Luke 20:10

And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent [him] away empty.

And {G2532} at {G1722} the season {G2540} he sent {G649} a servant {G1401} to {G4314} the husbandmen {G1092}, that {G2443} they should give {G1325} him {G846} of {G575} the fruit {G2590} of the vineyard {G290}: but {G1161} the husbandmen {G1092} beat {G1194} him {G846}, and sent him away {G1821} empty {G2756}.

When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants to receive his share of the crop from the vineyard; but the tenants beat him up and sent him away empty-handed.

At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.

And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

Commentary

Luke 20:10 KJV Commentary

"And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent [him] away empty."

Context

This verse is part of the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (or Tenants), which Jesus tells immediately after being challenged by the chief priests and scribes about His authority. In this powerful allegory, the "vineyard" represents Israel, the "owner" is God, and the "husbandmen" (tenants) symbolize the religious leaders of Israel who were entrusted with God's people. The "servant" sent by the owner represents the long line of prophets God sent throughout Israel's history to call His people to repentance and faithfulness, seeking the "fruit" of righteousness.

Key Themes

  • Divine Ownership and Expectation: God, as the rightful owner, expects "fruit" from His vineyard. This "fruit" signifies the spiritual obedience, righteousness, and worship due to Him from His people.
  • Rejection of God's Messengers: The husbandmen's violent reaction to the servant illustrates Israel's historical pattern of rejecting, persecuting, and often killing the prophets God sent to them. This theme is consistently found throughout the Old Testament, where God repeatedly sent His servants, the prophets, only to be ignored or mistreated (e.g., Jeremiah 7:25-26).
  • Escalating Rebellion: This verse marks the beginning of the tenants' escalating defiance and violence. Their refusal to acknowledge the owner's rights and their brutal treatment of his messenger foreshadows their even greater rejection later in the parable.

Linguistic Insights

The term "husbandmen" comes from the Greek word geōrgois (γεωργοῖς), which means cultivators or farmers. This highlights their role as those entrusted with the care and cultivation of the vineyard, implying a responsibility to produce fruit for the owner. The phrase "beat him" translates from the Greek deirantes (δείραντες), indicating a severe physical assault, often implying a whipping or flaying. This emphasizes the harsh and unjust treatment of the owner's messenger.

Practical Application

This parable serves as a profound warning against spiritual rebellion and the rejection of God's rightful claims on our lives. Just as the husbandmen were entrusted with the vineyard, believers today are entrusted with God's grace, His Word, and His resources.

  • We are called to be faithful stewards, producing spiritual fruit for God's glory, rather than claiming ownership or abusing His provisions.
  • The resistance to God's messengers in the past can be paralleled with modern-day resistance to God's Word or the promptings of His Spirit. We must be careful not to "beat" or reject the messages God sends, whether through His written Word, through faithful preachers, or through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
  • This verse reminds us that God consistently seeks a harvest from His people, and there are consequences for those who refuse to yield it.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Nehemiah 9:26

    Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:15

    And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16

    But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till [there was] no remedy.

  • Matthew 21:34

    And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

  • Matthew 21:36

    Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

  • Mark 12:2

    And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

  • Mark 12:5

    And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
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