
Introduction
There once was a land called Vine. The king had appointed rulers to lead the people while He was away. But when the king sent his messengers to collect the taxes, the appointed rulers revolted. They beat and killed the messengers and started doing things their own way and making their own laws (though still in the name of the king so the people wouldn’t suspect what was happening). The king was a very patient, kind man. He decided to give them a second chance, and a third one, and a fourth one. He kept sending delegations to warn them and collect the taxes. But the treatment the rulers gave to each group seemed worse than the last. Finally, the king sent his only son – the prince – saying that surely the rulers would respect him. But what did they do? They said, “Ha! If we kill him we can claim the kingdom as our own!” and killed the prince. That wasn’t the end of the story. The king didn’t give up on his kingdom. He went and brought justice to bear on those faithless, wicked rulers. And, since this isn’t any normal story (it’s a story about a story Jesus told to explain the true story of history), the prince rose from the dead and reigned. In Mark 12:1-12 Jesus tells a parable – a story about familiar things that explain a spiritual reality – to explain His place in history. Study the passage to discover for yourself who each of the characters in the story represent in real history and learn how not to be like the faithless rulers.
Observation
Pray
Ask the Lord to give you a wise and understanding heart so that you can know Him better and see how to love and serve Him more as you study His Word.
Read Focus Verses
Read Mark 12:1-12 paying attention to the story Jesus tells. Then read it again and see how the last verse helps you understand the rest in a new light.
Parables
What does verse 1 say about the kind of story Jesus was using to teach in today's passage?
A New Vineyard
A lot happens in verse 1. How would you retell this part of the story in your own words?
Collecting Rent
What happens in verse 2?
Response
How is the response of the renters in verses 3-5 different from what you would expect?
A New Idea
What did the owner of the vineyard do in verse 6?
The Son
How does verse 6 describe the son?
Shocking
What is the shocking response of the renters in verses 7-8?
Why?
Why did the renters say that they were going to kill the son?
Justice
How did the owner of the vineyard respond?
The End of the Story
You might have expected that to be the end of the story, but it isn't. What does Jesus say in verses 10-11?
Context
To find out who it is that wanted to arrest Jesus in verse 12, we look back to the verses right before today's passage for context. Read Mark 11:27-33 to learn who these people are.
Who?
Who wanted to get rid of Jesus when they realized He was talking about them?
Why Not
Why didn't they go ahead and arrest Jesus according to verse 12?
Keyword - Jesus
Not only is Jesus the one talking in today's passage, He's the main subject of the parable too. Marking the places He's mentioned will help you see Him as the main theme.

Jesus Christ
Jesus
Mark as many of the references to Jesus as you can find in Mark 12:1-12.
Interpretation
What Is a Parable?
A parable compares two things to teach about one of them. In His parables Jesus often told stories that teach us about spiritual realities by comparing them to familiar things. (You can learn more about parables in the Bible dictionary entries on this page if you're interested.)
Click To Visit WebsiteCharacters in the Story
In order to figure out what this parable means, it is important to identify what the different parts of it mean. Making a list of the characters in the parable so that you can identify them is a good first step. Starting with the man who planted the vineyard, make a list of the characters in this story. (Hint: You should identify four characters or groups of characters in this story.)
The First Group
A good place to start in trying to identify the people that these characters in the parable represent is looking at the most obvious first. What group of people does verse 12 reveal is represented by some of the people in the parable?
The Pharisees
Let's look at a few verses that will help you identify which of the roles in the parable represents the Pharisees and other religious rulers. Matthew 23:2, 29-35 will help. Notice which group of characters in the parable this sounds like.
Which Role?
Which of the roles in the parable does this sound like?
Renters
Who do the renters in the parable represent?
Next…
To identify the next character, you'll look at the character in the parable and try to find who fits that role.
Vineyard Owner
The first verse of the parable introduces the first character in the story - the man who created and owned the vineyard. If you look back at Isaiah 5:1-7 you'll see a similar parable that will help you discover the identity of the vineyard owner and what the vineyard represents.
Owner
Based on this Old Testament parable (which Jesus' listeners would have known well), who does the owner of the vineyard represent?
Vineyard
The vineyard isn't a character in the story, but it still represents something. Who does the vineyard represent?
Chosen
It's a good idea to look at a few more verses to make sure those identifications make sense. Read what Psalm 135:4 says about the relationship between God and the people of Israel.
Say to Israel
Check out Exodus 19:3-6.
Check
Based on these verses, does it make sense for the vineyard Owner to represent God and the vineyard to represent Israel?
Woe
It's time to go back and double-check the first identification you made. See what God says about the caretakers of Israel - the religious rulers - in Jeremiah 23:1-2.
Religious Leaders
Consider what Jeremiah 12:10 says about it - notice that a vineyard is used to represent Israel again in this verse.
The Pharisees
Now look at Matthew 23 again to see if the Pharisees match the description. Check out Matthew 23:13-15, 23-28.
Match
Do the Pharisees and other religious rulers sound like they match the description of unfaithful, evil caretakers of the vineyard in the parable?
Next Up
That leads to the next set of characters - the servants sent by the Owner. See if Jeremiah 7:25-26 gives you a clue.
Patience and Compassion
2 Chronicles 36:15-16 is also helpful.
The Servants
Who do the servants in the parable represent?
Again and Again
Perhaps when you read the story you were surprised that the Owner kept sending servants despite the violence of the renters. Now you see it is a picture of God continually sending prophets to point His people back to Him. Why, according to 2 Chronicles, did God keep sending prophets to call and warn His people even though His people persecuted and rejected them?
The Son
The next character to identify is the Son. Based on what you already know about the other characters, can you guess who the Son is?
Check 1
If you had a guess, it's time to check it. If not, these verses should make it clear. First of all, the Son follows a long line of prophets as God's messenger according to the parable. Check out what Hebrews 1:1-3 says.
Check 2
Second, the Son is an only son, beloved by his father. Does John 3:16-18 match that description?
Check 3
Mark 1:9-11 clarifies the specific identity of this Son.
Son
Who does the son in the parable represent?
Final Check
Do a final check to make sure your identification of the son in the parable matches the rest of the identifications you've made starting with Mark 15:1-2.
The Religious Rulers
Notice what the religious rulers (the renters) do to Jesus (the son) in Mark 15:9-15.
Do You Have a Match?
Does this line up properly with what the renters do to the son in the parable?
Final Identifications
Copy or rewrite your list of characters in the parable from earlier (including the vineyard now) and this time say who or what each represents.
Hint
Here's a checklist in case you've forgotten any of the characters: Owner - God Vineyard - Israel Renters - Pharisees and religious leaders Servants - Prophets Son - Jesus
Time Is Up
Based on the parable, after the Pharisees and religious rulers killed the Son what was going to happen?
The Church
This article from GotQuestions.com based on Romans 11 explains how the church fits into this analogy of Israel being a vineyard and rejecting Christ the first time He came.
Click To Visit WebsiteOld Testament Quote
Jesus quotes the Old Testament to prove that though the renters tried to destroy the son - or in other words the Pharisees would crucify Him - that wouldn't be the end of the story. You can read the passage Jesus quotes in Psalm 118:22-26.
Positive Identification
Peter clearly identifies this Corner Stone in his sermon to the same religious rulers in Acts 4:10-12.
What Happened?
The Pharisees and other religious leaders tried to destroy Jesus so they could have all the authority. What actually happened?
Fruit
In a similar, though different, way, we are caretakers of the lives that God has given us to glorify Him with. John 15:8 tells us that He desires the same thing from us that the owner sought from the caretakers in the parable.
Good Works
Matthew 5:16 shows us why God wants Christians to bear fruit in their lives (fruit is a picture of obedient living which looks like doing the good works God has planned for a Christian).
Why?
Why is it important to God that a Christian lives a fruitful, obedient life?
Once More
Read Mark 12:1-12 once more in light of what you've seen in the rest of the Bible.
Retell the Story
In your own words, retell the true story Jesus teaches us about in this parable.
Application
God's Messengers
How do you respond when God sends messengers into your life to correct you and point you back to Him? What are specific changes you can make to the way you respond when someone - especially a Pastor, church leader, parent, or Christian friend - corrects you so that you will respond wisely and not like the Pharisees did?
Fruit
Are you living in a way that gives God the fruit He deserves for creating, saving, loving, and guiding you? What is one thing that you know God wants you to do that you will begin doing today? (Ideas: speaking kindly to your parents, spouse, or children; working during all the hours you clock at work; reading your Bible every day; getting accountability to overcome an addiction...)
The Son
All of that can only happen in a way that pleases God after you receive His Son. You saw that Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved (Acts 4:12). Have you believed in Him, turned from your sin, and asked Him to save you? If not, will you do that right now?
Wrapup
Closing
We hope this study plan has helped you decode the parable Jesus tells and has challenged you not to be like the Pharisees but to live a fruitful life and receive God's Son and His messengers.
Feedback
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