*Matthew 21:28-46
Jesus uses parables about sons and tenants to illustrate who will inherit the kingdom of God.
- The Parable of the Two Sons:
- Jesus tells a story about a man with two sons whom he asks to work in his vineyard.
- The first son initially refuses but later repents and goes to work.
- The second son agrees to work but ultimately does not.
- Jesus illustrates the difference between professing righteousness and actual obedience, suggesting that those initially resistant but later repent (like tax collectors and prostitutes) will enter God’s kingdom before those who only outwardly appear compliant (like some religious leaders).
- The Parable of the Wicked Tenants:
- Jesus shares a parable about a landowner who plants a vineyard, builds the necessary infrastructure, and rents it to tenants before leaving on a journey.
- At harvest time, the landowner sends servants to collect his share of the produce.
- The tenants mistreat the servants, beating one, killing another, and stoning a third.
- The landowner sends more servants, but the tenants treat them similarly.
- Finally, the landowner sends his son, thinking they will respect him, but the tenants kill the son to seize his inheritance.
- Jesus asks the religious leaders what should be done to the tenants. They respond that the landowner will bring them to a wretched end and rent the vineyard to new tenants who will deliver the produce.
- Interpretation and Prophetic Declaration:
- Jesus explains that the kingdom of God will be taken away from those who don’t produce fruit and given to others who will.
- He cites Psalm 118:22-23, emphasizing that the rejected stone (representing Jesus) has become the cornerstone.
- Jesus warns that anyone who falls on this stone will be broken, but anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.
- The chief priests and Pharisees recognize that Jesus is speaking about them, plotting to arrest him, but they fear the crowd, who views him as a prophet.
21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 21:34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
21:35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
21:36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
21:37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
21:38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
21:39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
21:40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 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.
21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 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.
21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
21:46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.