And they caught him, and cast [him] out of the vineyard, and slew [him].
And {G2532} they caught {G2983} him {G846}, and cast {G1544} him out of {G1854} the vineyard {G290}, and {G2532} slew {G615} him.
So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him.
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.
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Acts 2:23
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: -
Matthew 26:57
¶ And they that had laid hold on Jesus led [him] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. -
Luke 22:52
Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? -
Luke 22:54
¶ Then took they him, and led [him], and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. -
James 5:6
Ye have condemned [and] killed the just; [and] he doth not resist you. -
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: -
Acts 4:25
Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Context
Matthew 21:39 is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Matthew 21:33-46), which Jesus told to the chief priests and elders of the people in Jerusalem. This parable immediately follows Jesus' Triumphal Entry and His cleansing of the Temple, events that directly challenged the religious establishment.
In the parable, the "vineyard" represents Israel, or more broadly, God's kingdom on earth, which He entrusted to certain "vinedressers" (the religious leaders). The "servants" sent by the owner are the prophets God sent throughout Israel's history, many of whom were persecuted and killed. The "son" is Jesus Himself, the rightful heir.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insight
The KJV phrase "slew him" comes from the Greek word apokteinō (ἀποκτείνω), which means to kill, slay, or put to death. It denotes a deliberate and violent act. The action of "casting him out" (Greek: ekballō - ἐκβάλλω) before slaying him highlights a deliberate expulsion and rejection of the son's authority and rightful claim before the final act of murder.
Significance and Application
Matthew 21:39 is crucial for understanding the theological context of Jesus' crucifixion. It reveals that His death was not an accident but the direct, deliberate outcome of human rejection, fulfilling prophecy. The parable serves as a stark warning to all who would reject God's gracious offer of salvation through His Son.
For believers today, this verse underscores the immense cost of our redemption and the depth of God's love in sending His Son despite knowing He would be rejected and killed. It also calls us to examine our own lives: are we faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us, or do we, like the wicked vinedressers, seek to claim ownership and reject His authority? The parable ultimately points to the ultimate judgment that will come upon those who reject God's final messenger, His Son (see John 3:18).