Matthew 21:36

KJV

Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

KJV (with Strong's)

Again {G3825}, he sent {G649} other {G243} servants {G1401} more {G4119} than the first {G4413}: and {G2532} they did {G4160} unto them {G846} likewise {G5615}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So he sent some other servants, more than the first group, and they did the same to them.

Berean Standard Bible

Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them.

American Standard Version

Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:36, a pivotal verse within Jesus's Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, illustrates the vineyard owner's extraordinary patience and persistent attempts to collect his due fruit by sending a second, larger group of servants after the first were brutally mistreated. This act underscores divine long-suffering in the face of escalating human rebellion, as the tenants respond to these new messengers with the same contempt and violence, setting the stage for the parable's climactic and tragic conclusion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 21:36 is nestled within the allegorical Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, which Jesus delivers to the chief priests and elders in the temple courts of Jerusalem (Matthew 21:23). This parable immediately follows the Triumphal Entry and Jesus's cleansing of the temple, actions that directly challenged the religious authorities. The preceding verse, [Matthew 21:35](/matthew/21-35 "Matthew 21:35 - Mistreatment of the First Servants"), details the severe abuse and murder of the first group of servants sent by the owner. Verse 36, by stating "Again, he sent other servants more than the first," highlights the owner's remarkable forbearance and the tenants' escalating wickedness, creating a narrative tension that builds towards the sending of the son in [Matthew 21:37](/matthew/21-37 "Matthew 21:37 - The Sending of the Son"). The parable as a whole, concluding in [Matthew 21:46](/matthew/21-46 "Matthew 21:46 - The Parable's Conclusion"), serves as a direct indictment of Israel's leadership and a prophetic warning of their impending judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The parable draws upon familiar imagery of viticulture, a common agricultural practice in ancient Israel. Vineyards were significant economic assets, and the practice of leasing land to tenants was well-known. The owner's expectation of a share of the harvest was a standard contractual agreement. The "servants" would have been understood as agents of the owner, sent to collect his rightful portion. The repeated mistreatment and murder of these agents by the tenants would have been recognized as a profound act of rebellion, not merely against the agents themselves, but against the owner's authority and property rights. This scenario would resonate with the historical pattern of God sending prophets to Israel, only for them to be rejected, persecuted, and killed by the nation's leaders and people, a pattern frequently lamented in the Old Testament (e.g., [Jeremiah 7:25-26](/jeremiah/7-25-26 "Jeremiah 7:25-26 - Disobedience to the Prophets")).
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 21:36 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the parable and the broader Gospel of Matthew. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Patience and Persistence**, showcasing God's enduring grace and His repeated attempts to call His people to repentance and fruitfulness, even in the face of their persistent rebellion. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, such as in [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - God's Patience and Desire for Repentance"), which speaks of the Lord's long-suffering. Secondly, the verse highlights the **Rejection of God's Messengers**, with the "servants" allegorically representing the long line of prophets sent by God to Israel. Their repeated mistreatment by the tenants mirrors Israel's historical pattern of persecuting and rejecting those who spoke God's truth, a pattern explicitly condemned by Stephen in [Acts 7:52](/acts/7-52 "Acts 7:52 - Persecution of the Prophets"). Finally, the phrase "they did unto them likewise" underscores the **Escalation of Disobedience and Rebellion**, demonstrating a hardened heart and increasing defiance on the part of the tenants, which foreshadows their ultimate and fatal rejection of the owner's son, Jesus Christ, in [Matthew 21:37-39](/matthew/21-37-39 "Matthew 21:37-39 - The Son's Rejection").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sent (Greek, _apostéllō'_):** From ἀπό and στέλλω, meaning to "set apart" or "send out (properly, on a mission)." This word emphasizes the deliberate, purposeful dispatch of the servants by the owner, highlighting their role as authorized representatives with a specific task. It implies a divine commission when applied to God's messengers.
* **servants (Greek, _doûlos'_):** From δέω, meaning "a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)." This term denotes a bondservant, emphasizing their complete dedication, submission, and absolute loyalty to the master's will. In the context of the parable, it signifies the prophets as those wholly devoted to God's message and mission.
* **likewise (Greek, _hōsaútōs'_):** From ὡς and an adverb from αὐτός, meaning "as thus" or "in the same way." This adverb powerfully conveys the consistent and unchanging nature of the tenants' wicked response, indicating a pattern of behavior that is both defiant and escalating in its implications, rather than a one-off act.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Again, he sent other servants more than the first":** This clause reveals the owner's remarkable patience and persistence. Despite the violent mistreatment of the initial group of servants (as described in Matthew 21:35), the owner does not immediately resort to judgment. Instead, he extends grace by sending a *second* group, and notably, "more than the first," indicating an even greater effort and perhaps a larger, more authoritative delegation, underscoring his desire for reconciliation and the rightful return of his produce.
* **"and they did unto them likewise":** This concluding phrase tragically highlights the tenants' unyielding rebellion and hardened hearts. The word "likewise" signifies that the second group of servants suffered the same fate or similar severe abuse as the first. This demonstrates a pattern of escalating defiance, moving beyond mere negligence to overt and repeated hostility, sealing their guilt and setting the stage for the owner's final, desperate act of sending his son.

#### Literary Devices
The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, and Matthew 21:36 within it, is rich in **Allegory**, where the narrative elements consistently represent deeper theological realities. The owner is God, the vineyard is Israel, the tenants are Israel's religious leaders, and the servants are the prophets. The phrase "Again, he sent other servants more than the first" employs **Repetition** and **Amplification** to underscore God's persistent grace and the tenants' escalating obstinacy. The use of "likewise" further emphasizes this pattern of repeated rejection. There is also strong **Symbolism** present: the "fruit" symbolizes the obedience and spiritual righteousness God expected from His people, and the repeated failure to render it, coupled with the abuse of messengers, symbolizes Israel's historical unfaithfulness and rejection of divine authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 21:36 profoundly illustrates God's steadfast love and long-suffering towards His people, even in the face of their persistent rebellion. It reflects a divine characteristic of giving repeated opportunities for repentance and obedience before judgment. The sending of "other servants more than the first" underscores the abundance of God's grace and His unwavering commitment to His covenant. However, the tenants' consistent rejection of these messengers also highlights the grave consequences of hardening one's heart against divine appeals, foreshadowing the ultimate rejection of the Son and the subsequent transfer of the kingdom to those who will bear fruit.

* [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard")
* [Jeremiah 7:25-26](/jeremiah/7-25-26 "Jeremiah 7:25-26 - Disobedience to the Prophets")
* [Acts 7:51-53](/acts/7-51-53 "Acts 7:51-53 - Stephen's Accusation of Rebellion")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:36 is a powerful reminder of God's relentless pursuit of humanity, even when met with indifference or outright hostility. The owner's patience in sending more servants, despite the previous violence, mirrors God's persistent grace in our lives. We are constantly presented with opportunities to respond to His call, whether through His Word, the Spirit's conviction, or the witness of His people. This verse challenges us to examine our own hearts: Do we recognize and heed God's messengers in our lives, or do we, like the wicked tenants, harden our hearts against His truth? The parable warns that persistent rejection of God's overtures leads to severe consequences. Therefore, we are called to cultivate a posture of humility and responsiveness, ensuring that we are not found among those who resist the divine will, but rather among those who produce the fruit of righteousness in due season.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be resisting God's "messengers" or promptings in my own life today?**
* **How does God's persistent patience, as seen in this verse, encourage me in my faith journey?**
* **What "fruit" is God seeking from my life, and how can I ensure I am producing it?**

### FAQ
**Who do the "servants" in this parable represent, particularly in Matthew 21:36?**

Answer: In the allegorical Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, the "servants" consistently represent the prophets whom God sent throughout Israel's history. These prophets were God's messengers, tasked with calling the nation, and particularly its leaders, to repentance, obedience, and faithfulness to the covenant. The repeated sending of "other servants more than the first" in [Matthew 21:36](/matthew/21-36 "Matthew 21:36 - The Second Group of Servants") symbolizes God's continuous and abundant sending of His prophetic word, despite the historical pattern of rejection and persecution these messengers faced at the hands of Israel's leadership, as recounted in passages like [Nehemiah 9:26](/nehemiah/9-26 "Nehemiah 9:26 - Rejection of God's Prophets") and [Jeremiah 25:4](/jeremiah/25-4 "Jeremiah 25:4 - God's Persistent Sending of Prophets").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:36, within the broader Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus Himself. The sending of "other servants more than the first" represents God's long history of sending prophets to Israel, whom the nation consistently rejected and persecuted. This historical pattern of rebellion culminates in the ultimate act of divine patience and human depravity: the sending of the owner's beloved son in [Matthew 21:37](/matthew/21-37 "Matthew 21:37 - The Sending of the Son"). His rejection and crucifixion by the religious leaders and ultimately by the people of Israel, as foreshadowed by the tenants' murder of the son in [Matthew 21:38-39](/matthew/21-38-39 "Matthew 21:38-39 - The Son's Murder"), reveal the depths of human sin and the tragic culmination of Israel's historical unfaithfulness. Yet, it is through this very rejection and death that God's ultimate plan of salvation is accomplished. Jesus, the rejected stone, becomes the cornerstone of a new spiritual house, as prophesied in [Psalm 118:22](/psalm/118-22 "Psalm 118:22 - The Stone the Builders Rejected") and directly applied by Jesus in [Matthew 21:42](/matthew/21-42 "Matthew 21:42 - The Cornerstone"). Thus, the parable points directly to Christ's atoning sacrifice and the subsequent transfer of the kingdom to those who would bear fruit, demonstrating that God's patience, though immense, ultimately leads to a just and redemptive resolution through His Son.

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

Matthew 22:4

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage.