Matthew 21:37

But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

But {G1161} last of all {G5305} he sent {G649} unto {G4314} them {G846} his {G846} son {G5207}, saying {G3004}, They will reverence {G1788} my {G3450} son {G5207}.

Finally, he sent them his son, saying, `My son they will respect.'

Finally, he sent his son to them. โ€˜They will respect my son,โ€™ he said.

But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

Commentary

Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (or Vineyard Tenants), told by Jesus to the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem. The parable describes a landowner who planted a vineyard, leased it to tenants, and then sent servants to collect his fruit. These servants were repeatedly beaten, stoned, and killed by the tenants. Matthew 21:37 marks the landowner's final, desperate act of sending his own son, hoping for a different outcome.

Key Themes

  • God's Ultimate Provision: The sending of the "son" represents God's final, greatest act of sending His own Son, Jesus Christ, after a long history of sending prophets (Hebrews 1:1-2). This highlights God's immense patience and persistent desire for humanity to turn to Him.
  • Jesus' Divine Sonship and Heirship: The "son" is clearly Jesus, identified as the rightful "heir" in the subsequent verse (Matthew 21:38). This verse powerfully asserts Jesus' unique relationship with God the Father and His supreme authority as the rightful owner of the spiritual "vineyard" (Israel and ultimately the world).
  • Expected Reverence vs. Actual Rejection: The landowner's hope ("They will reverence my son") reveals God's expectation that His ultimate messenger would be honored. However, the parable quickly pivots to the tenants' wicked plan to kill the son to seize the inheritance, foreshadowing the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus by the religious leaders of that time.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "reverence" here is entrepo (แผฮฝฯ„ฯฮญฯ€ฯ‰). While it primarily means "to respect" or "to have regard for," it also carries the nuance of "to be ashamed before" or "to put to shame." The landowner hoped his tenants would be awestruck, humbled, or shamed into rightful behavior by the presence of his own son, recognizing his authority and their obligation. This underscores the profound expectation of honor due to the Son of God.

Practical Application

This verse challenges us to consider how we respond to God's ultimate revelation in Jesus Christ. Do we reverence Him, acknowledging His divine authority and embracing His message, or do we, like the wicked tenants, reject Him for our own selfish desires? It reminds us of God's immense patience throughout history, culminating in the sending of His Son. Yet, it also implicitly warns of the consequences of persistent rejection, as the parable concludes with the tenants' judgment. Our eternal destiny hinges on our response to Jesus, the Son whom God sent.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Zephaniah 3:7

    I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, [and] corrupted all their doings.

  • Mark 12:6

    Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

  • Matthew 3:17

    And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

  • Hebrews 1:1

    ยถ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

  • Hebrews 1:2

    Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

  • John 3:16

    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

  • 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?
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