Matthew 21:38 - But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and seize his inheritance.’
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Matthew 21:38" mean?
This verse is part of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, told by Jesus in Matthew 21:33-46. It's a powerful metaphor with several layers of meaning:
The Landowner: Represents God. He owns the vineyard (the Kingdom of God) and entrusts it to tenants (the leaders of Israel).
The Tenants: Represent the Jewish religious leaders (primarily the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes) who were responsible for caring for God's people and producing fruit (righteousness and obedience).
The Servants: Represent the prophets whom God sent to collect his share of the harvest (the fruit of righteousness). The tenants mistreated and killed the servants.
The Son (the Heir): Represents Jesus Christ, God's only son and rightful heir to the Kingdom.
The verse itself, Matthew 21:38, highlights the tenants' ultimate act of rebellion and greed:
"But the farmers, when they saw the son...": The tenants recognize Jesus's status and authority. They understand that he is the legitimate heir to the vineyard.
"...said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and seize his inheritance.'": This reveals the tenants' true motives:
Jealousy and Ambition: They are not content to be merely tenants. They crave ownership and control. They desire to usurp God's authority and claim the Kingdom for themselves.
Rejection of God's Authority: By killing the son, they believe they can eliminate the rightful heir and secure their claim to the inheritance. This is a direct rejection of God's rule.
Sinful Nature: This verse emphasizes the deeply ingrained sinfulness of human nature when left unchecked. The desire for power and control can lead to horrific acts.
In essence, the verse is a stark warning about:
The rejection of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.
The consequences of greed, ambition, and the desire to usurp God's authority.
The ultimate rejection of God by those entrusted with responsibility.
The parable foreshadows Jesus's own crucifixion and underscores the wickedness of those who plotted his death. It also serves as a warning to all believers not to abuse positions of authority or to reject God's will for their own selfish gain.
Matthew 21:38 - But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and seize his inheritance.’
What does "Matthew 21:38" mean?
This verse is part of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, told by Jesus in Matthew 21:33-46. It's a powerful metaphor with several layers of meaning:
The Landowner: Represents God. He owns the vineyard (the Kingdom of God) and entrusts it to tenants (the leaders of Israel).
The Tenants: Represent the Jewish religious leaders (primarily the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes) who were responsible for caring for God's people and producing fruit (righteousness and obedience).
The Servants: Represent the prophets whom God sent to collect his share of the harvest (the fruit of righteousness). The tenants mistreated and killed the servants.
The Son (the Heir): Represents Jesus Christ, God's only son and rightful heir to the Kingdom.
The verse itself, Matthew 21:38, highlights the tenants' ultimate act of rebellion and greed:
"But the farmers, when they saw the son...": The tenants recognize Jesus's status and authority. They understand that he is the legitimate heir to the vineyard.
"...said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and seize his inheritance.'": This reveals the tenants' true motives:
Jealousy and Ambition: They are not content to be merely tenants. They crave ownership and control. They desire to usurp God's authority and claim the Kingdom for themselves.
Rejection of God's Authority: By killing the son, they believe they can eliminate the rightful heir and secure their claim to the inheritance. This is a direct rejection of God's rule.
Sinful Nature: This verse emphasizes the deeply ingrained sinfulness of human nature when left unchecked. The desire for power and control can lead to horrific acts.
In essence, the verse is a stark warning about:
The rejection of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.
The consequences of greed, ambition, and the desire to usurp God's authority.
The ultimate rejection of God by those entrusted with responsibility.
The parable foreshadows Jesus's own crucifixion and underscores the wickedness of those who plotted his death. It also serves as a warning to all believers not to abuse positions of authority or to reject God's will for their own selfish gain.