Matthew 21:33

KJV

¶ Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

KJV (with Strong's)

Hear {G191} another {G243} parable {G3850}: There was {G2258} a certain {G444}{G5100} householder {G3617}, which {G3748} planted {G5452} a vineyard {G290}, and {G2532} hedged {G5418} it {G846} round about {G4060}, and {G2532} digged {G3736} a winepress {G3025} in {G1722} it {G846}, and {G2532} built {G3618} a tower {G4444}, and {G2532} let {G1554} it {G846} out {G1554} to husbandmen {G1092}, and {G2532} went into a far country {G589}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"Now listen to another parable. There was a farmer who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower; then he rented it to tenants and left.

Berean Standard Bible

Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

American Standard Version

Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:33 introduces the profound Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, delivered by Jesus in the Temple courts during His final week in Jerusalem. This verse meticulously sets the scene, describing a householder's extensive and careful preparation of a vineyard before entrusting it to tenants and departing. It lays the foundational imagery for a narrative that allegorically portrays God's meticulous provision for Israel, His people, and the subsequent stewardship entrusted to its religious leaders, thereby foreshadowing their ultimate rejection of His divine messengers, culminating in the rejection of His Son.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This parable is strategically placed by Jesus immediately after His dramatic [cleansing of the Temple](/matthew/21-12 "Matthew 21:12 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple") and the subsequent challenge to His authority by the chief priests and elders, as recorded in [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - Jesus' Authority Questioned"). It follows directly from the [Parable of the Two Sons](/matthew/21-28-32 "Matthew 21:28-32 - The Parable of the Two Sons"), which also targeted the hypocrisy and unresponsiveness of the religious leaders. By presenting this parable, Jesus continues His direct confrontation, using imagery that would have been immediately recognizable and convicting to His Jewish audience, particularly those in authority. The narrative flow demonstrates Jesus' escalating pronouncements of judgment against those who claimed spiritual authority but failed to produce righteousness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Vineyards were a common and vital part of the agricultural landscape in ancient Israel, making the imagery highly relatable to Jesus' audience. The detailed description of the vineyard's preparation—planting, hedging, digging a winepress, and building a tower—reflects the substantial investment and care required for such an enterprise. This level of detail would have conveyed the owner's earnest expectation of a bountiful harvest. The practice of absentee landlords leasing land to tenants (husbandmen) was also a known economic arrangement of the time. The owner's departure "into a far country" implies a period of trust and patience, during which the tenants were expected to manage the property and yield its produce. This cultural backdrop enriches the parable's allegorical meaning, emphasizing God's generous provision and the responsibility placed upon those entrusted with His "vineyard" (Israel).
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 21:33 introduces several pivotal themes that are developed throughout the parable and the broader Gospel narrative. The primary theme is **Divine Ownership and Provision**, where the householder's meticulous preparation of the vineyard underscores God's complete and generous investment in His people, Israel, whom the vineyard symbolizes, echoing the imagery found in [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard - God's Vineyard, Israel"). This leads to the theme of **Stewardship and Accountability**, as the "husbandmen" are entrusted with the vineyard, highlighting the grave responsibility of Israel's religious leaders to manage God's covenant and His people faithfully and to produce spiritual fruit. Lastly, the householder's departure "into a far country" subtly introduces the theme of **God's Patience and Longsuffering**, setting the stage for the subsequent sending of servants and, ultimately, the son, which foreshadows God's long history of sending prophets and His ultimate provision in Jesus Christ, as seen throughout [the history of Israel](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - Covenant at Sinai") and its relationship with God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **householder (Greek, _oikodespótēs'_):** This term (G3617) denotes the head of a family or the master of a house. In the context of the parable, it emphasizes the absolute authority, ownership, and benevolent provision of the one who established and equipped the vineyard. It points to God as the sovereign owner of His people and His kingdom.
* **vineyard (Greek, _ampelṓn'_):** Referring to a plot of ground planted with grapevines (G290), the "vineyard" is a potent and familiar Old Testament symbol for Israel. Its presence here immediately signals to the Jewish audience that the parable concerns God's covenant people and His expectations for them.
* **husbandmen (Greek, _geōrgós'_):** This word (G1092) means a land-worker or farmer. In the parable, these "husbandmen" are the tenants to whom the vineyard is leased. They represent the religious leaders of Israel—the chief priests, elders, and Pharisees—who were entrusted with the spiritual care and guidance of God's people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Hear another parable:"**: This opening phrase serves as a direct address from Jesus to His audience, signaling the commencement of a new, significant teaching. The word "another" links it thematically to the preceding Parable of the Two Sons, indicating a continued challenge to the religious leaders.
* **"There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard,"**: This introduces the central figure, the "householder" (representing God), and His primary act of establishment—planting a "vineyard" (representing Israel). This imagery immediately evokes Old Testament prophecies, particularly [Isaiah 5](/isaiah/5 "Isaiah 5 - The Song of the Vineyard"), where Israel is depicted as God's carefully cultivated vineyard.
* **"and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower,"**: These clauses detail the householder's meticulous and extensive provisions for the vineyard. The "hedge" signifies protection from outside threats, the "winepress" indicates an expectation of fruitfulness and the means to process it, and the "tower" suggests vigilance and oversight. Together, these elements underscore God's complete and generous investment in His people, providing everything necessary for them to flourish and produce spiritual fruit.
* **"and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:"**: This final clause describes the householder's act of entrusting the vineyard to tenants (the "husbandmen," representing Israel's religious leaders) and his subsequent departure. The act of "letting it out" implies a transfer of stewardship and responsibility, not ownership. The "far country" signifies a period of absence, during which the owner patiently awaits the produce, setting the stage for the subsequent events of the parable—the sending of servants and, ultimately, the son.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 21:33, as the opening of the parable, masterfully employs several literary devices. The primary device is **Allegory**, where the entire narrative functions as an extended metaphor. The "householder" represents God, the "vineyard" symbolizes Israel, and the "husbandmen" stand for the religious leaders of Israel. This allegorical framework allows Jesus to convey profound theological truths about God's relationship with His people and the leaders' responsibility in a compelling narrative form. **Symbolism** is also heavily at play, with each element of the vineyard's preparation carrying deeper meaning: the "hedge" symbolizes divine protection, the "winepress" signifies the expected spiritual fruit and the means to process it, and the "tower" represents watchful care and oversight. These symbols emphasize God's comprehensive provision. Finally, the phrase "went into a far country" serves as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the owner's long-suffering patience and setting the stage for the subsequent events of the parable, particularly the sending of messengers and the eventual arrival of the owner's son, which directly foreshadows God's sending of prophets and ultimately Jesus Himself.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 21:33 establishes the theological foundation for the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty and His meticulous care for His covenant people, Israel. The householder's thorough preparation of the vineyard reflects God's generous provision and investment in Israel, from the Exodus to the giving of the Law and the establishment of the temple. By entrusting the vineyard to husbandmen, God delegates stewardship, implying an expectation of faithfulness and fruitfulness from those in leadership. This verse sets the stage for the parable's core message: God's patience in repeatedly sending messengers (prophets) to His people, only to have them rejected by the very leaders entrusted with their care, ultimately leading to the climactic rejection of His Son.

* [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard")
* [Psalm 80:8-19](/psalm/80-8-19 "Psalm 80 - The Vine from Egypt")
* [Jeremiah 2:21](/jeremiah/2-21 "Jeremiah 2:21 - Degenerate Vine")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:33, though setting the scene for a parable about ancient Israel, carries timeless lessons for every believer. The householder's meticulous preparation of the vineyard reminds us of God's immense generosity and the complete provision He has made for our spiritual lives. Just as the vineyard was equipped for fruitfulness, so too has God provided us with His Word, His Spirit, and His community to enable us to bear spiritual fruit. We are all "husbandmen" in some capacity, entrusted with gifts, talents, resources, and opportunities within God's kingdom. This verse calls us to examine our stewardship: are we faithfully cultivating the "vineyard" God has placed in our care? Are we producing the fruit of righteousness, love, and service that He expects? Or are we neglecting our responsibilities, failing to acknowledge His ownership, and perhaps even resisting His gentle prompts? This parable challenges us to live with a profound awareness of God's ownership and our accountability, ensuring that our lives reflect His investment and bring glory to His name.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the householder's meticulous preparation of the vineyard challenge my understanding of God's comprehensive provision in my own life?**
* **In what specific areas of my life (talents, resources, relationships, time) do I recognize myself as a "husbandman" entrusted with God's "vineyard"?**
* **What "fruit" does God expect to see in my life, and am I actively cultivating it through obedience and faithful stewardship?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "vineyard" in this parable?**

Answer: The vineyard is a profoundly significant symbol in Jewish tradition, primarily representing the nation of Israel. This imagery is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, most notably in [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard"), where God is depicted as the diligent owner who planted Israel, cared for it meticulously, and expected a harvest of righteousness and justice. In this parable, the vineyard underscores God's special covenant relationship with Israel and His expectations of its spiritual leaders.

**Who do the "householder" and "husbandmen" represent?**

Answer: The "householder" unequivocally represents God, the ultimate owner, creator, and provider of all things. He is the one who establishes, equips, and expects fruit. The "husbandmen" or tenants represent the religious leaders of Israel—the chief priests, elders, and Pharisees—who were entrusted with the spiritual care and guidance of God's people. They were responsible for nurturing the "vineyard" (Israel) and yielding its spiritual produce to God, but tragically, they failed in their stewardship and rejected God's messengers.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:33, as the opening of the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, sets the stage for a profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The meticulous preparation of the vineyard by the householder speaks of God's long history of covenant faithfulness to Israel, providing everything necessary for them to be a fruitful people. The subsequent narrative, though not fully in this verse, climaxes with the sending of the householder's "beloved son," a clear foreshadowing of God sending Jesus, His only begotten Son, into the world. The rejection of the son by the husbandmen in the parable directly parallels the historical rejection and crucifixion of Jesus by the Jewish leaders, as prophesied and later fulfilled. This parable underscores that Jesus is not merely another messenger but the ultimate and final heir, the very Son of God, through whom God speaks His last word, as stated in [Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God's Final Word in His Son"). His death, though a rejection by the unfaithful stewards, became the means by which the "kingdom of God" would be taken from them and given to a people "producing its fruit" ([Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "Matthew 21:43 - Kingdom Taken Away")), referring to the Church, comprised of both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ. Thus, this parable, initiated by Matthew 21:33, powerfully illustrates God's sovereign plan of salvation, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who, though rejected by the former stewards, is now the cornerstone of a new, fruitful vineyard—His Church ([Acts 2:36](/acts/2-36 "Acts 2:36 - God Made Him Lord and Christ")).

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

Isaiah 5:1

¶ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

Isaiah 5:4

What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

Mark 12:1

¶ And he began to speak unto them by parables. A [certain] man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about [it], and digged [a place for] the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

Mark 12:12

And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Luke 20:9

¶ Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

Luke 20:19

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

Jeremiah 2:21

Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?