). • Like Pharaoh under Moses (Exodus 8:19), they recognize divine finger-prints yet resist. • Rather than repent, they choose suppression—mirroring later reactions to Stephen (Acts 7:54-57). But fearing the crowd Public opinion restrains evil—temporarily. • Earlier, the same fear kept Herod from killing John immediately (Matthew 14:5). • Crowds were “astonished at His teaching” (Mark 11:18), having hailed Him with “Hosanna” (Mark 11:9-10). • God sovereignly uses common people to delay the leaders’ scheme until the appointed Passover hour (John 7:30; 13:1). they left Him and went away Their departure is not surrender but strategic retreat. • Similar withdrawals occur in John 10:39 and Luke 22:2, showing calculated patience until secrecy can replace public spectacle. • The contrast is stark: leaders walk away from the Messiah while disciples remain, illustrating John 6:68—“Lord, to whom shall we go?” • Jesus remains untouched because His hour has not yet come (John 7:30), emphasizing divine timetable over human intent. summary Mark 12:12 captures the collision between divine truth and hardened hearts. Confronted by a parable that unmasks their rebellion, Israel’s leaders choose suppression rather than surrender. Yet human schemes are checked by God’s timing and the crowd’s favor, allowing Jesus to continue His mission until the foreordained moment of the cross. The verse warns against resisting conviction and highlights God’s sovereign control even over those who oppose His Son. |
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