Mat 21:33-46 | Barnes | STEP | Verses 33-46. The parable of the vineyard . This is also recorded in . Verse 33. Hear another parable . . A certain householder . . Planted a vineyard . A place for the cultivation of grapes. It is often used to represent the church of God, as a place cultivated and valuable . Judea was favourable to vines, and the figure is frequently used, therefore, in the sacred writers. See . It is used here to represent the Jewish people ; the people chosen of the Lord, cultivated with care, and signally favoured; or perhaps more definitely, the city of Jerusalem . Hedged it round about . This means, he inclosed it , either with a fence of wood or stone, or more probably with thorns , thick set and growing--a common way of inclosing fields in Judea, as it is in England. And digged a winepress in it . Mark says, "digged a place for the wine-vat." This should have been so rendered in Matthew. The original word does not mean the press in which the grapes were trodden, but the vat , or large cistern into which the wine ran. This was commonly made by digging into the side of a hill. The wine-press was made of two receptacles. The upper one, in Persia at present, is about eight feet square, and four feet high. In this the grapes are thrown, and trodden by men, and the juice runs into the large receptacle, or cistern below. . And built a tower . See also . In eastern countries at present these towers are often eighty feet high, and thirty feet square. They were for the keepers who defended the vineyard from thieves and animals, especially foxes. . And let it out , etc. This was not an uncommon thing. Vineyards were often planted to be let out for profit. Into a far country . This means, in the original, only that he departed from them. It does not mean that he went out of the land . Luke adds, "for a long time." That is, as appears, till the time of the fruit; perhaps for a year. This vineyard denotes doubtless the Jewish people, or Jerusalem. But these circumstances are not to be particularly explained. They serve to keep up the story. They denote in general that God had taken proper care of his vineyard, i.e. his people; but beyond that we cannot affirm that these circumstances , of building the tower, etc., mean any particular thing, for he has not told us that they do. And where he has not explained them, we have no right to attempt it. (v) "planted"

Matthew 21:33-46

Verses 33-46. The parable of the vineyard. This is also recorded in Mk 12:1-12, Lk 20:9-19.

Verse 33. Hear another parable. Mt 13:3.

A certain householder. Mt 20:1.

Planted a vineyard. A place for the cultivation of grapes. It is often used to represent the church of God, as a place cultivated and valuable. Judea was favourable to vines, and the figure is frequently used, therefore, in the sacred writers. See Mt 20:1. It is used here to represent the Jewish people; the people chosen of the Lord, cultivated with care, and signally favoured; or perhaps more definitely, the city of Jerusalem.

Hedged it round about. This means, he inclosed it, either with a fence of wood or stone, or more probably with thorns, thick set and growing--a common way of inclosing fields in Judea, as it is in England.

And digged a winepress in it. Mark says, "digged a place for the wine-vat." This should have been so rendered in Matthew. The original word does not mean the press in which the grapes were trodden, but the vat, or large cistern into which the wine ran. This was commonly made by digging into the side of a hill. The wine-press was made of two receptacles. The upper one, in Persia at present, is about eight feet square, and four feet high. In this the grapes are thrown, and trodden by men, and the juice runs into the large receptacle, or cistern below. Is 63:2,3.

And built a tower. See also Isa 5:2. In eastern countries at present these towers are often eighty feet high, and thirty feet square. They were for the keepers who defended the vineyard from thieves and animals, especially foxes. Song 1:6, 2:16.

And let it out, etc. This was not an uncommon thing. Vineyards were often planted to be let out for profit.

Into a far country. This means, in the original, only that he departed from them. It does not mean that he went out of the land. Luke adds, "for a long time." That is, as appears, till the time of the fruit; perhaps for a year. This vineyard denotes doubtless the Jewish people, or Jerusalem. But these circumstances are not to be particularly explained. They serve to keep up the story. They denote in general that God had taken proper care of his vineyard, i.e. his people; but beyond that we cannot affirm that these circumstances, of building the tower, etc., mean any particular thing, for he has not told us that they do. And where he has not explained them, we have no right to attempt it.

(v) "planted" Ps 80:8-16, Song 8:11,12, Is 5:1-7, Jer 2:21, Mk 12:1 Lk 20:9 Verse 34. And when the time of the fruit drew near, etc. The time of gathering the fruit. The vineyard was let out, probably for a part of the fruit, and the owner sent to receive the part that was his.

Sent his servants. These doubtless represent the prophets sent to the Jewish people.

(w) "servants" 2Kgs 17:13 Verse 35. And beat one. The word here translated beat, properly means to flay, or to take off the skin. Hence to beat, or to whip, so that the skin in many places is taken off.

And killed another. Isaiah is said to have been put to death by sawing him asunder. See Lk 13:34, Heb 11:37, 1Sam 22:18, 1Kgs 19:10.

And stoned another. This was, among the Jews, a common way of punishment, De 13:10, 17:7, Josh 7:26. Especially was this the case in times of popular tumult, and of sudden indignation among the people, Acts 7:58, 14:19, Jn 8:59, 10:31. This does not imply of necessity that those who were stoned died, but they might be only severely wounded. Mark says, "At him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away," etc.

There is a little variation in the circumstances, as mentioned by Matthew, and by Mark and Luke; but the substance is the same. Mark and Luke are more particular, and state the order in which the servants were sent one after another. They all denote the dealing of the people of Israel towards the prophets. All these things had been done to them. See Heb 11:37, Jer 44:4,5,6, 2Chr 36:16, Neh 9:26; 2Chr 24:20,21.

(x) "And the husbandman" 2Chr 36:16, Neh 9:26, Jer 25:3-7, Mt 5:12 Mt 23:34-37, Acts 7:52, 1Thes 2:15, Heb 11:36,37 Rev 6:9 Verse 37. Last of all, etc. Mark adds, that this was an only son, greatly beloved. This beautifully and most tenderly exhibits the love of God, in sending his only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die for men. Long had he sent the prophets, and they had been persecuted and slain. There was no use in sending any more prophets to the people. They had done all they could do. God had one only-begotten and well-beloved Son, whom he might send into the world, and whom the world ought to reverence, even as they should the Father, Jn 5:23. To reverence, denotes honour, esteem, deference--that feeling which we have in the presence of one greatly our superior;--to give such a person, in our feelings and by our deportment, the honour which is due to his rank and character. God is often represented in the Bible as giving his Son, his only-begotten and well-beloved Son, for a lost world, Jn 3:16,17, 1Jn 4:9,14, Rom 8:3,32, Gal 4:4. Verse 38. But when the husbandmen, etc. They determined to kill him; and as he was the only son, they supposed they could easily seize on the property. It was rented to them, was in their possession, and they resolved to keep it. This circumstance has probably no reference to any particular conduct of the Jews, but is thrown in to keep up the story, and fill up the narrative. An heir is one who succeeds to an estate, commonly a son; an inheritance is what an heir receives.

(y) "heir" Heb 1:1,2 Verse 39. And they caught him, etc. This refers to the conduct of the Jews in putting the Saviour to death. So they understood it, Mt 21:45. The Jews put him to death, after they had persecuted and slain the prophets. This was done by giving him into the hands of the Romans, and seeking his crucifixion, Mt 27:20-25, Acts 2:23; Acts 7:51,52.

And cast him out of the vineyard. The vineyard in this parable may represent Jerusalem. Jesus was crucified out of Jerusalem, on Mount Calvary, Lk 23:33.

(z) "caught him" Acts 2:23, 4:25-27 Verse 40. When the lord therefore, etc. Jesus then asked them a question about the proper way of dealing with those men. The design of asking them this question was that they might condemn themselves, and admit the justice of the punishment that was soon coming upon them. Verse 41. They say, etc. They answered according as they knew men would, act and would act justly in doing it. He would take away their privileges, and confer them on others. This was the answer which Jesus wished. It was so clear, that they could not answer otherwise. He wished to show them the justice of taking away their national privileges, and punishing them in the destruction of their city and nation. Had he stated this at first, they would not have heard him. He, however, by a parable led them along to state themselves the very truth which he wished to communicate, and they had then nothing to answer, they did not, however, yet see the bearing of what they had admitted.

(a) "destroy" Ps 2:4,5,9, Zech 12:2 (b) "other husbandmen" Lk 21:24, Rom 9:26, 11:11 Verses 42,43. Jesus saith, etc. Jesus, having led them to admit the justice of the great principle on which God was about to act towards them, proceeds to apply it by a text of Scripture, declaring that this very thing which they admitted in the case of the husbandmen, had been predicted respecting themselves. This passage is found in Ps 118:22,23. It was first applicable to David; but no less to Jesus.

The stone. The figure is taken from building a house. The principal stone for size and beauty is that commonly laid as the corner stone.

Which the builders rejected. On account of its want of beauty, or size, it was laid aside, or deemed unfit to be a corner-stone. This represents the Lord Jesus, proposed to the Jews as the foundation, or corner-stone on which to build the church: rejected by them--the builders --on account of his want of comeliness or beauty; i.e., of what they esteemed to be comely or desirable, Isa 53:2,3.

The same is become, etc. Though rejected by them, yet God chose him, and made him the foundation of the church. Christ is often compared to a stone, a corner-stone, a tried, i.e. a sure, firm foundation--all in allusion to the custom of building, Acts 4:11; Rom 9:33, Eph 2:20, 1Pet 2:7.

Lord's doing. The appointment of Jesus of Nazareth to be the foundation of the church, is by miracle and prophecy proved to be the work of God.

Marvellous in our eyes. Wonderful in the sight of his people. An object of gratitude and admiration. That he should Select his only Son; that he should stoop so low, be despised, rejected, and put to death; that God should raise him up, and build a church on this foundation, embracing the Gentile as well as the Jew, and spreading through all the world, is a subject of wonder and praise to all the redeemed.

(c) "stone" Ps 118:22, Is 28:16, 1Pet 2:6,7 Verse 43. The kingdom of God, etc. Jesus applies the parable to them--the Jews. They had been the children of the kingdom, or under the reign of God; having his law, and acknowledging him as King. They had been his chosen and peculiar people. But he says that now this privilege should be taken away, and they cease to be the peculiar people of God; and the blessing should be given to a nation who would bring forth the fruits thereof, or be righteous; that is, to the Gentiles, Acts 28:28. Verse 44. Whosoever shall fall, etc. There is an allusion here, doubtless, to Isa 8:14,15. Having made an allusion to himself as a Stone, or a Rock, Mt 21:42, he proceeds to state the consequences of coming in contact with it. He that falls upon it, shall be broken; he that runs against it--a corner-stone, standing out from the other parts of the foundation--shall be injured, or broken in his limbs or body. He that is offended with my being the foundation, or that opposes me, shall, by the act, injure himself; make himself miserable by so doing, even were there nothing farther, But there is something farther.

On whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. That is, in the original, will reduce him to dust, so that it may be scattered by the winds. There is an allusion here, doubtless, to the custom of stoning as a punishment among the Jews. A scaffold was erected, twice the height of the man to be stoned. Standing on its edge, he was violently struck off by one of the witnesses; if he died by the blow and the fall, nothing farther was done; if not, a heavy stone was thrown down on him, which at once killed him. So the Saviour speaks of the falling of the stone on his enemies. They who oppose him, reject him, and continue impenitent, shall be crushed by him in the day of judgment, and perish for ever.

(g) "it will grind" Heb 2:2,3 Verse 45. They at last perceived that he spoke of them, and would have gratified their malice at once, but they feared the people. Verse 46. (k) "took him for a prophet" Lk 7:16, Jn 7:40 REMARKS ON MATTHEW CHAPTER 21 (1.) Jesus is omniscient, and sees and knows all things, ver. 2. (2.) It is our duty to obey the Lord Jesus, and to do it at once, ver. 3. When he commands, there should be no delay, What he orders is right; and we should not hesitate or deliberate about it. (3.) Especially is this the case where he is to be honoured, as he was on this occasion, vets. 7, 8. If it was for our interest or honour only that we obeyed him, it would be of less consequence. But our obedience will honour him; and we should seek that honour by any sacrifice or self-denial. (4.) We should be willing to give up our property to honour the Lord Jesus, yet. 3. lie has a right to it. If given to spread the gospel, it goes as this did,.to increase "the triumphs of our King." We should be willing to give our wealth, that he might "gird on his sword," and "ride prosperously among the heathen." ](very one saved among the heathen, by sending the gospel to them, will be for the honour of Jesus. They will go to swell his train, when he shall enter triumphantly into his kingdom at the day of judgment (5.) It is our duty to honour him, vers. 7--9. He is King of Zion He is Lord of all. tie reigns, and shall always reign. "Sinners! whose love can ne'er forget.' The wormwood and the gall, Go spread your trophies at his feet, And crown him Lord of all. "Ye chosen seed of Israel's race, Ye ransomed from the fall. Hail him who saves you by his grace. And crown him Lord of all. "Let every kindred, every tribe, On this terrestrial ball, To him all majesty ascribe, And crown himsLord of all." (6.) Children should also honour him, and shout hosanna to him, ver. 15. The chief priests and scribes, in the time of our Saviour, were displeased that they did it; and many of the great, and many formal profeasts since, have been displeased that children should