My God and My Country

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 12:1-10

1 And he began to speak unto them in parables, A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it with an hedge, and dug a pit for the winepress, and built a tower in it, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a strange country.
2 And at the time, he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive of the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 But they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 And again he sent unto them another servant, and at him they cast stones, and brake his head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
5 And again he sent another, and him they slew, and many others, beating some, and killing some.
6 Yet had he one son, his dear beloved: him also he sent the last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But the husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
8 So they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall then the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and give the vineyard to others.
10 Have ye not read so much as this Scripture, The stone which the builders did refuse, is made the head of the corner.
11 This was done of the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
12 Then they went about to take him, but they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake that parable against them: therefore they left him, and went their way.

Brethren:
We read at the end of the preceding chapter about the questioning of Christ on His authority by the religious leaders. He instead poses a question to them which they decline to answer. Christ then states that he will not reveal this answer to them, at least not openly for in the very next chapter, (that above) He relates the parable of the vinedressers. It is in that parable, that the authority is made known to them. However, those leaders, are not open to the hearing of those words for well said is the scripture of Isaiah; “ They have not known, nor understood: for God hath shut their eyes that they cannot see, and their heart, that they cannot understand.” - (Isaiah 44:18).

“A vineyard with all these fittings was ready for profitable occupation. Thus abundantly had God furnished Israel with all that was needed for fruitful, happy service. What was true of the ancient Church is still more true of us who have received every requisite for holy living. Isaiah’s solemn appeal has a still sharper edge for Christians: ‘Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it?’

The ‘letting of the vineyard to husbandmen’ means the committal to Israel and its rulers of these divine institutions, and the holding them responsible for their fruitfulness. It may be a question whether the tenants are to be understood as only the official persons, or whether, while these are primarily addressed, they represent the whole people. The usual interpretation limits the meaning to the rulers, but, if so, it is difficult to carry out the application, as the vineyard would then have to be regarded as being the nation, which confuses all. The language of Matthew which threatens the taking of the vineyard and giving it to another nation obliges us to regard the nation as included in the husbandmen, though primarily the expression is addressed to the rulers.


We all, in like manner, have intrusted to us, to do as we will with, the various gifts and powers of Christ’s gospel. God, as it were, draws somewhat apart from man, that he may have free play for his choice, and bear the burden of responsibility. The divine action was conspicuous at the time of founding the polity of Judaism, and then came long years in which there were no miracles, but all things continued as they were. God was as near as before, but He seemed far off. Thus Jesus has, in like manner, gone ‘into a far country to receive a kingdom and to return’; and we, the tenants of a richer vineyard than Israel’s, have to administer what He has intrusted to us, and to bring near by faith Him who is to sense far off.


We mark the stern, dark picture drawn of the continued and brutal violence, as well as the flagrant unfaithfulness, of the tenants. Matthew’s version gives emphasis to the increasing harshness of treatment of the owner’s messengers, as does Mark’s. First comes beating, then wounding, then murder. The interpretation is self-evident. The ‘servants’ are the prophets, mostly men inferior in rank to the hierarchy, shepherds, fig-gatherers, and the like. They came to rouse Israel to a sense of the purpose for which they had received their distinguishing prerogatives, and their reward had been contempt and maltreatment. They ‘had trial of mockings and scourgings, of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were slain with the sword.’


The Owner of the vineyard, brings out very clearly Christ’s claim, made there before all these hostile, keen critics, to stand in an altogether singular relation to God. He asserts His Sonship as separating Him from the class of prophets who are servants only, and as constituting a relationship with the Father prior to His coming to earth. His Sonship is no mere synonym for His Messiahship, but was a fact long before Bethlehem; and its assertion lifts for us a corner of the veil of cloud and darkness round the throne of God. Not less striking is the expression of a frustrated hope in ‘they will reverence My Son.’ Men can thwart God’s purpose. His divine charity ‘hopeth all things.’ The mystery thus sharply put here is but that which is presented everywhere in the co-existence of God’s purposes and man’s freedom.” - Alexander Maclaren – Exposition of the Holy Scriptures



“Christ showed in parables, that he would lay aside the Jewish church. It is sad to think what base usage God's faithful ministers have met with in all ages, from those who have enjoyed the privileges of the church, but have not brought forth fruit answerable. God at length sent his Son, his Well-beloved; and it might be expected that he whom their Master loved, they also should respect and love; but instead of honouring him because he was the Son and Heir, they therefore hated him. But the exaltation of Christ was the Lord's doing; and it is his doing to exalt him in our hearts, and to set up his throne there; and if this be done, it cannot but be marvellous in our eyes. The Scriptures, and faithful preachers, and the coming of Christ in the flesh, call on us to render due praise to God in our lives. Let sinners beware of a proud, carnal spirit; if they revile or despise the preachers of Christ, they would have done so their Master, had they lived when he was upon earth.” - Matthew Henry - Theologian