www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk
The Gospel of Mark Chapter 12:1-17 Israel Chosen and their Rejection of the Messiah 1 - 12. This parable of the vineyard that Jesus told is based upon Isaiah 5: 1 - 7 and so the people, particularly the religious leaders, would almost immediately realize the truth that He was bringing out in it. 12.1 Then he began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey. The certain man refers to God and the vineyard to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land that God said He would give to Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 12: 6 -7). Although it was many years and a few generations later that the promise was fulfilled, God kept His word (2 Peter 3: 8 - 9) and the people possessed the land that God had prepared (planted) for them. If we have received a promise from God we can be sure that He will keep it no matter how long it may take. The “edge about it“ is the Divine protection; the angel of the Lord was encamped round about it (Psalm 34: 17) and was as a wall of fire (Zec. 2: 5). God is also the Divine Protector of every believer (Psalm 91: 4). The hedge also speaks of separation for God had separated them to Himself to be a holy people to keep His laws and to walk in all His ways (Lev. 20: 26). As believers we are separated to God through Jesus Christ and are called to separate ourselves from the things of the world (2 Cor. 6: 14 - 17). We are a holy nation and are to be holy (1 Pet. 1: 16, 2: 9). The “wine press (winefat)“ is the Temple where the people were to bring the fruit of the vine (spiritual) to be made into wine (spiritual) that is their devotions, thanksgivings and offerings, etc. The “tower“ (a place of observation and defence) represents Jerusalem. He “let it out“ that is God gave the Land His laws and statutes, His protection, His promises, to the Israelites as stewards to work for Him. Then He left them to care and keep it and bear forth fruit until He should come again. As Christian’s we are called to be good stewards of that which Christ has entrusted us with until He comes back again (Luke 19: 13, 1 Cor. 6: 20, 1Pet. 4: 10). However, Israel did not keep the covenant God had made with them for the possession of the land. They broke His laws and mixed with the heathen left in the land and served idols.