Matthew 21:38

But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

But {G1161} when the husbandmen {G1092} saw {G1492} the son {G5207}, they said {G2036} among {G1722} themselves {G1438}, This {G3778} is {G2076} the heir {G2818}; come {G1205}, let us kill {G615} him {G846}, and {G2532} let us seize {G2722} on his {G846} inheritance {G2817}.

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, `This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance!'

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’

But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.

Matthew 21:38 is a pivotal verse within Jesus's Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, delivered to the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem. This verse reveals the extreme malice and covetousness of the vinedressers, who represent the religious leaders of Israel, as they plot to murder the landowner's son, who symbolizes Jesus Christ.

Context

This verse is part of a powerful parable (Matthew 21:33-46) that Jesus told shortly before His crucifixion. The landowner represents God, the vineyard is Israel, and the servants sent to collect fruit are the prophets God sent throughout history. When the landowner finally sends his beloved son, hoping for respect, the vinedressers plot his demise. This parable served as a direct indictment of the Jewish religious authorities who had consistently rejected God's messengers and were about to reject and kill His ultimate messenger, His Son, Jesus. It highlights their spiritual blindness and their desire to maintain control and authority, symbolized by the "inheritance."

Key Themes

  • Rejection of God's Son: The most striking theme is the deliberate and malicious rejection of Jesus, the true "heir" of all things. The vinedressers' intent to kill the son mirrors the religious leaders' plot against Jesus, leading to His crucifixion.
  • Usurpation and Greed: The phrase "let us seize on his inheritance" exposes the vinedressers' deep-seated covetousness and their desire to usurp what rightfully belonged to another. This reflects the religious leaders' desire to retain their power and status, even at the cost of opposing God's plan.
  • Divine Authority and Judgment: The parable underscores God's ultimate authority over His vineyard (Israel) and the severe consequences awaiting those who reject His gracious overtures and abuse their entrusted responsibilities. The vinedressers' actions sealed their own doom, foreshadowing the judgment that would fall upon those who rejected Christ.
  • Messianic Prophecy: Jesus, in telling this parable, implicitly identifies Himself as the Son and the rightful heir, fulfilling numerous Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's coming and rejection. This echoes the truth that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Husbandmen" (geōrgoi - γεωργοί): This Greek term refers to farmers or cultivators of the land. It emphasizes their role as stewards entrusted with the care of the vineyard, highlighting the irony of their betrayal and rebellion against the owner.
  • "Heir" (klēronomos - κληρονόμος): This word signifies one who inherits an estate or property. Jesus's use of this term for the son unequivocally points to His divine status and rightful claim over all creation and specifically over God's people, Israel.
  • "Seize on his inheritance": The Greek phrase, schōmen tēn klēronomian autou, conveys a strong sense of violent appropriation and illicit gain. It reveals the vinedressers' motive: not just to avoid sharing the fruit, but to completely take over what was not theirs.

Practical Application

Matthew 21:38 serves as a timeless warning against rejecting God's ultimate revelation in Jesus Christ. It challenges us to examine our own hearts:

  • Do we recognize Jesus as the rightful heir, the Son of God with all authority, or do we subtly try to "seize" control of our own lives and spiritual paths, apart from Him?
  • Are we stewards or usurpers? God entrusts us with gifts, resources, and responsibilities. This verse reminds us that we are accountable to Him for how we manage what He has given us, rather than selfishly claiming it as our own.
  • The danger of spiritual blindness: The vinedressers, despite clear evidence, refused to acknowledge the son's identity. This warns against spiritual pride and a hardened heart that rejects truth for self-interest, leading to tragic consequences, as seen in the ultimate fate of the wicked vinedressers.

Ultimately, this verse underscores the profound truth that Jesus is the Son and the Heir, and our response to Him determines our eternal destiny. It sets the stage for Jesus's declaration about being the stone the builders rejected, which would become the cornerstone.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 20:14

    But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

  • Genesis 37:18

    And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

  • Genesis 37:20

    Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

  • 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;

  • Mark 12:7

    But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

  • Mark 12:8

    And they took him, and killed [him], and cast [him] out of the vineyard.

  • Acts 4:27

    For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

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