Luke 20:15

KJV

So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed [him]. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

KJV (with Strong's)

So {G2532} they cast {G1544} him {G846} out of {G1854} the vineyard {G290}, and killed {G615} him. What {G5101} therefore {G3767} shall {G4160} the lord {G2962} of the vineyard {G290} do {G4160} unto them {G846}?

Complete Jewish Bible

And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

Berean Standard Bible

So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

American Standard Version

And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 20:15 encapsulates the climactic act of rebellion in Jesus' Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, where the tenants, consumed by greed and a desire for inheritance, cast out and murder the vineyard owner's beloved son. This pivotal moment serves as a stark prophetic indictment against the religious leaders of Israel, foreshadowing their ultimate rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, while simultaneously setting the stage for the owner's (God's) righteous judgment upon them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the dramatic turning point in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, which Jesus delivers in the temple courts to the chief priests, scribes, and elders (Luke 20:1). The parable begins with a vineyard owner who leases his vineyard to tenants and repeatedly sends servants to collect his share of the fruit. Each time, the tenants abuse, wound, and even kill these servants (Luke 20:10-12). The owner's final, desperate act is to send his "beloved son," believing they will respect him (Luke 20:13). Verse 15 describes the tenants' ultimate depravity: instead of respecting the son, they conspire to kill him outside the vineyard, hoping to claim his inheritance. Jesus then immediately poses a rhetorical question to his audience, forcing them to pronounce judgment upon themselves, unknowingly or knowingly (Luke 20:15b). The parable concludes with Jesus' pronouncement of judgment and the audience's reaction (Luke 20:16-19).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The parable draws on common agricultural practices in ancient Israel, where landowners would lease vineyards to tenants, often for a share of the produce. Such leases were well-understood, and the rights of both owner and tenant were generally recognized. The "vineyard" itself is a potent Old Testament symbol for the nation of Israel, particularly as found in [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard"), where God is the owner and Israel is the vineyard. The tenants, in this allegorical context, represent the religious leaders and the people of Israel who were entrusted with God's blessings and responsibilities. Jesus delivers this parable in the temple, the very heart of Jewish religious authority, making His indictment direct and unmistakable to those who held power. The act of casting someone "out of the vineyard" and killing them outside the city walls also carries significant cultural and theological weight, foreshadowing Jesus' own crucifixion outside Jerusalem's gates (cf. [Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")).
* **Key Themes:** Luke 20:15 contributes significantly to several major theological and narrative themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the consistent **rejection of God's messengers** throughout Israel's history, from the prophets of old (represented by the servants) to the ultimate messenger, the Son Himself. This theme is echoed in Stephen's sermon in [Acts 7:51-53](/acts/7-51-53 "Stephen's Accusation of Rejecting the Prophets"). Secondly, the verse powerfully foreshadows the **ultimate sacrifice of the Son of God**, emphasizing that Jesus is not merely a prophet but the very heir, whose death would be at the hands of those entrusted with God's vineyard. This rejection culminates in the crucifixion, a central event in the Gospels. Thirdly, the parable underscores the principle of **divine judgment and accountability**. Jesus' rhetorical question following the act of murder forces the audience to confront the inevitable consequences for those who reject God's ultimate overture of grace. This foreshadows the judgment that would come upon Jerusalem and its leadership, as prophesied elsewhere in Luke (e.g., [Luke 21:20-24](/luke/21-20-24 "The Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **cast (Greek, _ekbállō'_):** G1544, from ἐκ and βάλλω; to eject (literally or figuratively):--bring forth, cast (forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put forth (out), send away (forth, out). The use of _ekbállō_ here is deliberate, signifying a forceful expulsion, not merely a gentle removal. It emphasizes the tenants' violent intent to dispossess the son and claim the vineyard for themselves, mirroring the ultimate rejection of Jesus by the Jewish leaders who sought to remove Him from their midst and authority.
* **vineyard (Greek, _ampelṓn'_):** G290, from ἄμπελος; a vineyard:--vineyard. As noted in the context, the vineyard is a profound symbol in biblical literature, consistently representing Israel as God's chosen people and the domain of His covenant relationship. The tenants' actions within this symbolic space underscore their usurpation of God's authority and their failure to produce the expected fruit of righteousness.
* **killed (Greek, _apokteínō'_):** G615, from ἀπό and (to slay); to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy:--put to death, kill, slay. This word denotes a decisive, final act of murder. In the Greek text, the verb is in the aorist tense, indicating a completed action, which prophetically confirms the certainty of Jesus' impending death. The act of killing the son is the ultimate expression of the tenants' rebellion and their desire to sever all ties with the owner, believing it would secure their inheritance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So they cast him out of the vineyard,"**: This clause describes the physical removal of the son from the place of his rightful inheritance and authority. The act of casting out is not just a spatial relocation but a symbolic rejection of his claim and identity. For Jesus, this foreshadows His crucifixion outside the city walls of Jerusalem, signifying His rejection by the religious establishment and His suffering "outside the camp" (cf. [Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")).
* **"and killed [him]."**: This is the shocking climax of the tenants' wickedness. Their intent was not merely to reject or harm, but to utterly eliminate the heir, believing his death would transfer ownership to them. This directly prophesies the crucifixion of Jesus, where the religious leaders, driven by envy and fear, sought to "kill" Him to maintain their own power and perceived authority. The inclusion of "[him]" in the KJV clarifies the object of their murderous intent.
* **"What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?"**: This is Jesus' rhetorical question, posed directly to His audience. The "therefore" (G3767, _oûn_) emphasizes the logical consequence of the tenants' heinous act. By asking this question, Jesus compels His listeners, particularly the chief priests and elders, to pronounce judgment on the very actions they were about to commit or condone. It forces them to acknowledge the justice of the owner's (God's) inevitable retribution for such egregious rebellion and murder.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 20:15 is rich in literary devices, primarily functioning as a key moment within an **Allegory**. The entire Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers is an extended metaphor where elements of the story directly correspond to spiritual realities. The vineyard owner represents God, the vineyard represents Israel, the servants are the prophets sent throughout history, the tenants are the religious leaders of Israel, and the beloved son is Jesus Christ. The act of casting out and killing the son is a powerful instance of **Prophetic Foreshadowing**, directly predicting Jesus' crucifixion outside Jerusalem. The phrase "cast him out of the vineyard" also employs **Symbolism**, indicating not just physical expulsion but also spiritual rejection and the idea of being put to death outside the holy city. Finally, Jesus' concluding query, "What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?", is a potent **Rhetorical Question**. It is not asked for information but to provoke thought, self-condemnation, and to highlight the undeniable justice of the impending judgment upon those who reject God's ultimate messenger.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 20:15 stands as a profound theological statement on human rebellion against divine authority and the ultimate cost of such defiance. It reveals God's persistent grace in sending His messengers, culminating in His beloved Son, yet also His unwavering justice in the face of rejection. The tenants' act of murder underscores humanity's profound sinfulness and capacity for evil, even against the very source of their blessings. Theologically, it highlights the necessity of Christ's atoning death, not as an accident, but as the culmination of a long history of human rebellion, yet simultaneously part of God's sovereign plan for redemption. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, connecting the Old Testament narrative of God's dealings with Israel to the New Testament reality of Christ's crucifixion and the establishment of the new covenant.

* [Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "The Kingdom Taken Away") - This verse, from the parallel account, explicitly states the consequence: "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it."
* [Acts 7:52](/acts/7-52 "Stephen's Accusation of Rejecting Prophets") - Stephen's sermon directly accuses the Jewish leaders: "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers."
* [Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate") - This passage explicitly connects Jesus' suffering "outside the gate" to the act of being "cast out," drawing a direct parallel to the parable's imagery.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 20:15 compels us to deeply examine our own hearts and our response to God's overtures. Are we like the wicked tenants, who, despite being entrusted with God's blessings and responsibilities, seek to usurp His authority and reject His messengers, especially His Son? Or are we faithful stewards, bearing the fruit of righteousness and humbly submitting to the Lord of the vineyard? This verse serves as a powerful reminder that rejection of Christ carries eternal consequences, while acceptance leads to life. It challenges us to consider how we treat the "vineyard" (our lives, our gifts, our communities) that God has entrusted to us. Our faith is not merely intellectual assent but a call to active, obedient stewardship, recognizing Jesus as the beloved Son and rightful Heir.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like the tenants, be tempted to reject God's authority or His messengers in my own life?**
* **How am I stewarding the "vineyard" (my gifts, resources, relationships, time) that God has entrusted to me? Am I bearing fruit for Him?**
* **What does this parable teach me about the seriousness of rejecting Jesus Christ, the Son of God?**
* **How does the prophetic nature of this verse deepen my appreciation for God's sovereign plan and the sacrifice of Christ?**

### FAQ

**Why was the son cast "out of the vineyard" before being killed?**

Answer: The act of casting the son "out of the vineyard" before killing him is highly symbolic and prophetically significant. In the parable, it signifies the tenants' complete rejection of the son's authority and their desire to disassociate his death from the vineyard itself, perhaps to avoid direct culpability within the boundaries of the owner's property, or to make a public statement of his disinheritance. Theologically, it powerfully foreshadows Jesus' crucifixion outside the city walls of Jerusalem (cf. [John 19:17-20](/john/19-17-20 "Jesus Carries His Cross to Golgotha")), emphasizing His rejection by the religious establishment and His suffering "outside the camp" (as mentioned in [Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")). This act underscores that Jesus' death was not an internal affair of the Jewish temple system but a cosmic event of rejection by humanity.

**Who do the "tenants" in the parable represent?**

Answer: The "tenants" in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers primarily represent the religious leaders of Israel—the chief priests, scribes, and elders—to whom Jesus was speaking directly in the temple courts (Luke 20:1). They were the ones entrusted with the spiritual care and leadership of God's "vineyard," Israel. Their actions in the parable reflect their historical rejection of God's prophets (the servants) and their ultimate intention to reject and kill God's Son, Jesus, in order to maintain their own power and perceived control. While the parable has broader implications for all who reject God's authority, its immediate and primary target was the corrupt religious leadership of Jesus' day.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 20:15 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The "beloved son" cast out of the vineyard and killed is none other than Jesus, God's unique and beloved Son, who came to His own, but His own did not receive Him ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "He Came to His Own")). The act of being "cast out of the vineyard" vividly portrays Jesus' suffering and death outside the city gates of Jerusalem, a place of public shame and execution, signifying His rejection by the very people He came to save. Yet, this horrific act, born of human rebellion and greed, was paradoxically part of God's sovereign plan for redemption. The death of the Son, though a testament to human depravity, became the means by which God's ultimate inheritance—eternal life and reconciliation with Him—is secured for all who believe. Jesus, the rejected cornerstone, became the head of the corner ([Luke 20:17](/luke/20-17 "The Stone the Builders Rejected")), demonstrating that His suffering and death were not a defeat, but the victorious path to salvation, fulfilling the will of the Father and establishing a new covenant through His blood ([Luke 22:20](/luke/22-20 "The New Covenant in My Blood")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 13:12

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Matthew 21:37

But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

Matthew 21:40

When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

Mark 12:6

Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

Mark 12:9

What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.