Matthew 21:41

KJV

They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out [his] vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

KJV (with Strong's)

They say {G3004} unto him {G846}, He will miserably {G2560} destroy {G622} those {G846} wicked men {G2556}, and {G2532} will let out {G1554} his vineyard {G290} unto other {G243} husbandmen {G1092}, which {G3748} shall render {G591} him {G846} the fruits {G2590} in {G1722} their {G846} seasons {G2540}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They answered him, "He will viciously destroy those vicious men and rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the crop when it's due."

Berean Standard Bible

“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”

American Standard Version

They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:41 records the self-condemning judgment pronounced by the chief priests and elders in response to Jesus's Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. Unbeknownst to them, their declaration of severe destruction for the unfaithful tenants and the transfer of the vineyard's stewardship to others directly foreshadows God's impending judgment upon the unfaithful religious leadership of Israel and the subsequent expansion of His Kingdom's responsibilities to a new people who would bear spiritual fruit.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic response from Jesus's audience—the chief priests and elders, along with the people—immediately following His telling of the [Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen](/matthew/21-33-40 "Matthew 21:33-40 - The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen"). In the parable, a landowner leases his vineyard to tenants who repeatedly assault and murder his servants (representing God's prophets) and ultimately kill his own son (representing Jesus Himself). Jesus then asks His listeners what the landowner should do to these wicked tenants. Their immediate and harsh reply in [Matthew 21:41](/matthew/21-41 "Matthew 21:41 - The Judgment of the Wicked Husbandmen") unknowingly condemns their own actions and the impending divine judgment upon the unfaithful religious leaders of Israel. This pronouncement sets the stage for Jesus's subsequent explicit declaration of the kingdom being taken from them in [Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "Matthew 21:43 - The Kingdom Taken Away").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The parable and the audience's response are deeply rooted in the socio-economic and religious realities of first-century Judea. Land tenancy was common, and disputes over land and its produce were not unusual. More significantly, the metaphor of the "vineyard" for Israel was well-established in the Old Testament, notably in [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard"), where God is the owner and Israel is His vineyard, expected to produce righteousness but instead yielding wild grapes. The "husbandmen" represent the religious leaders entrusted with the care of God's people. The chief priests and elders, who were Jesus's primary antagonists in Jerusalem, held significant power and influence, yet they consistently rejected God's messengers (the prophets) and were now poised to reject and crucify His Son. Their response in this verse reflects their understanding of justice within their own legal framework, ironically sealing their own fate.

* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Judgment and Consequences**, underscoring the inevitable and severe judgment awaiting those who reject God's authority, His messengers, and ultimately His Son. The pronouncement of "miserably destroy" emphasizes a destruction that justly matches the wickedness of their deeds, reflecting God's righteous wrath against unfaithfulness. Secondly, it speaks to the **Transfer of the Kingdom**, as the statement that the owner "will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen" signifies the transfer of stewardship of God's Kingdom from the unfaithful Jewish leadership to those who would accept Christ and bear spiritual fruit. This concept is explicitly stated by Jesus in [Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "Matthew 21:43 - The Kingdom Taken from Israel"), indicating that the kingdom would be given to a nation producing its fruit. Thirdly, it underscores the theme of **Bearing Spiritual Fruit**, as the expectation that the "other husbandmen" will "render him the fruits in their seasons" emphasizes God's desire for righteousness, obedience, and the genuine spiritual fruit of a transformed life from His people, encompassing acts of justice, love, and evangelism in due season.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **husbandmen (Greek, _geōrgós_):** From *gē* (earth) and the base of *ergon* (work); literally, a land-worker or farmer. In the context of the parable, these are the tenants entrusted with the care and cultivation of the landowner's vineyard. Figuratively, they represent the religious leaders of Israel (the chief priests and elders) who were given stewardship over God's people and His divine revelation. Their failure to produce the expected "fruits" and their violent rejection of the landowner's representatives and son underscore their unfaithfulness in their entrusted role.
* **vineyard (Greek, _ampelṓn_):** A place where vines are grown. As established in Old Testament prophecy (e.g., [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard")), the vineyard is a powerful metaphor for Israel, God's chosen people, and the spiritual blessings and responsibilities entrusted to them. Its produce, "fruits," symbolizes the righteousness, justice, and obedience God expected from His people and their leaders. The "letting out" of the vineyard signifies the transfer of this stewardship.
* **fruits (Greek, _karpós_):** Literally, the produce of the earth, as plucked. Figuratively, it refers to the outcome or result of actions, character, or spiritual life. In this parable, the "fruits" represent the righteous living, obedience, and spiritual productivity that God expects from those entrusted with His Kingdom. The failure of the original husbandmen to render these fruits, and the expectation that the new husbandmen will, highlights the core demand for faithful stewardship and spiritual responsiveness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They say unto him,"**: This phrase identifies the speakers as Jesus's immediate audience, specifically the chief priests and elders, who had been listening to His parable. Their response is direct and unprompted by Jesus, a spontaneous declaration of what they believe justice demands.
* **"He will miserably destroy those wicked men,"**: This is the first part of their judgment. The phrase "miserably destroy" (Greek: *kakōs apolesei*) emphasizes a severe and deserved destruction, one that matches the wickedness (*kakōs*) of the tenants' actions. Unknowingly, they pronounce a judgment that will fall upon themselves and the unfaithful leadership of Israel for their rejection of God's Son.
* **"and will let out [his] vineyard unto other husbandmen,"**: This second part of their judgment outlines the consequence of the wicked tenants' actions. The landowner will remove the unfaithful stewards and entrust the vineyard (representing God's Kingdom and its responsibilities) to new, different (*állos*) husbandmen. This signifies a transfer of divine stewardship from the unfaithful Jewish leadership to those who would prove faithful.
* **"which shall render him the fruits in their seasons."**: This final clause describes the defining characteristic of the "other husbandmen"—their faithfulness. They are expected to produce the landowner's rightful share of the harvest, symbolizing the spiritual fruit of righteousness and obedience, delivered at the appropriate times (*kairós*). This highlights God's ultimate expectation for His people: to bear fruit in due season.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in this verse, within the broader context of the parable, is **Irony**. The chief priests and elders, in their pronouncement of judgment, unknowingly condemn themselves. They correctly identify the just punishment for the wicked tenants in Jesus's parable, yet they fail to recognize that they are the very individuals being depicted as those wicked tenants. This dramatic irony underscores their spiritual blindness and the severity of their rejection of Jesus. Furthermore, the entire narrative functions as an **Allegory** or **Parable**, where elements of the story (landowner, vineyard, servants, son, husbandmen, fruits) systematically correspond to spiritual realities (God, Israel/Kingdom, prophets, Jesus, Jewish leaders/new covenant people, righteousness/obedience). The "vineyard" itself is a powerful **Metaphor** for Israel, deeply rooted in Old Testament prophetic tradition, which enriches the theological depth of the passage.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 21:41 profoundly illustrates God's unwavering justice and His sovereign prerogative to remove unfaithful stewards and entrust His Kingdom's responsibilities to those who will bear fruit. The pronouncement by the Jewish leaders, though self-incriminating, reveals a fundamental biblical principle: stewardship of God's blessings and responsibilities comes with accountability, and persistent rejection of His will leads to severe consequences. This verse, therefore, serves as a pivotal moment, marking a transition point in salvation history where the focus of God's redemptive plan begins to shift more explicitly towards a new people—the Church, comprised of both believing Jews and Gentiles—who would embrace Christ and fulfill the divine expectation of fruitfulness. It underscores that God's covenant promises are not merely tied to ethnicity but to faithfulness and obedience.

* [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1-7 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard")
* [Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "Matthew 21:43 - The Kingdom Taken Away")
* [John 15:1-8](/john/15-1-8 "John 15:1-8 - Jesus the True Vine")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:41 stands as a stark reminder of the profound seriousness of our stewardship before God and the grave consequences of rejecting His ultimate revelation in Jesus Christ. For us today, it calls for a deep introspection into how we are stewarding the spiritual gifts, opportunities, and truths entrusted to us. Are we producing the "fruits in their seasons"—fruits of righteousness, love, justice, and evangelism—that God expects from those who claim to follow Him? The failure of the original husbandmen, and the chief priests and elders who represented them, was not merely a lack of fruit, but active rebellion and rejection of the owner's authority and his son. This challenges us to consider our own posture towards Christ: do we truly acknowledge His supreme authority and submit to His Lordship in all areas of our lives, or are we, like the wicked husbandmen, attempting to seize control of what rightfully belongs to God? The transfer of the vineyard serves as a powerful encouragement that God always has a people who will be faithful, and we are called to be among them, actively participating in His Kingdom by bearing abundant fruit for His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I called to be a faithful steward of God's resources, talents, or opportunities?**
* **What "fruits" (e.g., character, actions, spiritual impact) is God calling me to produce in this season of my life?**
* **How does my daily life demonstrate my submission to Jesus as the Son and heir of the "vineyard"?**
* **What are the potential consequences in my own life if I fail to acknowledge God's ownership and reject His call to fruitfulness?**

### FAQ

**Who are the "wicked men" and the "other husbandmen" in this parable?**

Answer: The "wicked men" or "wicked husbandmen" in the parable clearly represent the unfaithful religious leaders of Israel, specifically the chief priests and elders, who were Jesus's audience and antagonists. They had been entrusted with the care of God's people (the vineyard) but had repeatedly rejected God's messengers (the prophets) and were about to reject and kill His Son, Jesus. The "other husbandmen" refer to a new group of stewards who would be given the responsibility of the vineyard. This primarily signifies the new covenant community, the Church, composed of both believing Jews and Gentiles, who would accept Christ and faithfully produce the spiritual fruit that God desires. This transfer of stewardship is explicitly stated by Jesus in [Matthew 21:43](/matthew/21-43 "Matthew 21:43 - The Kingdom Taken Away").

**What does it mean for the "other husbandmen" to "render him the fruits in their seasons"?**

Answer: This phrase signifies the expectation of faithful stewardship and spiritual productivity from the new recipients of the Kingdom's responsibilities. "Fruits" represent the righteous living, obedience, and spiritual outcomes that God desires from His people. These include acts of justice, love, compassion, evangelism, and the development of Christ-like character (e.g., the [fruit of the Spirit](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")). "In their seasons" implies that these fruits are to be produced consistently and at the appropriate times, reflecting a life lived in ongoing responsiveness to God's will and in alignment with His divine timing. It emphasizes that God expects a consistent, timely yield from those entrusted with His Kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:41, though spoken by the very men who would reject Him, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's redemptive work and the establishment of His new covenant. The "Son" who is killed in the parable is none other than Jesus Himself, whose crucifixion by the unfaithful "husbandmen" (the Jewish leadership) becomes the pivotal act of cosmic rebellion. Yet, paradoxically, this act of rejection becomes the means by which God's ultimate plan of salvation is realized. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus inaugurates a new era where the "vineyard"—God's Kingdom and its responsibilities—is indeed "let out unto other husbandmen." These are not merely a new set of human leaders, but all those, Jew and Gentile, who are united to Christ by faith, becoming part of His body, the Church ([1 Corinthians 12:27](/1_corinthians/12-27 "1 Corinthians 12:27 - You are the Body of Christ")). Jesus, as the true vine ([John 15:1](/john/15-1 "John 15:1 - Jesus the True Vine")), enables His followers to bear the spiritual fruits that the old covenant leadership failed to produce. The expectation of rendering "fruits in their seasons" is now fulfilled by believers who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, live lives of righteousness, love, and evangelism, demonstrating the reality of God's Kingdom on earth ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")). Thus, the judgment pronounced in Matthew 21:41, while condemning the unfaithful, simultaneously foreshadows the glorious expansion of God's Kingdom through Christ and His faithful people.

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 18:6

And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook [his] raiment, and said unto them, Your blood [be] upon your own heads; I [am] clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

Matthew 21:43

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Isaiah 5:5

And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; [and] break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

Isaiah 5:7

For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts [is] the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Acts 28:28

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.

Romans 9:1

¶ I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

Romans 9:11

(For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)