Matthew 21:41

They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season.”

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers who will give him the fruit in its season.”

BSB

“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.”

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.

ASV

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.

BBE

They say to him, He will put those cruel men to a cruel death, and will let out the vine-garden to other workmen, who will give him the fruit when it is ready.

Original Greek

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λέγουσιν legousin They say G3004 αὐτῷ autō to him G846 κακοὺς kakous [The] wretches G2556 κακῶς kakōs grievously G2560 ἀπολέσει apolesei He will destroy G622 αὐτοὺς autous them G846 καὶ kai and G2532 τὸν ton the G3588 ἀμπελῶνα ampelōna vineyard G290 ἐκδώσεται ekdōsetai he will rent out G1554 ἄλλοις allois to other G243 γεωργοῖς geōrgois farmers G1092 οἵτινες oitines who G3748 ἀποδώσουσιν apodōsousin will give G591 αὐτῷ autō to him G846 τοὺς tous the G3588 καρποὺς karpous fruits G2590 ἐν en in G1722 τοῖς tois the G3588 καιροῖς kairois seasons G2540 αὐτῶν.¶ autōn of them G846

The early church

All 7
Like Caiaphas (John 11:49) so did they, not from themselves, prophesy against themselves, that the oracles of God were to he taken from them, and given to the Gentiles, who could bring forth fruit in due season.
Origen of Alexandria · d. 253Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
That their answer is true, comes not of any righteous judgment in them, but from the case itself; truth constrained them. Otherwise: Luke has given the answer of their lips, Matthew that of their hearts. For some made answer openly contradicting Him, and saying, God forbid, but their consciences took it up with He shall miserably destroy these wicked men. For so when a man is detected in any wickedness, he excuses himself in words, but his conscience within pleads guilty.
Pseudo-Chrysostom · d. 500Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(ord.) Or, the Lord whom they killed, came immediately rising from the dead, and brought to an evil end those wicked husbandmen, and gave up His vineyard to other husbandmen, that is, to the Apostles.
Glossa Ordinaria · d. 1274Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
And Luke indeed saith, that He declared what these men should suffer; and they said, "God forbid;" and He added the testimony of Scripture. For "He beheld them, and said, What is it then that is written? The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; and every one that falleth upon it shall be broken." But Matthew, that they themselves delivered the sentence. But this is not a contradiction. For indeed both things were done, both themselves passed the sentence against themselves; and again, when they perceived what they had said, they added, "God forbid;" and He set up the prophet against them, persuading them that certainly this would be. Nevertheless, not even so did He plainly reveal the Gentiles, that He might afford them no handle, but signified it darkly by saying, "He will give the vineyard to others." For this purpose then did He speak by a parable, that themselves might pass the sentence, which was done in the case of David also, when He passed judgment on the parable of Nathan. But do thou mark, I pray thee, even hereby how just is the sentence, when the very persons that are to be punished condemn themselves.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Matthew
The Lord asks them not as though He did not know what they would answer, but that they might be condemned by their own answer.
Jerome · d. 420Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 33–46

This parable plainly sets forth the sin and ruin of the Jewish nation; and what is spoken to convict them, is spoken to caution all that enjoy the privileges of the outward church. As men treat God's people, they would treat Christ himself, if he were with them. How can we, if faithful to his cause, expect a favourable reception from a wicked world, or from ungodly professors of Christianity! And let us ask ourselves, whether we who have the vineyard and all its advantages, render fruits in due season, as a people, as a family, or as separate persons. Our Saviour, in his question, declares that the Lord of the vineyard will come, and when he comes he will surely destroy the wicked. The chief priests and the elders were the builders, and they would not admit his doctrine or laws; they threw him aside as a despised stone. But he who was rejected by the Jews, was embraced by the Gentiles. Christ knows who will bring forth gospel fruits in the use of gospel means. The unbelief of sinners will be their ruin. But God has many ways of restraining the remainders of wrath, as he has of making that which breaks out redound to his praise. May Christ become more and more precious to our souls, as the firm Foundation and Cornerstone of his church. May we be willing to follow him, though despised and hated for his sake.

Read Matthew Henry on Matthew 21 →

Parallel passages

2

The same words or events elsewhere.

Mark 12:8–9Luke 20:15–16

Cross-references

35

Topics

ChurchWicked (People)SeasonsTenantsEviction

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.