Matthew 21:41

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.

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}.

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."

“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.”

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

Matthew 21:41 records the self-condemning judgment spoken by the chief priests and elders in response to Jesus's Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. Unknowingly, they pronounce the very fate that awaits them and the unfaithful leadership of Israel, highlighting God's justice and the transfer of His kingdom's stewardship.

Context

This verse is the direct answer given by Jesus's audience (the chief priests and elders, along with the people) after He told the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. In the parable, a landowner leases his vineyard to tenants who repeatedly abuse and kill his servants (representing prophets) and finally his own son (representing Jesus). Jesus then asks His listeners what the landowner should do to these wicked tenants. Their immediate and harsh reply, found in this verse, unknowingly condemns their own actions and the impending judgment upon the unfaithful religious leaders of Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The pronouncement, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men," underscores the inevitable and severe judgment that awaits those who reject God's authority, His messengers, and ultimately His Son. The original Greek for "miserably destroy" (kakos apolesei) emphasizes a destruction that justly matches the wickedness of their deeds.
  • Transfer of the Kingdom: The "vineyard" is a long-standing biblical metaphor for Israel, particularly God's chosen people and the spiritual responsibilities entrusted to them, as seen in Isaiah 5:7. 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, encompassing both believing Jews and Gentiles. This echoes the concept of the kingdom being taken from some and given to others.
  • Bearing Spiritual Fruit: The expectation that the "other husbandmen" will "render him the fruits in their seasons" highlights God's desire for righteousness, obedience, and the genuine spiritual fruit of a transformed life from His people. This fruit includes acts of justice, love, and evangelism, all in due season.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "miserably destroy" is kakos apolesei (κακῶς ἀπολέσει). Kakos means "badly" or "wickedly," and apolesei means "he will destroy" or "he will ruin." The combination emphasizes a destruction that is both severe and deserved, fitting the evil nature of the tenants' actions.

Practical Application

Matthew 21:41 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • Stewardship and Accountability: We are all entrusted with gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities within God's Kingdom. This verse calls us to faithful stewardship, recognizing that God expects us to produce spiritual fruit from what He has given us.
  • Recognizing and Obeying Christ: The chief priests and elders failed to recognize Jesus as the Son, leading to their condemnation. For us, it's a vital call to acknowledge and submit to Christ's supreme authority in all areas of life.
  • The Seriousness of Rejection: The severe judgment pronounced by the listeners themselves underscores the grave consequences of rejecting God's invitations, His truth, and His ultimate revelation in Jesus Christ. We are called to be among those who embrace Him and bear fruit, as urged in John 15:8.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified 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;)
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