He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard [it], they said, God forbid.
He shall come {G2064} and {G2532} destroy {G622} these {G5128} husbandmen {G1092}, and {G2532} shall give {G1325} the vineyard {G290} to others {G243}. And {G1161} when they heard {G191} it, they said {G2036}, God forbid {G3361}{G1096}.
He will come and put an end to those tenants and give the vineyard to others!” When the people heard this, they said, “Heaven forbid!”
He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”
He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
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Luke 19:27
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me. -
Matthew 21:41
They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out [his] vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. -
Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. -
Nehemiah 9:36
Behold, we [are] servants this day, and [for] the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we [are] servants in it: -
Nehemiah 9:37
And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we [are] in great distress. -
Psalms 21:8
Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. -
Psalms 21:10
Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
Luke 20:16 concludes the primary action and pronouncement within the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, delivered by Jesus to the religious leaders of His day. This verse reveals the severe judgment the vineyard owner (God) would bring upon the unfaithful husbandmen (the Jewish religious authorities) who rejected and killed His servants (the prophets) and finally His beloved son (Jesus Christ). The subsequent reaction, "God forbid," from the audience underscores their immediate understanding of the parable's pointed message against them.
Context
This powerful parable (Luke 20:9-19, also found in Matthew 21:33-46 and Mark 12:1-12) was spoken by Jesus in the temple courts during Passion Week, directly after the chief priests, scribes, and elders challenged His authority. The "vineyard" symbolizes Israel, or more broadly, God's kingdom and His covenant people. The "husbandmen" are the unfaithful spiritual leaders who were entrusted with its care. The sending of "servants" represents God's dispatch of prophets throughout history, who were often persecuted, and ultimately, the sending of His "beloved son," Jesus, whom they intended to kill to seize the inheritance for themselves. Luke 20:16 explicitly states the divine judgment: the destruction of these unfaithful stewards and the transfer of the vineyard to others.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "God forbid" translates the Greek expression mē genoito (μὴ γένοιτο). This is a strong optative negation, meaning "may it never happen," "by no means," or "far be it." It's a powerful exclamation of aversion, often used by Paul in his epistles (e.g., Romans 3:4) to emphatically reject a proposition. Here, it underscores the religious leaders' dismay and horror at the implications of Jesus' words, recognizing themselves as the condemned "husbandmen."
Practical Application and Reflection
Luke 20:16 serves as a timeless warning about accountability and stewardship. It reminds us that spiritual privilege comes with great responsibility. For believers today, it prompts reflection on:
This verse powerfully encapsulates the unfolding drama of God's redemptive plan and the consequences of rejecting the cornerstone of that plan, Jesus Christ (Luke 20:17-18).