Mar 12:8 And they took him, and killed [him]...
Mar 12:8 And they took him, and killed [him], and cast [him] out of the vineyard.
Alternative: And they received him, put him to death, and cast [him] out of the vineyard.
Hidden meaning: This is the third specific incident (and the fourth verse) in a series of abuse by the vine dressers. This in Christ's common symbolic pattern of three plus one or in this case, three within three,. Each of the individual cases here, the three verbs represent the three key aspects of this event.
This incident is the emotional/relationship event because it involves the son. In it, "receive" represents the mental aspect. "Killed" is the physical aspect. "Cast out" is the emotional/relationship aspect.
In the first incident was the mental version: "Receive" represents the mental aspect. "Beaten" is the physical aspect. "Sent away" is the emotional/relationship aspect. For obvious reason, this event doesn't have a spiritual aspect.
In the second was the physical: "Stoning" is the physical aspect. "Wounded in the head" represents the mental aspect. "Sent away" is the emotional/relationship aspect. For obvious reason, this event doesn't have a spiritual aspect.
The question is: Why the pattern? It is a story telling device or is there a deeper message? Remember, the first place we see this pattern is in the three temptations of Christ. The pattern of the three temporal realms represent how we are separated from the eternal by getting trapped in the temporal. Here, the error begins with the desire for wealth and greed, which belong to the mental realm. It then proceeds through the physical, ending with the severing of relationships.
Thematically and Linguistically Related Verse(s): Mat 21:39 is the parallel verse in Matthew. Mar 12:3 and Mar 12:4 demonstrate the same series of three with earlier servants in this parable.
Vocabulary:
"They took" is from lambanô (lambano) which means "to take," "to receive," "to apprehend with the senses," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean seized with emotion.
"Killed him" is from apokteinô, which is a stronger form of kteinô, which means "to slay." It means to "condemn to death" and "put to death."
"Cast him" is from ekballô (ekballo) and means "throw out," "cast out of a place,"and "expose." Ek means "out of," "from," and "away from." Ballo is "to throw" or "to scatter."
"Vineyard" is from ampelôn, (ampelon) which means simply "vineyard."
