Matthew 21:37 - But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
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What does "Matthew 21:37" mean?
This verse, Matthew 21:37, is part of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. To understand it, we need to consider the context of the parable. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
Context: The Parable of the Wicked Tenants: In this parable, a landowner plants a vineyard and leases it to tenants. When harvest time comes, he sends servants to collect his share of the fruit. The tenants beat, stone, and kill the servants.
The Landowner: Represents God.
The Vineyard: Represents Israel (the people of God).
The Tenants: Represent the religious leaders of Israel (priests, scribes, Pharisees) who were entrusted with leading and caring for God's people.
The Servants: Represent the prophets sent by God throughout the history of Israel to call the people back to obedience. The tenants rejected and mistreated these prophets.
The Verse in Question (Matthew 21:37): "But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’"
"Afterward he sent to them his son": This refers to God sending Jesus Christ, His only Son, to Israel. Jesus is the ultimate messenger of God's will and the heir to the vineyard (God's kingdom).
"Saying, 'They will respect my son'": This highlights the landowner's (God's) hope, or perhaps naive expectation, that the tenants would treat his son with the respect and reverence due to him as the heir. God believed that the tenants, despite their previous wickedness, would recognize the authority and worth of His Son and ultimately yield to him. However, the following verses reveal that this expectation was tragically unfounded.
Meaning and Significance:
Climax of God's Revelation: Sending the Son represents the culmination of God's efforts to reach and redeem His people. He sent the very best He had.
Ultimate Test: The arrival of the Son presents the tenants with their ultimate test. Would they finally acknowledge God's authority and submit to His rightful heir?
Rejection of Jesus: The parable foreshadows the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus by the religious leaders of Israel. They didn't respect or acknowledge His divine authority, and instead, they plotted to kill Him to seize control of the inheritance (the kingdom).
Responsibility and Accountability: The verse underscores the responsibility of those entrusted with God's blessings. The tenants were not merely stewards of the vineyard; they were accountable for how they treated the owner's representatives, especially the Son.
God's Patience and Love: Even after repeated rejection, God still sent His Son, demonstrating immense patience and unwavering love for His people.
In essence, Matthew 21:37 is a poignant verse that reveals God's ultimate act of love and a tragic foreshadowing of Jesus' rejection and death. It highlights the responsibility of those in positions of leadership and the consequences of rejecting God's authority.
Matthew 21:37 - But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
What does "Matthew 21:37" mean?
This verse, Matthew 21:37, is part of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. To understand it, we need to consider the context of the parable. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
Context: The Parable of the Wicked Tenants: In this parable, a landowner plants a vineyard and leases it to tenants. When harvest time comes, he sends servants to collect his share of the fruit. The tenants beat, stone, and kill the servants.
The Landowner: Represents God.
The Vineyard: Represents Israel (the people of God).
The Tenants: Represent the religious leaders of Israel (priests, scribes, Pharisees) who were entrusted with leading and caring for God's people.
The Servants: Represent the prophets sent by God throughout the history of Israel to call the people back to obedience. The tenants rejected and mistreated these prophets.
The Verse in Question (Matthew 21:37): "But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’"
"Afterward he sent to them his son": This refers to God sending Jesus Christ, His only Son, to Israel. Jesus is the ultimate messenger of God's will and the heir to the vineyard (God's kingdom).
"Saying, 'They will respect my son'": This highlights the landowner's (God's) hope, or perhaps naive expectation, that the tenants would treat his son with the respect and reverence due to him as the heir. God believed that the tenants, despite their previous wickedness, would recognize the authority and worth of His Son and ultimately yield to him. However, the following verses reveal that this expectation was tragically unfounded.
Meaning and Significance:
Climax of God's Revelation: Sending the Son represents the culmination of God's efforts to reach and redeem His people. He sent the very best He had.
Ultimate Test: The arrival of the Son presents the tenants with their ultimate test. Would they finally acknowledge God's authority and submit to His rightful heir?
Rejection of Jesus: The parable foreshadows the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus by the religious leaders of Israel. They didn't respect or acknowledge His divine authority, and instead, they plotted to kill Him to seize control of the inheritance (the kingdom).
Responsibility and Accountability: The verse underscores the responsibility of those entrusted with God's blessings. The tenants were not merely stewards of the vineyard; they were accountable for how they treated the owner's representatives, especially the Son.
God's Patience and Love: Even after repeated rejection, God still sent His Son, demonstrating immense patience and unwavering love for His people.
In essence, Matthew 21:37 is a poignant verse that reveals God's ultimate act of love and a tragic foreshadowing of Jesus' rejection and death. It highlights the responsibility of those in positions of leadership and the consequences of rejecting God's authority.