Mark 12:2

“And at the season he sent unto the husbandman a servant, etc..] The Evangelist Matthew says, “when the time of the fruit drew near”, (<402134>Matthew 21:34); and so the Persic version here reads. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, “in its own time”, or “season”, which was the fourth year from the planting of it; and then it was holy to the Lord; and might not be eaten until the fifth year, (<031923>Leviticus 19:23-25). According to the Jewish canons f203, a vineyard of the fourth year was marked with clods of earth, to show it was not to be eaten of; and the fruit of it was brought up to Jerusalem, from every place that was but a day's journey from thence, there to be eaten, or redeemed.…”

“See this parable explained in the notes at Matthew 21:33-46. See this parable explained in the notes at Matthew 21:33-46. return to 'Top of Page'”

“12:2-5 The time of the grape harvest probably refers to the time, some four years after planting, when a new vineyard would produce its first harvest. The owner’s share of the crop would have been a quantity of grapes or wine, given in payment for the lease of the vineyard. • In the Old Testament, prophets are often referred to as servants (Jer 7:25-26; Amos 3:7; Zech 1:6); they were repeatedly mistreated and killed by Israelite leaders (1 Kgs 18:13; 19:10, 14; 2 Chr 24:20-27; 36:15-16; Jer 26:20-23; Neh 9:26; see Matt 23:34, 37; 1 Thes 2:15).”

“at: Psa 1:3; Mat 21:34; Luk 20:10 a servant: Jdg 6:8-10; Kg2 17:13; Ch2 36:15; Ezr 9:11; Jer 25:4, Jer 25:5, Jer 35:15, Jer 44:4; Mic 7:1; Zac 1:3-6, Zac 7:7; Luk 12:48; Joh 15:1-8; Heb 1:1 Mark 12:3”