The Meaning of Mark 12:1 Explained

Mark 12:1

KJV: And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

YLT: And he began to speak to them in similes: 'A man planted a vineyard, and put a hedge around, and digged an under-wine-vat, and built a tower, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went abroad;

Darby: And he began to say to them in parables, A man planted a vineyard, and made a fence round it and dug a wine-vat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and left the country.

ASV: And he began to speak unto them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he began  to speak  unto them  by  parables.  A [certain] man  planted  a vineyard,  and  set  an hedge about  [it], and  digged  [a place for] the winefat,  and  built  a tower,  and  let  it  out  to husbandmen,  and  went into a far country. 

What does Mark 12:1 Mean?

Study Notes

vineyard
Israel. Isaiah 5:1-7 . Israel was not fruitless, but brought forth only wild grapes. Cf.; John 3:6 ; Hosea 10:1 contra, Hosea 14:8 .

Verse Meaning

Jesus addressed this parable to all the people present ( Luke 20:9) but the religious leaders particularly. The man in the parable represents God, the vineyard is Israel ( Psalm 80:8-19; Jeremiah 2:21), and the tenants are Israel"s leaders. The parable develops the scene presented in Isaiah 5:1-2 that is part of a prophecy of God"s judgment on Israel (cf. Psalm 80:8-16). God spared no expense or effort to make Israel a choice nation. He had left Israel on its own, so to speak, after He had established the nation.
"Since the whole of the upper Jordan valley and a large part of the Galilean uplands were in the hands of foreign landlords at this time, such a practice was common." [1]

Context Summary

Mark 12:1-27 - Jesus Silences His Enemies
Our Lord reviews the history of the theocracy. He recounts the long roll of God's servants who had been persecuted and misused from the first to the last, including Himself. In doing so, He openly implied that He was the Son of God and made the Pharisees realize how clearly He foresaw the fate which they were preparing for Him. They were accustomed to apply Psalms 118:22 to the Messiah, and recognized at once what Jesus meant, when He claimed it as an emblem of His own rejection.
How admirably our Lord defined the relations of His Kingdom to the civil power! If we accept Caesar's protection and ordered government we are bound to maintain it by money payment and such other service as conscience permits. This indeed is part of our duty to God; and with equal care we must give Him the dues of the spiritual world.
Jesus silenced the Sadducees by a quotation from the Pentateuch, whose authority they admitted. God could not be the God of persons not in existence. Therefore since He used the present tense of His relationship with the patriarchs in speaking to Moses three hundred years after their death, they must have been still in existence. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 12

1  Jesus tells the parable of the tenants
13  He avoids the snare of the Pharisees and Herodians about paying tribute to Caesar;
18  convicts the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection;
28  resolves the scribe, who questioned of the first commandment;
35  refutes the opinion that the scribes held of the Christ;
38  bidding the people to beware of their ambition and hypocrisy;
41  and commends the poor widow for her two mites, above all

Greek Commentary for Mark 12:1

He began to speak unto them in parables [ηρχατο αυτοις εν παραβολαις λαλειν]
Mark‘s common idiom again. He does not mean that this was the beginning of Christ‘s use of parables See note on Mark 4:2), but simply that his teaching on this occasion took the parabolic turn. “The circumstances called forth the parabolic mood, that of one whose heart is chilled, and whose spirit is saddened by a sense of loneliness, and who, retiring within himself, by a process of reflection, frames for his thoughts forms which half conceal, half reveal them” (Bruce). Mark does not give the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32) nor that of the Marriage Feast of the King‘s Son (Matthew 22:1-14). He gives here the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. Also in Matthew 21:33-46 and Luke 20:9-19. See discussion in Matthew. Matthew 21:33 calls the man “a householder” (οικοδεσποτης — oikodespotēs). [source]
A pit for the winepress [υποληνιον]
Only here in the N.T. Common in the lxx and in late Greek. Matthew had ληνον — lēnon winepress. This is the vessel or trough under the winepress on the hillside to catch the juice when the grapes were trodden. The Romans called it lacus (lake) and Wycliff dalf (lake), like delved. See note on Matthew for details just alike.Husbandmen (γεωργοις — geōrgois). Workers in the ground, tillers of the soil (εργον γη — ergon gē). [source]
Husbandmen [γεωργοις]
Workers in the ground, tillers of the soil (εργον γη — ergon gē). [source]
Wine-fat [ὑπολήνιον]
Rev., winespress. Only here in New Testament. The wine-press was constructed in the side of a sloping rock, in which a trough was excavated, which was the wine-press proper. Underneath this was dug another trough, with openings communicating with the trough above, into which the juice ran from the press. This was called by the Romans lacus, or the lake. The word here used for the whole structure strictly means this trough underneath ( ὑπό )the press ( ληνός ). This is the explanation of Wyc.'s translation, dalf (delved), a lake. [source]
Went into a far country [ἀπεδήμησεν]
But this is too strong. The word means simply went abroad. So Wyc., went forth in pilgrimage; and Tynd., into a strange country. Rev., another country. See on Matthew 25:14. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 12:1

Mark 12:12 Against them [προς αυτους]
So Luke. It was a straight shot, this parable of the Rejected Stone (Mark 12:10.) and the longer one of the Wicked Husbandmen. There was no mistaking the application, for he had specifically explained the application (Matthew 21:43-45). The Sanhedrin were so angry that they actually started or sought to seize him, but fear of the populace now more enthusiastic for Jesus than ever held them back. They went off in disgust, but they had to listen to the Parable of the King‘s Son before going (Matthew 22:1-14). [source]
Mark 3:6 And straightway with the Herodians took council [ευτυς μετα των ηρωιδιανων]
The Pharisees could stand no more. So out they stalked at once in a rage of madness (Luke 6:11) and outside of the synagogue took counsel (συμβουλιον εποιησαν — sumboulion epoiēsan) or gave counsel (συμβουλιον εδιδουν — sumboulion edidoun as some MSS. have it, imperfect tense, offered counsel as their solution of the problem) with their bitter enemies, the Herodians, on the sabbath day still “how they might destroy him” (οπως αυτον απολεσωσιν — hopōs auton apolesōsin), a striking illustration of the alternatives of Jesus a few moments before, “to save life or to kill.” This is the first mention of the Herodians or adherents of Herod Antipas and the Herod family rather than the Romans. The Pharisees would welcome the help of their rivals to destroy Jesus. In the presence of Jesus they unite their forces as in Mark 8:15; Mark 12:13; Matthew 22:16. [source]
Luke 20:27 Asked []
See on Mark 12:18. [source]
Luke 20:9 Vineyard [αμπελωνα]
Late word from αμπελος — ampelos (vine), place of vines. So in Mark 12:1; Matthew 21:33. [source]
Luke 20:19 To lay hands on him [επιβαλειν επ αυτον τας χειρας]
Second aorist active infinitive of επιβαλλω — epiballō an old verb and either transitively as here or intransitively as in Mark 4:37. Vivid picture here where Mark 12:12; Matthew 21:46 has “to seize” (κρατησαι — kratēsai). [source]
Luke 20:19 In that very hour [εν αυτηι τηι ωραι]
Luke‘s favourite idiom, in the hour itself. Not in Mark or Matthew and shows that the Sanhedrin were angry enough to force the climax then.And they feared (και εποβητησαν — kai ephobēthēsan). Adversative use of και — kai = but they feared. Hence they refrained.For they perceived The reason for their rage. Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō them As in Mark 12:12. The cap fitted them and they saw it. [source]
Luke 20:19 For they perceived [εγνωσαν γαρ]
The reason for their rage. Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō them As in Mark 12:12. The cap fitted them and they saw it. [source]
Luke 20:21 Rightly [ορτως]
Matthew (Matthew 22:16) notes that these “spies” were “disciples” (students) of the Pharisees and Mark (Mark 12:13) adds that the Herodians are also involved in the plot. These bright theologues are full of palaver and flattery and openly endorse the teaching of Jesus as part of their scheme. [source]
Luke 20:21 Acceptest not the person of any [ου λαμβανεις προσωπον]
Dost not take the face (or personal appearance) as the test. It is a Hebraism from which the word προσωπολεμπσια — prosōpolempsia (James 2:1) comes. Originally it meant to lift the face, to lift the countenance, to regard the face, to accept the face value. See Mark 12:13-17; and Matthew 22:15-22 for discussion of details here. They both have βλεπεις — blepeis here. [source]
Luke 20:27 There is no resurrection [αναστασιν μη ειναι]
Accusative and infinitive with negative μη — mē in indirect assertion. The Sadducees rally after the complete discomfiture of the Pharisees and Herodians. They had a stock conundrum with which they had often gotten a laugh on the Pharisees. So they volunteer to try it on Jesus. For discussion of details here see Matthew 22:23-33; and notes on Mark 12:18-27. Only a few striking items remain for Luke. [source]
Luke 15:13 Took his journey [απεδημησεν]
First aorist active indicative of αποδημεω — apodēmeō (from αποδημος — apodēmos away from home). Common verb. In the N.T. here and Matthew 21:33; Matthew 25:14; Mark 12:1; Luke 20:9. He burned all his bridges behind him, gathering together all that he had.Wasted (διεσκορπισεν — dieskorpisen). First aorist active indicative of διασκορπιζω — diaskorpizō a somewhat rare verb, the very opposite of “gathered together” (συναγογων — sunagogōn). More exactly he scattered his property. It is the word used of winnowing grain (Matthew 25:24).With riotous living Living dissolutely or profligately. The late adverb ασωτως — asōtōs (only here in the N.T.) from the common adjective ασωτος — asōtos (α — a privative and σωζω — sōzō), one that cannot be saved, one who does not save, a spendthrift, an abandoned man, a profligate, a prodigal. He went the limit of sinful excesses. It makes sense taken actively or passively (prodigus or perditus), active probably here. [source]
John 8:53 Which is dead [ὅστις]
The compound pronoun ὅστις , which, is used explicatively, according to a familiar New Testament usage, instead of the simple relative. The sense is, seeing that he is dead. The compound relative properly indicates the class or kind to which an object belongs. Art thou greater than Abraham, who is himself one of the dead? So Colossians 3:5. “Mortify covetousness, seeing it is ( ἥτις ἐστὶν ) idolatry.” See on Matthew 13:52; see on Matthew 21:41; see on Mark 12:18; see on Luke 12:1; see on Acts 7:53; see on Acts 10:41; see on 1 Peter 2:11. [source]
John 5:47 Writings [γράμμασιν]
It is important to understand the precise sense of this word, because it goes to determine whether Jesus intended an antithesis between Moses' writings and His own words, or simply between Moses ( ἐκείνου ) and Himself ( ἐμοῖς ). Γράμμα primarily means what is written. Hence it may describe either a single character or a document. From this general notion several forms develop themselves in the New Testament. The word occurs in its narrower sense of characters, at Luke 23:38; 2 Corinthians 3:7; Galatians 6:11. In Acts 28:21, it means official communications. Paul, with a single exception (2 Corinthians 3:7), uses it of the letter of scripture as contrasted with its spirit (Romans 2:27, Romans 2:29; Romans 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6). In Luke 16:6, Luke 16:7, it denotes a debtor's bond (A.V., bill ). In John 7:15, Acts 26:24) it is used in the plural as a general term for scriptural and Rabbinical learning. Compare Sept., Isaiah 29:11, Isaiah 29:12) where a learned man is described as ἐπιτάμενος γράμματα , acquainted with letters. Once it is used collectively of the sacred writings - the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15), though some give it a wider reference to Rabbinical exegesis, as well as to scripture itself. Among the Alexandrian Greeks the term is not confined to elementary instruction, but includes exposition, based, however, on critical study of the text. The tendency of such exegesis was often toward mystical and allegorical interpretation, degenerating into a petty ingenuity in fixing new and recondite meanings upon the old and familiar forms. This was illustrated by the Neo-Platonists' expositions of Homer, and by the Rabbinical exegesis. Men unacquainted with such studies, especially if they appeared as public teachers, would be regarded as ignorant by the Jews of the times of Christ and the Apostles. Hence the question respecting our Lord Himself: How knoweth this man letters ( γράμματα John 7:15)? Also the comment upon Peter and John (Acts 4:13) that they were unlearned ( ἀγράμματοι ). Thus, too, those who discovered in the Old Testament scriptures references to Christ, would be stigmatized by Pagans, as following the ingenious and fanciful method of the Jewish interpreters, which they held in contempt. Some such feeling may have provoked the words of Festus to Paul: Much learning ( πολλά γράμματα ) doth make thee mad (Acts 26:24). It is well known with what minute care the literal transcription of the sacred writings was guarded. The Scribes ( γραμματεῖς ) were charged with producing copies according to the letter ( κατὰ τὸ γράμμα ). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The one passage in second Timothy cannot be urged in favor of the general use of the term for the scriptures, especially since the best texts reject the article before ἱερὰ γράμμα , so that the meaning is apparently more general: “thou hast known sacred writings.” The familiar formula for the scriptures was αἱ γραφαὶ ἁγίαι . A single book of the collection of writings was known as βιβλίον (Luke 4:17), or βίβλος (Luke 20:42); never γραφή , which was the term for a particular passage. See on Mark 12:10. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
It seems to me, therefore, that the antithesis between the writings of Moses, superstitiously reverenced in the letter, and minutely and critically searched and expounded by the Jews, and the living words ( ῥήμασιν , see on Luke 1:37), is to be recognized. This, however, need not exclude the other antithesis between Moses and Jesus personally. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

John 2:22 Believed the Scripture [ἐπίστευσαν τῇ γραφῇ]
Notice that ἐπίοτευσαν , believed, is used here with the simple dative, and not with the preposition εἰς , into (see on John 1:12). The meaning is, therefore, they believed that the Scripture was true. On γραφή , a passage or section of Scripture, see on Mark 12:10. In John, as elsewhere, the word almost always refers to a particular passage cited in the context. The only two exceptions are John 17:12; John 20:9. For the Old Testament, as a whole, John always uses the plural αἱ γραφαί . The passage referred to here is probably Psalm 16:10. Compare Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31; Acts 13:35. [source]
John 17:12 The scripture [ἡ γραφὴ]
See close of note on John 5:47, and see on Mark 12:10. [source]
John 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life [Εγω ειμι η οδος και η αλητεια και η ζωη]
Either of these statements is profound enough to stagger any one, but here all three together overwhelm Thomas. Jesus had called himself “the life” to Martha (John 11:25) and “the door” to the Pharisees (John 10:7) and “the light of the world” (John 8:12). He spoke “the way of God in truth” (Mark 12:14). He is the way to God and the only way (John 14:6), the personification of truth, the centre of life. Except by me There is no use for the Christian to wince at these words of Jesus. If he is really the Incarnate Son of God (John 1:1, John 1:14, John 1:18), they are necessarily true. [source]
John 15:1 The true vine [η αμπελος η αλητινη]
“The vine the genuine.” Assuming that the Lord‘s Supper had just been instituted by Jesus the metaphor of the vine is naturally suggested by “the fruit of the vine” (Mark 14:25; Matthew 26:29). Αμπελος — Ampelos in the papyri (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary) is sometimes used in the sense of ο γεωργος — ampelōn (vineyard), but not so here. Jesus uses various metaphors to illustrate himself and his work (the light, John 8:12; the door, John 10:7; the shepherd, John 10:11; the vine, John 15:1). The vine was common in Palestine. See Psalm 80:8. “On the Maccabean coinage Israel was represented by a vine” (Dods). Jesus is the genuine Messianic vine. The husbandman (τεου γεωργιον — ho geōrgos) as in Mark 12:1; James 5:7; 2 Timothy 2:6. cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9, theou geōrgion (God‘s field). [source]
John 5:47 His writings [τοις εκεινου γραμμασιν]
Dative case with πιστυετε — pistuete See Luke 16:31 for a like argument. The authority of Moses was the greatest of all for Jews. There is a contrast also between writings Γραμμα — Gramma may mean the mere letter as opposed to spirit (2 Corinthians 3:6; Romans 2:27, Romans 2:29; Romans 7:6), a debtor‘s bond (Luke 16:6.), letters or learning (John 7:15; Acts 26:24) like αγραμματοι — agrammatoi for unlearned (Acts 4:13), merely written characters (Luke 23:38; 2 Corinthians 3:7; Galatians 6:11), official communications (Acts 28:21), once ιερα γραμματα — hiera grammata for the sacred writings (2 Timothy 3:15) instead of the more usual αι αγιαι γραπαι — hai hagiai graphai Γραπη — Graphē is used also for a single passage (Mark 12:10), but βιβλιον — biblion for a book or roll (Luke 4:17) or βιβλος — biblos (Luke 20:42). Jesus clearly states the fact that Moses wrote portions of the Old Testament, what portions he does not say. See also Luke 24:27, Luke 24:44 for the same idea. There was no answer from the rabbis to this conclusion of Christ. The scribes (οι γραμματεις — hoi grammateis) made copies according to the letter (κατα το γραμμα — kata to gramma). [source]
Acts 8:32 The place of the scripture [ἡ περιοχὴ τῆς γραφῆς]
Strictly, the contents of the passage. See on Mark 12:10; and 1 Peter 2:6. [source]
Acts 1:16 This scripture []
The best texts substitute the. See on Mark 12:10. [source]
Acts 17:7 These all [ουτοι παντες]
Jason, the “brethren” of Acts 17:6, Paul and Silas, and all Christians everywhere. Contrary (απεναντι — apenanti). Late compound preposition (απο εν αντι — apoτων δογματων Καισαρος — enασιλεα ετερον λεγοντες ειναι Ιησουν — anti) found in Polybius, lxx, here only in the N.T. The decrees of Caesar This was a charge of treason and was a sure way to get a conviction. Probably the Julian Leges Majestatis are in mind rather than the definite decree of Claudius about the Jews (Acts 18:2). Saying that there is another king, one Jesus (ασιλεα ετερον — Basilea heteron legontes einai Iēsoun). Note the very order of the words in the Greek indirect discourse with the accusative and infinitive after legontes Basilea heteron comes first, a different king, another emperor than Caesar. This was the very charge that the smart student of the Pharisees and Herodians had tried to catch Jesus on (Mark 12:14). The Sanhedrin made it anyhow against Jesus to Pilate (Luke 23:2) and Pilate had to notice it. “Although the emperors never ventured to assume the title rex at Rome, in the Eastern provinces they were regularly termed basileus ” (Page). The Jews here, as before Pilate (John 19:15), renounce their dearest hope of a Messianic king. It is plain that Paul had preached about Jesus as the Messiah, King of the Kingdom of God over against the Roman Empire, a spiritual kingdom, to be sure, but the Jews here turn his language to his hurt as they did with Jesus. As a matter of fact Paul‘s preaching about the kingdom and the second coming of Christ was gravely misunderstood by the Christians at Thessalonica after his departure (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:4; 2 Thessalonians 2). The Jews were quick to seize upon his language about Jesus Christ to his own injury. Clearly here in Thessalonica Paul had faced the power of the Roman Empire in a new way and pictured over against it the grandeur of the reign of Christ. [source]
Acts 17:7 The decrees of Caesar [λεγοντες]
This was a charge of treason and was a sure way to get a conviction. Probably the Julian Leges Majestatis are in mind rather than the definite decree of Claudius about the Jews (Acts 18:2). Saying that there is another king, one Jesus (ασιλεα ετερον — Basilea heteron legontes einai Iēsoun). Note the very order of the words in the Greek indirect discourse with the accusative and infinitive after legontes Basilea heteron comes first, a different king, another emperor than Caesar. This was the very charge that the smart student of the Pharisees and Herodians had tried to catch Jesus on (Mark 12:14). The Sanhedrin made it anyhow against Jesus to Pilate (Luke 23:2) and Pilate had to notice it. “Although the emperors never ventured to assume the title rex at Rome, in the Eastern provinces they were regularly termed basileus ” (Page). The Jews here, as before Pilate (John 19:15), renounce their dearest hope of a Messianic king. It is plain that Paul had preached about Jesus as the Messiah, King of the Kingdom of God over against the Roman Empire, a spiritual kingdom, to be sure, but the Jews here turn his language to his hurt as they did with Jesus. As a matter of fact Paul‘s preaching about the kingdom and the second coming of Christ was gravely misunderstood by the Christians at Thessalonica after his departure (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:4; 2 Thessalonians 2). The Jews were quick to seize upon his language about Jesus Christ to his own injury. Clearly here in Thessalonica Paul had faced the power of the Roman Empire in a new way and pictured over against it the grandeur of the reign of Christ. [source]
Acts 17:7 Saying that there is another king, one Jesus [ασιλεα ετερον]
Note the very order of the words in the Greek indirect discourse with the accusative and infinitive after legontes Basilea heteron comes first, a different king, another emperor than Caesar. This was the very charge that the smart student of the Pharisees and Herodians had tried to catch Jesus on (Mark 12:14). The Sanhedrin made it anyhow against Jesus to Pilate (Luke 23:2) and Pilate had to notice it. “Although the emperors never ventured to assume the title rex at Rome, in the Eastern provinces they were regularly termed basileus ” (Page). The Jews here, as before Pilate (John 19:15), renounce their dearest hope of a Messianic king. It is plain that Paul had preached about Jesus as the Messiah, King of the Kingdom of God over against the Roman Empire, a spiritual kingdom, to be sure, but the Jews here turn his language to his hurt as they did with Jesus. As a matter of fact Paul‘s preaching about the kingdom and the second coming of Christ was gravely misunderstood by the Christians at Thessalonica after his departure (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:4; 2 Thessalonians 2). The Jews were quick to seize upon his language about Jesus Christ to his own injury. Clearly here in Thessalonica Paul had faced the power of the Roman Empire in a new way and pictured over against it the grandeur of the reign of Christ. [source]
Galatians 3:8 The scripture [ἡ γραφὴ]
See on 1 Timothy 5:18. The particular passage cited below. See on Mark 12:10; see on John 2:22; see on John 5:47footnote. [source]
Philippians 3:11 The resurrection of the dead [τὴν ἐξανάστασιν τὴν ἐκ νεκρῶν]
Rev., more correctly, from the dead. Lit., the resurrection, that, namely, from the dead. Compare Acts 4:2. This compound noun for resurrection is found only here, and expresses the rising from or from among ( ἐξ ), which is further emphasized by the repetition of the preposition ἐκ (from ). The kindred compound verb occurs Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28; Acts 15:5, but in neither passage of raising the dead. The word here does not differ in meaning from ἀνάστασις , commonly used, except that the idea is more vividly conceived as a rising from the earth. See Matthew 22:31; Luke 20:35. The phrase resurrection of or from the dead does not often occur in the Gospels, and resurrection ἐκ fromthe dead only twice in the New Testament, Acts 4:2; 1 Peter 1:3. For the phrase, see on Luke 16:31. Resurrection of the dead is a generic phrase, denoting the general resurrection of the dead, bad and good. Resurrection from the dead, in the only two passages where it occurs, signifies resurrection unto life. In 1 Peter 1:3, it is applied to Christ. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:5 Used we flattering words [ἐν λόγῳ κολακίας ἐγενηθήμεν]
Better, were we found using flattering discourse. Very literally and baldly it is, we came to pass in discourse of flattery. It means more than the mere fact that they were not flatterers: rather, they did not prove to be such in the course of their work. Similar periphrases with ἐν are found, Luke 22:44; Acts 22:17; 2 Corinthians 3:7; Philemon 2:7; with εἰς , Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:5. Κολακία flatteryN.T.oolxx. Rare in Class. Λόγῳ is explained by some as report or rumor. Common report did not charge us with being flatterers. This meaning is admissible, but the other is simpler. Paul says that they had not descended to flattery in order to make the gospel acceptable. They had not flattered men's self-complacency so as to blind them to their need of the radical work which the gospel demands. [source]
Hebrews 1:2 Whom he hath appointed heir of all things [ὃν ἔθηκεν κληρονόμον πάντων]
For ἔθηκεν appointedsee on John 15:16. For κληρονόμος heirsee on inheritance, 1 Peter 1:4; and comp. on Christ as heir, Mark 12:1-12. God eternally predestined the Son to be the possessor and sovereign of all things. Comp. Psalm 89:28. Heirship goes with sonship. See Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7. Christ attained the messianic lordship through incarnation. Something was acquired as the result of his incarnation which he did not possess before it, and could not have possessed without it. Equality with God was his birthright, but out of his human life, death, and resurrection came a type of sovereignty which could pertain to him only through his triumph over human sin in the flesh (see Hebrews 1:3), through his identification with men as their brother. Messianic lordship could not pertain to his preincarnate state: it is a matter of function, not of inherent power and majesty. He was essentially Son of God; he must become Son of man. [source]
James 4:5 The scripture [ἡ γραφὴ]
See on Mark 12:10. Properly, apassage of scripture. [source]
1 Peter 2:6 In the scripture [ἐν γραφῇ]
The best texts reject the article. Γραφή means a passage of scripture. See on Mark 12:10. Hence Rev., in scripture; margin, in a scripture. [source]
1 Peter 2:7 But for such as disbelieve [απιστουσιν δε]
Dative present active participle again of απιστεω — apisteō opposite of πιστευω — pisteuō (Luke 24:11).Was made the head of the corner (εγενητη εις κεπαλην γωνιας — egenēthē eis kephalēn gōnias). This verse is from Psalm 118:22 with evident allusion to Isaiah 28:16 (κεπαλην γωνιασακρογωνιαιον — kephalēn gōnias =οι οικοδομουντες — akrogōniaion). See Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17, where Jesus himself quotes Psalm 118:22 and applies the rejection of the stone by the builders (hoi oikodomountes the experts) to the Sanhedrin‘s conduct toward him. Peter quoted it also (and applied it as Jesus had done) in his speech at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 4:11). Here he quotes it again to the same purpose. [source]
1 Peter 2:7 Was made the head of the corner [εγενητη εις κεπαλην γωνιας]
This verse is from Psalm 118:22 with evident allusion to Isaiah 28:16 See Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17, where Jesus himself quotes Psalm 118:22 and applies the rejection of the stone by the builders Here he quotes it again to the same purpose. [source]
2 Peter 3:16 The other scriptures [τὰς λοιπὰς γραφὰς]
Showing that Paul's epistles were ranked as scripture. See on Mark 12:10. [source]
Revelation 1:7 They which [οἵτινες]
The compound relative describes a class. See on Matthew 13:52; see on Matthew 21:41; see on Mark 12:18. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 12:1 mean?

And He began to them in parables to speak A vineyard a man planted he placed around [it] a fence dug a wine vat built a tower rented out it to farmers traveled abroad
Καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς λαλεῖν Ἀμπελῶνα ἄνθρωπος ἐφύτευσεν περιέθηκεν φραγμὸν ὤρυξεν ὑπολήνιον ᾠκοδόμησεν πύργον ἐξέδετο αὐτὸν γεωργοῖς ἀπεδήμησεν

ἤρξατο  He  began 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἄρχω  
Sense: to be the first to do (anything), to begin.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
παραβολαῖς  parables 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: παραβολή  
Sense: a placing of one thing by the side of another, juxtaposition, as of ships in battle.
λαλεῖν  to  speak 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
Ἀμπελῶνα  A  vineyard 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀμπελών  
Sense: a vineyard.
ἄνθρωπος  a  man 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
ἐφύτευσεν  planted 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φυτεύω  
Sense: to plant.
περιέθηκεν  he  placed  around  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: περιτίθημι  
Sense: to place around, set about.
φραγμὸν  a  fence 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: φραγμός  
Sense: a hedge, a fence.
ὤρυξεν  dug 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ὀρύσσω  
Sense: to dig.
ὑπολήνιον  a  wine  vat 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὑπολήνιον  
Sense: a vessel placed under a press (and in the Orient usually sunk in the earth) to receive the expressed juice of the grapes, a pit.
ᾠκοδόμησεν  built 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: οἰκοδομέω 
Sense: to build a house, erect a building.
πύργον  a  tower 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: πύργος  
Sense: a tower.
ἐξέδετο  rented  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐκδίδωμι  
Sense: to give out of one’s house, power, hand, stores.
γεωργοῖς  to  farmers 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: γεωργός  
Sense: a husbandman, tiller of the soil, a vine dresser.
ἀπεδήμησεν  traveled  abroad 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποδημέω  
Sense: to go away into foreign parts, go abroad.