The Parable Of The Wicked Husbandmen – Matthew 21:33-46

by Micky Galloway

“Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country. And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner. But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance. And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 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. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes? 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. And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust. And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.”

This parable follows closely on the heels of the parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32) and there are distinct similarities. The parable of the two sons exposes the rejection of the chief priests and elders of John the Baptist. This parable exposes the rejection of Jesus himself, the Son of God, by the Jewish people as a whole. It also states a solemn warning of the consequences that were surely to follow.

The Characters Of The Parable:

The householder, like the father in the previous parable, is very clearly God. The vineyard is the numerous blessings and privileges enjoyed by those who were the chosen people of God. The figure of a vineyard referring to Israel was well-known (cf. Isaiah 5:1-7). In this particular case, these blessings were enjoyed by those under the law of Moses. The husbandmen represent the Jewish nation as a whole and especially their wicked leaders, the chief priests, scribes and elders. The servants sent were the prophets, who were often mistreated and killed. As a nation, Israel rejected many of her prophets (cf. II Chronicles 36:15-16). In the days of Elijah, Jezebel had cut off the prophets and Ahab had grossly mistreated Micaiah. In the reign of Joash, the people plotted against Zechariah the son of Jehoiada and stoned him with stones. Jeremiah was cruelly treated by those to whom he went pleading for their return. Tradition has it that Isaiah was sawn asunder by the order of the wicked king, Manasseh. The Son of the parable was the Son Of God Himself. Jesus knew of their plans to crucify Him. In fact, these words were spoken just two days after the triumphal entry into the city, on Tuesday of the crucifixion week. Remember, Jesus was crucified on Friday. Is it any wonder that when “the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, … they sought to lay hold on him” (Matthew 21:45-46)? His words cut them to the heart.

Questions And Answers:

“When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?” These Jews pronounced their own condemnation! “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.” Their answer serves to help them see why God would be just in bringing condemnation upon the nation of Israel. For all of the blessings they had been given, surely they were obligated to give a certain return. Privileges demand responsibilities. The more one receives, the more for which he must give account. As these blessings had been rejected, they would be taken from them and given to those more deserving. Indeed, their rejection of Jesus had been foretold in the Scriptures. “Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes” (Matthew 21:42; cf. Psalms 118:22-23)? The “builders” were the religious leaders of the nation. The “stone” which they rejected was Christ, yet this stone would be made a “chief cornerstone” by God Himself. Those of this new kingdom which would render the fruits in their seasons, is the church in which both Jew and Gentile were fellow citizens of the household of God (cf. Ephesians 2:19-20; I Peter 2:9).

As Jesus speaks of the “the stone which the builders rejected” (Matthew 21:44), He elaborates on the terrible consequences of those who reject it. A stone can be a passive thing, just lying there, yet dangerous to those who stumble over it. For those who failed to understand that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of Old Testament promise and prophecy because they could not unravel all the mysteries of His atonement, there will be hurt. Yet, there may be opportunity for repair if they will repent and obey the gospel. Remember however, a stone may become an active thing. For the one who defiantly rejects the claims of Jesus in the midst of overwhelming evidence, the stone will fall on him and “it will scatter him as dust” (Matthew 21:44). Literally, it will grind him to powder. What a terrible expression describing utter hopeless despair.

Three Great Lessons Learned:

God has bestowed the greatest blessings possible upon those in His kingdom. This He had done with the nation of Israel. Like a precious vineyard, God planted Israel in Canaan, the land already prepared, flowing with milk and honey. He blessed this nation with laws, priests, prophets, and numerous other special privileges. In the “fulness of time” (Galatians 4:4) He sent His only begotten Son as their Messiah. God has richly blessed us today. We enjoy free access to the Word of God, and the freedom to worship without fear of persecution; many in the world do not. We are blessed to hear things that prophets, kings, and saints of old desired to hear and were not able (cf. Matthew 3:16-17). Even the angels desired to look into these things (I Peter 1:10-12).

The greatest sin one can commit is to reject these blessings. Throughout the history of Israel, they had rejected God’s blessings. They consistently murmured against God in the wilderness. They turned away from God time and again during the period of the Judges. They persecuted His prophets, and eventually rejected His own Son. We have numerous blessings today given to us through Christ. We enjoy the forgiveness of sins through His blood, the joy of fellowship in the family of God, the privilege of sharing the gospel with a dying world. Yet, we often turn our back on such blessings. We sin, and do not seek forgiveness; do not seek the help God offers when we are tempted. We neglect the blessing of our brethren by forsaking the assembling and by not developing close relationships with them. We make little or no effort to spread the precious gospel of Christ.

The darkest doom is that of those who are guilty of this greatest sin! Jesus taught concerning Israel, that “if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee” (Matthew 11:23-24). Jesus has indeed taken away the kingdom of God from them, and given it to a nation bearing the fruits of it (cf. Matthew 21:43). Would God bring such judgments against His church or people today if they abuse their privileges (John 15:1-2,6; Revelation 2:4-5, 16; 3:1-3)? Indeed, as Jesus said, “And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more” (Luke 12:48).

Let us consider carefully the warning of this parable, for the next time the beloved Son is sent, He is coming in terrifying judgment (cf. II Thessalonians 1:7-10)!