Matthew 21:35

KJV

And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} the husbandmen {G1092} took {G2983} his {G846} servants {G1401}, and beat {G1194} one {G3739},{G3303} and {G1161} killed {G615} another {G3739}, and {G1161} stoned {G3036} another {G3739}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But the tenants seized his servants -- this one they beat up, that one they killed, another they stoned.

Berean Standard Bible

But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

American Standard Version

And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:35 describes the escalating violence of the wicked vinedressers towards the landowner's servants in Jesus' Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. This pivotal verse illustrates the profound rebellion and ingratitude of those entrusted with God's vineyard, depicting their deliberate acts of abuse, murder, and stoning against the messengers sent to collect the landowner's rightful share, thereby foreshadowing the historical rejection of God's prophets by Israel's leadership.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 21:35 is an integral part of the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, found in [Matthew 21:33-46](/matthew/21-33-46 "The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers"). Spoken by Jesus in Jerusalem shortly after His triumphal entry and the cleansing of the Temple, this parable directly addresses the chief priests and elders who had challenged His authority ([Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Jesus' Authority Questioned")). The narrative establishes an allegorical framework where the landowner represents God, the vineyard symbolizes Israel (or God's kingdom), the vinedressers (husbandmen) signify the religious leaders of Israel, and the servants represent the prophets God repeatedly sent to His people. Verse 35 specifically details the initial, violent response of the vinedressers to the landowner's first delegation of servants, setting the stage for the escalating conflict that culminates in the sending of the son.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The parable draws on the common agricultural practice of tenant farming prevalent in ancient Israel. Landowners would lease their vineyards to tenants, expecting a portion of the harvest as rent. Such agreements often involved sending servants to collect the produce. The actions of the vinedressers—beating, killing, and stoning the servants—would have been understood by Jesus' audience as a flagrant violation of customary law and a profound act of rebellion against the landowner's legitimate authority and property rights. Stoning, in particular, was a well-known form of capital punishment in Jewish law, often reserved for severe offenses such as blasphemy or idolatry, underscoring the extreme nature of the vinedressers' rejection. This historical context illuminates the parable's allegorical depth, reflecting Israel's consistent pattern of persecuting and rejecting the prophets sent by God throughout its history.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the parable and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **Rejection of God's Messengers**, vividly portraying the escalating hostility and violence directed by the vinedressers toward the landowner's representatives. This mirrors the long and tragic history of Israel's rejection and persecution of God's prophets, as seen in numerous Old Testament accounts, such as the suffering of Jeremiah ([Jeremiah 38:6](/jeremiah/38-6 "Jeremiah Cast into a Cistern")) or the martyrdom of Isaiah. Secondly, the actions of the husbandmen reveal a deep-seated **Spiritual Rebellion and Disobedience** against the landowner's rightful authority and ownership. They not only refuse to give the landowner his due fruit but actively harm his representatives, illustrating the spiritual disobedience and usurpation of authority by those entrusted with God's vineyard. Lastly, the verse underscores the theme of **Divine Patience and Human Wickedness**. Despite the cruel treatment of the first group of servants, the landowner continues to send more, demonstrating his patience and desire for a rightful outcome, yet the vinedressers' response only intensifies their wickedness, leading to increased violence and setting the stage for divine judgment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **husbandmen (Greek, _geōrgós'_):** From *gē* (earth) and the base of *ergon* (work), this term literally means "land-worker" or "farmer." In the context of the parable, it signifies those entrusted with the care and cultivation of the vineyard. Their role implies stewardship and responsibility to manage the land and yield its fruit, returning a portion to the owner. The term underscores their betrayal of trust and usurpation of authority.
* **beat (Greek, _dérō'_):** A primary verb meaning "to flay," and by implication, "to scourge" or "to thrash." This word denotes severe physical abuse, indicating a brutal and painful assault. It represents the initial, yet deeply violent, mistreatment of God's messengers, reflecting the various forms of persecution endured by the prophets.
* **stoned (Greek, _lithoboléō'_):** Derived from *lithos* (stone) and *ballō* (to throw), meaning "to throw stones" or "to lapidate." This action signifies a public, often capital, form of punishment. In the biblical context, stoning was a method of execution for serious offenses, highlighting the ultimate rejection and martyrdom faced by many of God's prophets, such as Zechariah son of Jehoiada ([2 Chronicles 24:20-21](/2_chronicles/24-20-21 "Zechariah Stoned")) or Naboth ([1 Kings 21:13](/1_kings/21-13 "Naboth Stoned")).

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the husbandmen took his servants":** This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and calculated nature of the vinedressers' actions. They actively seized the landowner's representatives, indicating a conscious decision to defy authority rather than a spontaneous outburst. This "taking" signifies their intent to assert control and prevent the collection of the rightful produce.
* **"and beat one":** This describes the initial act of physical violence. The beating represents the various forms of mistreatment, abuse, and suffering inflicted upon God's prophets by the people and their leaders, who often scorned, imprisoned, or physically harmed them for delivering unwelcome divine messages.
* **"and killed another":** The violence escalates dramatically from beating to murder. This signifies the ultimate rejection and persecution of God's messengers, where their message was so unwelcome or threatening to the established order that their lives were taken. This represents the martyrdom of many prophets throughout Israel's history.
* **"and stoned another":** This specific act of violence, stoning, marks the climax of the vinedressers' initial aggression. As a severe form of execution, often associated with blasphemy or rebellion against God, it underscores the profound wickedness and utter contempt the vinedressers held for the landowner and his authority. It directly alludes to the historical reality of prophets being stoned for speaking God's truth.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its message. The entire parable functions as an **Allegory**, where each element (landowner, vineyard, vinedressers, servants) symbolizes a deeper spiritual reality, allowing Jesus to expose the spiritual state of the Jewish leaders without directly accusing them initially. There is a clear **Climax** or **Escalation** in the vinedressers' actions: from merely beating a servant, they progress to killing one, and finally, to the extreme act of stoning another. This progression highlights the increasing depravity and hardened rebellion of the vinedressers, building dramatic tension and emphasizing the severity of their sin. Furthermore, the **Symbolism** embedded in the narrative is crucial: the servants are symbolic of the prophets God sent to Israel, repeatedly calling His people to repentance and faithfulness, only to be met with rejection and violence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 21:35 profoundly illustrates the persistent and tragic pattern of humanity's rebellion against divine authority, specifically highlighting Israel's historical rejection of God's messengers. The vinedressers' actions are not merely economic misconduct but a deep spiritual betrayal, reflecting a desire to usurp what rightfully belongs to God. This verse underscores the immense patience of God, who repeatedly sends His servants despite their mistreatment, contrasting sharply with the escalating wickedness of humanity. It serves as a stark reminder that rejecting God's representatives is tantamount to rejecting God Himself, carrying severe consequences for those who refuse to heed divine warnings and calls to repentance. The parable sets the stage for the ultimate act of rejection—the killing of the Son—which, paradoxically, becomes the means of ultimate redemption.

* [Acts 7:52](/acts/7-52 "Stephen's Accusation Against the Sanhedrin"): "Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers."
* [Hebrews 11:36-38](/hebrews/11-36-38 "The Faith of the Prophets"): "And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:)"
* [Jeremiah 7:25-26](/jeremiah/7-25-26 "Israel's Disobedience"): "Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:35 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual rebellion and the rejection of God's truth. For us today, it challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we like the wicked vinedressers, seeking to claim ownership over what belongs to God, resisting His messengers, and refusing to yield the fruit of our lives? This verse reminds us of the profound accountability that comes with being entrusted with God's Word and His kingdom. Whether we are in positions of spiritual leadership or are individual believers, we are called to be faithful stewards, not usurpers. It compels us to cultivate a receptive heart, eager to hear and obey God's voice, whether it comes through His written Word, the preaching of His servants, or the conviction of the Holy Spirit. To resist or harm those who faithfully proclaim God's truth, in any form, is to resist God Himself, and the parable's unfolding judgment on the wicked vinedressers serves as a solemn reminder of the inevitable consequences of persistent rebellion against divine will and grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we, in our modern context, risk "beating, killing, or stoning" God's messengers or His truth?**
* **In what areas of our lives might we be tempted to usurp God's authority and fail to yield the fruit He expects?**
* **What does this parable teach us about the importance of discernment and a humble heart in receiving God's Word, even when it challenges our comfort or control?**

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

Answer: The "servants" in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers represent the long line of prophets and messengers whom God sent to His people Israel throughout their history. From Moses to Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and beyond, these individuals were divinely appointed to call Israel to repentance, remind them of their covenant obligations, and guide them back to faithfulness. Their mistreatment by the vinedressers—beating, killing, and stoning—allegorically depicts the historical persecution and rejection these prophets faced at the hands of Israel's leaders and people, as highlighted in passages like [Acts 7:52](/acts/7-52 "Stephen's Sermon on Israel's Rejection of Prophets").

**Why did the husbandmen resort to such extreme violence against the servants?**

Answer: The husbandmen's extreme violence stemmed from their deep-seated greed, covetousness, and a rebellious desire to usurp ownership of the vineyard. They saw the landowner's rightful claim to the fruit as an infringement on what they had come to view as their own. Their actions were a deliberate act of defiance against legitimate authority, aiming to intimidate the landowner into relinquishing his claim. This mirrors the spiritual rebellion of Israel's religious leaders, who rejected God's prophets because their messages exposed their sin, challenged their authority, and called them to a faithfulness they refused to embrace, ultimately leading them to reject God's ultimate messenger, His Son.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:35, with its grim depiction of the vinedressers' escalating violence against the landowner's servants, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the ultimate rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ Himself. The repeated sending of servants, only to be beaten, killed, and stoned, foreshadows God's final and most significant act of sending His own Son, the heir to the vineyard. As the parable continues in [Matthew 21:37](/matthew/21-37 "The Landowner Sends His Son"), the landowner declares, "Last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son." Yet, the vinedressers, recognizing the heir, conspired to kill him to seize his inheritance ([Matthew 21:38-39](/matthew/21-38-39 "The Vinedressers Kill the Son")). This chilling narrative directly points to the historical reality of Jesus' crucifixion at the hands of those who should have recognized and received Him—the very religious leaders to whom this parable was addressed. Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John the Baptist Identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God")), became the ultimate "stoned" one, rejected and killed outside the city gates ([Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")), not for His own sin, but as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity. His death, though an act of ultimate human wickedness and rebellion, was simultaneously God's sovereign plan for redemption, fulfilling the prophetic pattern of suffering and rejection, and ultimately leading to His glorious resurrection and the establishment of a new covenant with those who would receive Him ([Luke 24:46-47](/luke/24-46-47 "Christ's Suffering and Resurrection Foretold")).

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

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.

Hebrews 11:36

And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

Hebrews 11:37

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

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.

Acts 7:52

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.