Matthew 21:40

KJV

When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

KJV (with Strong's)

When {G3752} the lord {G2962} therefore {G3767} of the vineyard {G290} cometh {G2064}, what {G5101} will he do {G4160} unto those {G1565} husbandmen {G1092}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”

American Standard Version

When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:40 is a pivotal rhetorical question posed by Jesus at the climax of the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, serving as a direct challenge to the Jewish religious leaders who opposed Him. This question forces His audience to pronounce judgment upon themselves, revealing the inevitable and severe consequences awaiting those who reject God's gracious overtures, abuse their entrusted stewardship, and ultimately murder His Son, thereby incurring divine wrath and the forfeiture of their spiritual privileges.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 21:40 is the culminating question in the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (also known as the Parable of the Tenants), which Jesus tells immediately after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the cleansing of the temple. Following these events, Jesus' authority was directly challenged by the chief priests and elders in [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - Questioning Jesus' Authority"). In response, Jesus delivers a series of parables, beginning with the Parable of the Two Sons, followed by this parable, starting in [Matthew 21:33](/matthew/21-33 "Matthew 21:33 - The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen"). The narrative describes a landowner who establishes a vineyard, leases it to tenants, and repeatedly sends servants to collect his share of the produce, only for them to be abused and killed. Finally, he sends his own son, believing they will respect him, but they conspire to kill him to seize his inheritance. Verse 40 is Jesus' direct inquiry, prompting His listeners to articulate the just outcome for such wicked tenants, thereby unknowingly condemning themselves, a judgment explicitly stated in [Matthew 21:41](/matthew/21-41 "Matthew 21:41 - The Tenants' Self-Condemnation").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The parable draws heavily on the agricultural practices and social structures of ancient Israel, particularly the concept of a vineyard, which was a common and potent metaphor for Israel itself in the Old Testament (e.g., [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard")). Landowners would often lease their vineyards to tenants (husbandmen) who would cultivate the land and pay a portion of the harvest as rent. The repeated sending of servants reflects the long history of God sending prophets to Israel, who were often rejected and persecuted. The sending of the son signifies the ultimate divine messenger, Jesus Himself. The historical backdrop is the escalating tension between Jesus and the Jewish religious establishment (the chief priests, elders, and Pharisees), who were the spiritual leaders and "stewards" of God's people. Their rejection of Jesus' messianic claims and their plotting to kill Him directly parallel the actions of the wicked husbandmen in the parable.

* **Key Themes:** The parable, and specifically the question in [Matthew 21:40](/matthew/21-40 "Matthew 21:40 - The Lord's Question"), contributes to several major theological and narrative themes within Matthew's Gospel and broader biblical theology. One central theme is **Divine Authority and Stewardship**, where God is depicted as the rightful "lord of the vineyard," the sovereign owner of all creation and the covenant people, Israel. The "husbandmen" symbolize the religious leaders of Israel, entrusted with the care of God's vineyard, highlighting their profound failure as stewards and their attempt to usurp divine authority. Another critical theme is the **Rejection of God's Messengers and Son**, as the escalating violence against the servants foreshadows Israel's historical persecution of God's prophets. The ultimate act of killing the son directly points to the Jewish leaders' impending rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, God's beloved Son, a theme powerfully echoed in the "stone which the builders rejected" in [Matthew 21:42](/matthew/21-42 "Matthew 21:42 - The Rejected Cornerstone"). This leads to the theme of the **Consequences of Unbelief and Disobedience**, as the question forces the listeners to confront the inevitable and severe judgment awaiting those who persistently reject God's gracious overtures and abuse their entrusted responsibilities. Finally, the implied answer to the question directly leads to the theme of **The Transfer of the Kingdom**, as Jesus declares in [Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "Matthew 21:43 - The Kingdom Taken Away") that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to a nation producing its fruits, signifying a shift in divine favor and the expansion of God's people beyond ethnic Israel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **lord (Greek, _kýrios'_):** From a root suggesting supremacy, this word denotes one who is supreme in authority, a controller, or Master. In this context, it unequivocally signifies God as the absolute owner and ultimate authority over His vineyard (Israel/creation). The use of "lord" here reinforces the divine sovereignty that the husbandmen are defying.
* **vineyard (Greek, _ampelṓn'_):** This term refers to a plot of land planted with grapevines. Biblically, the vineyard is a powerful and frequent metaphor for Israel, emphasizing God's careful cultivation, protection, and expectation of fruit from His chosen people. The "vineyard" represents God's covenant people and the spiritual blessings entrusted to them.
* **husbandmen (Greek, _geōrgós'_):** Derived from "earth" (γῆ) and "work" (ἔργον), this word means a "land-worker" or "farmer." In the parable, the husbandmen are the tenants entrusted with the care and cultivation of the vineyard. They represent the religious leaders of Israel, who were given the responsibility to nurture and guide God's people, but instead exploited them and rejected the owner's rightful claims.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh,"**: This clause establishes the inevitability of the owner's return and reckoning. The "lord" represents God, and His "coming" signifies a time of divine visitation and judgment. The "therefore" (G3767, _oûn_) logically connects this question to the preceding narrative of the husbandmen's escalating rebellion, implying that the owner's response is a necessary consequence of their actions.
* **"what will he do unto those husbandmen?"**: This is a direct, rhetorical question posed by Jesus to His audience, particularly the chief priests and elders. It forces them to consider the just and logical outcome for such egregious behavior. By asking them to pronounce judgment, Jesus leads them to condemn themselves, as they are the very "husbandmen" in the parable who have rejected God's messengers and are about to reject His Son. The question anticipates a severe and decisive action from the lord.

#### Literary Devices
The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, and specifically [Matthew 21:40](/matthew/21-40 "Matthew 21:40 - The Lord's Question"), is rich in **Allegory**. Every major element in the story represents a deeper spiritual reality: the landowner is God, the vineyard is Israel (or God's kingdom), the servants are the prophets, and the son is Jesus. The "husbandmen" represent the Jewish religious leaders. The question in verse 40 functions as a powerful **Rhetorical Question**, designed not to elicit new information but to provoke self-condemnation and underscore the obvious justice of the landowner's impending action. Jesus uses this device to force His adversaries to articulate the very judgment that awaits them. Furthermore, the entire parable, culminating in the question about the son's fate, serves as profound **Foreshadowing** and **Prophecy**. It clearly predicts Jesus' impending rejection and crucifixion by the Jewish authorities, as well as the subsequent judgment upon them and the transfer of the kingdom to a new people who will bear fruit.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 21:40, as the climactic question of the parable, encapsulates profound theological truths about God's sovereignty, human accountability, and the consequences of rejecting divine authority. It underscores God's patience and persistent grace in sending messengers, yet also His unwavering justice in holding stewards accountable. The parable's trajectory, leading to the murder of the son, directly foreshadows the crucifixion of Jesus, making it a powerful statement on the cost of humanity's rebellion against God's ultimate revelation. The question forces the listener to acknowledge that such a grave offense against the owner's son demands a severe and just recompense, setting the stage for the declaration that the kingdom will be taken from those who reject its true heir. This passage thus highlights the critical choice humanity faces in responding to God's gracious initiatives, particularly in the person of His Son.

* [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard")
* [Mark 12:9](/mark/12-9 "Mark 12:9 - The Parable in Mark")
* [Luke 20:15](/luke/20-15 "Luke 20:15 - The Parable in Luke")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:40, though a question from a parable, carries profound implications for personal reflection and application today. It serves as a stark reminder that we are all stewards of God's blessings—our lives, talents, resources, and opportunities. Just as the husbandmen were entrusted with the vineyard, we are entrusted with the "vineyard" of our lives and the spiritual truths of God's kingdom. The question challenges us to consider: Are we producing the fruit God expects, or are we selfishly hoarding what has been given to us? Are we honoring God's messengers and, supremely, His Son, Jesus Christ, or are we, in our own ways, rejecting His authority and claims on our lives? The parable's warning of judgment for unfaithful stewardship and rejection of the Son compels us to examine our hearts, repent of any unfaithfulness, and embrace Christ as the rightful Lord of our lives, yielding fruit in keeping with His will. It calls us to live with an awareness of ultimate accountability to the divine Owner.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like the husbandmen, be failing to produce the fruit God expects from the "vineyard" of my life or resources?**
* **How does my response to Jesus, God's Son, reflect my understanding of His ultimate authority and claim on my life?**
* **What specific areas of my life need to be brought under God's rightful ownership and stewardship, yielding fruit for His glory?**
* **How does the certainty of the "lord's coming" (divine reckoning) motivate me to live a life of faithful obedience and genuine worship?**

### FAQ
**Who do the "husbandmen" in the parable primarily represent, and what is their significance?**

Answer: The "husbandmen" (or tenants) in the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen primarily represent the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus' day—the chief priests, elders, and scribes—who were the spiritual custodians of God's people, Israel. Their significance lies in their entrusted responsibility to care for God's "vineyard" (Israel) and to guide His people in righteousness. However, instead of faithfully stewarding God's blessings and responding to His messengers (the prophets), they exploited the vineyard for their own gain and violently rejected those sent by the owner, culminating in their rejection and planned murder of the owner's Son, Jesus. This highlights their profound failure as leaders and their usurpation of divine authority, leading to their self-condemnation when Jesus asks the question in [Matthew 21:40](/matthew/21-40 "Matthew 21:40 - The Lord's Question").

**What is the main message or warning conveyed by this parable and Jesus' question in Matthew 21:40?**

Answer: The main message of the parable, powerfully underscored by Jesus' rhetorical question in [Matthew 21:40](/matthew/21-40 "Matthew 21:40 - The Lord's Question"), is a severe warning against rejecting God's authority, abusing entrusted responsibility, and ultimately refusing His gracious offer of salvation through His Son. It conveys that God is sovereign and just, and there will be an inevitable and severe judgment for those who persistently defy His will and reject His ultimate messenger, Jesus Christ. The parable warns that spiritual privileges and responsibilities, if abused, will be taken away and given to those who will bear fruit, as Jesus explicitly states in [Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "Matthew 21:43 - The Kingdom Taken Away"). It's a call to repentance and faithful stewardship, emphasizing the dire consequences of unbelief and disobedience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:40, within the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "Son" whom the wicked husbandmen reject and murder is none other than Jesus Himself, the beloved Son of God, sent as God's final and ultimate messenger to His people ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God's Final Word in His Son")). The parable's prophetic narrative directly foreshadows Jesus' impending crucifixion at the hands of the very religious leaders to whom He was speaking ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")). Yet, the story does not end with the Son's death; rather, it implicitly points to His vindication and ultimate triumph. Though rejected by the builders, Jesus becomes the "chief cornerstone" ([Matthew 21:42](/matthew/21-42 "Matthew 21:42 - The Rejected Cornerstone"); [Acts 4:11](/acts/4-11 "Acts 4:11 - Jesus, the Cornerstone"); [1 Peter 2:7](/1_peter/2-7 "1 Peter 2:7 - Christ the Living Stone")), the foundation of a new spiritual house, the Church ([Ephesians 2:20](/ephesians/2-20 "Ephesians 2:20 - Built on the Apostles and Prophets")). The judgment pronounced upon the wicked husbandmen—that the kingdom would be taken from them and given to a nation producing its fruits ([Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "Matthew 21:43 - The Kingdom Taken Away"))—is fulfilled in the establishment of the New Covenant through Christ's blood, extending salvation and kingdom participation to all who believe, Jew and Gentile alike ([Romans 9:30-33](/romans/9-30-33 "Romans 9:30-33 - Righteousness by Faith"); [Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile in Christ")). Thus, the parable, culminating in the question of the Son's fate, powerfully proclaims both the tragic rejection of Christ and His glorious, redemptive victory, establishing a new people who will truly bear fruit for God's kingdom.

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

Mark 12:9

What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

Hebrews 10:29

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Luke 20:15

So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed [him]. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

Luke 20:16

He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard [it], they said, God forbid.