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.

And {G1161} when {G3753} the time {G2540} of the fruit {G2590} drew near {G1448}, he sent {G649} his {G846} servants {G1401} to {G4314} the husbandmen {G1092}, that they might receive {G2983} the fruits {G2590} of it {G846}.

When harvest-time came, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the crop.

When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit.

And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.

Commentary

Matthew 21:34 is a pivotal verse within Jesus' Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, a powerful allegory delivered during His final days in Jerusalem, shortly after His triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple. This parable, found in Matthew 21:33-46, is a direct challenge to the religious leaders of Israel.

Context

The parable describes a landowner who plants a vineyard, fences it, digs a winepress, builds a tower, and then leases it to "husbandmen" (vine-growers or tenants). This setup signifies God's meticulous care in establishing Israel as His chosen nation, providing all necessary provisions for them to bear spiritual fruit. The "time of the fruit" drawing near indicates the expected season for harvest, signifying God's anticipation of righteousness and obedience from His people. The sending of "servants" represents God's consistent dispatch of prophets throughout Israel's history, who were sent to call the nation to repentance and to claim the spiritual "fruits" of their covenant relationship with God. This verse sets the stage for the escalating rebellion of the tenants against the landowner's rightful claims.

Key Themes

  • Divine Expectation and Patience: God, the vineyard owner, patiently waits for the harvest, expecting spiritual fruit from those He has entrusted with His vineyard. This reflects God's enduring desire for His people to live righteously and obey His commands, as seen in Isaiah 5:4.
  • God's Persistent Messengers: The "servants" symbolize the long line of prophets God sent to Israel (e.g., Jeremiah 7:25, 2 Chronicles 36:15), calling them to accountability and to return to Him.
  • Accountability for Stewardship: The "husbandmen" were entrusted with a valuable resource and were expected to manage it for the owner's benefit. This highlights the principle of stewardship—that all we have is from God, and we are accountable for how we manage it.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "husbandmen" (Greek: geōrgois, γεωργοῖς) literally means "earth-workers" or "cultivators." It emphasizes their role as stewards of the vineyard, responsible for its productivity.
  • "Fruits" (Greek: karpous, καρποὺς) in this context refers not just to literal grapes, but metaphorically to the spiritual harvest—righteousness, obedience, and the works that reflect a right relationship with God. This aligns with other biblical uses of "fruit" to describe spiritual outcomes, such as the fruit of the Spirit.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God has invested in humanity, providing us with life, resources, and His truth. He expects a return on that investment—not in a transactional sense, but as a natural outflow of a relationship with Him. For believers today, this means:

  • Bearing Spiritual Fruit: We are called to produce fruit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), and to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).
  • Responding to God's Call: Just as the servants were sent, God continues to send His Word and His Spirit to guide us. We are to listen and respond obediently, avoiding the hardness of heart displayed by the wicked tenants who ultimately rejected the Son (Matthew 21:38).
  • Stewardship: We are stewards of the gifts, talents, and resources God has given us. We are accountable for how we use them for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Zechariah 1:3

    Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • Zechariah 1:6

    But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

  • 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 12:2

    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.
← Back