Matthew 21:39

KJV

And they caught him, and cast [him] out of the vineyard, and slew [him].

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they caught {G2983} him {G846}, and cast {G1544} him out of {G1854} the vineyard {G290}, and {G2532} slew {G615} him.

Complete Jewish Bible

So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Berean Standard Bible

So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:39 serves as the chilling climax of Jesus' Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, depicting the ultimate act of rebellion by the tenants: the seizure, expulsion, and murder of the vineyard owner's son. This verse powerfully foreshadows Jesus' own rejection and crucifixion outside the city of Jerusalem, revealing the depth of human hostility towards God's final messenger and the divine plan for redemption accomplished through this very act of rejection.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 21:39 is a central moment within the [Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers](/matthew/21-33-46 "The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers"), which Jesus tells to the chief priests and elders of the people in the Temple courts. This parable immediately follows Jesus' [Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem](/matthew/21-1-11 "Jesus' Triumphal Entry") and His [cleansing of the Temple](/matthew/21-12-17 "Jesus Cleanses the Temple"), actions that directly challenged the authority and practices of the religious establishment. The parable itself is a thinly veiled indictment of these leaders, who had consistently rejected God's prophets and were now poised to reject His Son. The narrative arc of the parable builds from the initial mistreatment of servants to the climactic murder of the son, mirroring Israel's history of rejecting God's messengers.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of a "vineyard" was a well-understood metaphor in ancient Israel, frequently used in the Old Testament to represent God's people, Israel (e.g., [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "The Song of the Vineyard") and [Psalm 80:8-19](/psalm/80-8-19 "God's Vineyard, Israel")). The practice of absentee landlords leasing out land to tenants for a share of the produce was common in the ancient Near East. The tenants' actions in the parable – seizing the son to claim the inheritance – reflect a desperate and unlawful attempt to usurp ownership, a concept understood within Jewish legal traditions regarding inheritance and property rights. The detail of casting the son "out of the vineyard" before slaying him also carries significant historical and cultural weight, foreshadowing Jesus' crucifixion [outside the city gates of Jerusalem](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffers Outside the Gate"), signifying His rejection by the very people He came to save.
* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several profound themes. Firstly, it highlights the **Rejection of God's Son**, portraying the ultimate act of defiance by those entrusted with God's kingdom. The tenants' escalating violence against the owner's representatives culminates in the murder of the heir, powerfully illustrating the spiritual blindness and hostility of the religious leaders towards Jesus, the Messiah. Secondly, it serves as a stark **Prophetic Foreshadowing of the Crucifixion**, specifically pointing to Jesus being put to death outside the city, emphasizing His rejection by those who should have welcomed Him. Thirdly, the tenants' actions embody the pervasive theme of **Human Rebellion Against Divine Authority**, a deep-seated desire to usurp God's rightful ownership and rule, a pattern seen throughout biblical history from the Fall onward. This parable thus underscores the consequences of rejecting God's persistent grace and the ultimate judgment that awaits those who refuse His final messenger, His Son, as seen in the broader context of [Matthew 21](/matthew/21 "Matthew 21 - Authority Challenged").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **caught (Greek, _lambánō_):** This word signifies a deliberate act of seizing or taking hold of someone. It conveys a sense of intentional capture, not an accidental encounter. In this context, it underscores the premeditated nature of the tenants' actions; they actively apprehended the son with malicious intent.
* **cast (Greek, _ekbállō_):** Meaning "to eject" or "to drive out," this term emphasizes the act of forceful expulsion. It is not merely a removal but a violent thrusting out, signifying rejection and banishment from a rightful place. The detail of casting "out of the vineyard" is crucial, as it prefigures Jesus' crucifixion outside Jerusalem, a symbol of His rejection by the religious and political powers.
* **slew (Greek, _apokteínō_):** This verb means "to kill outright" or "to put to death." It denotes a decisive and violent act of murder. The use of this word leaves no ambiguity about the tenants' ultimate intention and the horrific outcome for the son, highlighting the deliberate and murderous intent behind their actions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they caught him,"**: This initial phrase establishes the deliberate and premeditated nature of the tenants' actions. They did not stumble upon the son, but actively apprehended him, indicating a malicious intent to seize control and eliminate the rightful heir.
* **"and cast [him] out of the vineyard,"**: This clause describes the act of expulsion, a physical removal from the place of inheritance and authority. Symbolically, it signifies the rejection of the son's claim and foreshadows Jesus' crucifixion outside the city walls, an act of public shaming and rejection by the very people He came to save. This act of "casting out" precedes the killing, emphasizing the complete repudiation of the son's identity and authority before his demise.
* **"and slew [him]."**: This final clause states the ultimate, horrific act of murder. It is the culmination of the tenants' escalating rebellion and malice, signifying their complete disregard for the owner's authority and their desperate attempt to usurp the inheritance. The brutal finality of "slew him" underscores the gravity of their sin and the ultimate cost to the son.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 21:39 is rich in **Allegory**, where the entire parable functions as an extended metaphor. The "vineyard" **symbolizes** Israel, or more broadly, God's kingdom; the "owner" represents God; the "servants" are the prophets sent by God throughout Israel's history; the "tenants" are the religious leaders of Israel; and crucially, the "son" is Jesus Himself. This verse, therefore, is a powerful instance of **Prophecy** and **Foreshadowing**, directly predicting Jesus' impending crucifixion. The detail of being "cast out of the vineyard" before being slain is a specific prophetic detail, pointing to Jesus being crucified outside Jerusalem's city gate, a detail emphasized in [Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffers Outside the Gate"). The dramatic progression of the tenants' actions—from catching to casting out to slaying—also creates a sense of **Dramatic Irony**, as the audience knows the true identity of the Son and the tragic fulfillment of this parabolic event.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 21:39 profoundly connects to the broader biblical narrative of humanity's persistent rebellion against God's authority and His gracious, yet often rejected, overtures of salvation. The tenants' actions reflect the tragic history of Israel's rejection of God's prophets, culminating in their ultimate rejection of His Son. This verse underscores the immense cost of sin and the depth of human depravity, yet simultaneously highlights God's unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan, even through the suffering and death of His beloved Son. It reveals that Jesus' crucifixion was not an accident but a deliberate act of human wickedness, yet one that God sovereignly incorporated into His plan for the atonement of sins, thereby transforming an act of ultimate evil into the means of ultimate good.

* [Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffers Outside the Gate")
* [Acts 7:52](/acts/7-52 "Persecution of Prophets")
* [John 1:11](/john/1-11 "He Came to His Own")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:39 serves as a sobering mirror, inviting us to examine our own hearts and lives. Are we, like the wicked vinedressers, attempting to claim ownership over what rightfully belongs to God? Are we rejecting His authority, His Word, or His Son in subtle or overt ways? This verse compels us to consider the immense sacrifice of Christ, who, though the rightful heir, was seized, cast out, and slain for our redemption. It calls us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to Christ's Lordship and to embrace a life of faithful stewardship, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God, to be managed according to His will. The parable warns against the dangers of spiritual pride, self-interest, and the refusal to acknowledge God's sovereignty, reminding us that persistent rejection of God's grace leads to severe consequences. Instead, we are called to be faithful tenants, bearing fruit for the Master and eagerly welcoming His Son.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be acting like the wicked vinedressers, attempting to claim ownership or control over what rightfully belongs to God?**
* **How does the deliberate rejection and murder of the Son in this parable deepen my understanding of the cost of my own salvation?**
* **Am I truly welcoming Christ as the rightful heir and Lord of my life, or are there ways I am subtly "casting Him out" or resisting His authority?**

### FAQ
**Why did the tenants cast the son out of the vineyard before killing him?**

Answer: This detail is highly symbolic and prophetic. In the context of the parable, casting the son "out of the vineyard" signifies a complete rejection of his authority and claim to the inheritance. It was an act of disinheritance and public shaming. Prophetic fulfillment points to Jesus being crucified [outside the city gates of Jerusalem](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffers Outside the Gate"). This was a common practice for executions, especially for those deemed cursed or unworthy, emphasizing His rejection by the religious and political powers of His day. It underscores that His death was not just a murder, but an expulsion from the community that should have embraced Him.

**Who do the "vinedressers" or "tenants" represent in this parable?**

Answer: The "vinedressers" or "tenants" primarily represent the religious leaders of Israel (the chief priests and elders to whom Jesus was speaking, as indicated in [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Jesus' Authority Challenged")). They were entrusted with the care and stewardship of God's people (the "vineyard"). The parable indicts them for their historical rejection of God's prophets (the "servants") and their impending rejection and murder of God's Son, Jesus. More broadly, the parable can also serve as a warning to all who are given spiritual responsibility but fail to acknowledge God's ultimate ownership and authority.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:39, though a parable, is a profound Christ-centered prophecy. The "son" who is seized, cast out, and slain is none other than Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of God. This verse vividly foreshadows His crucifixion, not as an unforeseen tragedy, but as the culmination of human rebellion and, paradoxically, the sovereign plan of God for redemption. The act of being "cast out of the vineyard" finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus' suffering [outside the city gate](/hebrews/13-12 "Jesus Suffers Outside the Gate"), signifying His rejection by His own people, as prophesied in [Psalm 118:22](/psalm/118-22 "The Stone the Builders Rejected") and echoed by Peter in [Acts 4:11](/acts/4-11 "Jesus the Rejected Cornerstone"). Yet, this very act of rejection and murder, born of human wickedness, becomes the means by which God accomplishes salvation. Jesus, the slain Son, is the Lamb of God whose blood atones for the sins of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His death, though a demonstration of humanity's sin, is the ultimate display of God's love ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "God Demonstrates His Love")), leading to reconciliation and new life for all who believe ([Colossians 1:19-20](/colossians/1-19-20 "Reconciliation Through Christ")). Thus, the rejected and murdered Son becomes the cornerstone of God's new spiritual house, establishing a new covenant through His sacrifice.

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

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?