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.

Therefore {G1223}{G5124} say I {G3004} unto you {G5213},{G3754} The kingdom {G932} of God {G2316} shall be taken {G142} from {G575} you {G5216}, and {G2532} given {G1325} to a nation {G1484} bringing forth {G4160} the fruits {G2590} thereof {G846}.

Therefore, I tell you that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to the kind of people that will produce its fruit!"

Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

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

In Matthew 21:43, Jesus delivers a profound and sobering statement, directly following the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (or Vineyard). This verse serves as a direct interpretation and application of that parable, revealing the consequences of rejecting God's ultimate messenger, His Son.

Context

This verse is spoken by Jesus to the chief priests and elders of the people, who had challenged His authority (Matthew 21:23). The preceding parable illustrates how the vineyard owner (God) sent servants (prophets) and finally his son (Jesus) to receive the fruit from the tenants (Israel's religious leaders and, by extension, the nation). The tenants, however, rejected and killed them. Jesus' declaration in verse 43 is a direct judgment on their spiritual unfaithfulness and rejection of Him as the Messiah.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Transfer of Authority: The phrase "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you" signifies a transfer of spiritual authority and privilege. It indicates that the leadership and stewardship of God's spiritual kingdom, which had been entrusted to the Jewish religious establishment, would be removed due to their persistent rejection of Christ and their failure to produce righteousness.
  • The Nature of the "Nation": The "nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" refers not to a specific ethnic group, but to a new spiritual body—the Church—comprised of all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. This new community would genuinely live out the principles of God's kingdom and bear spiritual fruit. This theme is further explored by Paul in his letters regarding the inclusion of Gentiles into God's family.
  • The Importance of Fruitfulness: The core condition for receiving and maintaining the Kingdom is "bringing forth the fruits thereof." This emphasizes that true faith is not merely intellectual assent or outward religious observance, but active obedience and lives transformed by God's Spirit, producing qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as described in Galatians 5:22-23.

Linguistic Insights

The term "kingdom of God" (Greek: basileia tou theou) refers to God's sovereign rule and reign, both in the hearts of believers and ultimately over all creation. The word "nation" (Greek: ethnos) in this context, while often referring to an ethnic group, here points to a collective body or people, distinct from ethnic Israel as a whole, but rather those who embody true spiritual Israel. The "fruits" (Greek: karpous) are not literal harvest but spiritual produce, representing righteous deeds and a life lived in accordance with God's will.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God's favor and the blessings of His kingdom are conditional upon genuine faith and obedience. It warns against spiritual complacency and the danger of religious outwardness without inward transformation. For believers today, it underscores the call to actively bear spiritual fruit, demonstrating our love for God and our neighbor. It also highlights God's impartiality and His readiness to extend His kingdom to all who are willing to respond in faith, regardless of their background.

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.

  • 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.

  • Matthew 8:11

    And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

  • Matthew 8:12

    But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • Luke 17:20

    ¶ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

  • Luke 17:21

    Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

  • John 3:3

    Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

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