They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Their answer, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men," is a chilling self-condemnation. By agreeing with the parable's justice, they unknowingly pronounced judgment upon themselves, not realizing Jesus was referring to their own actions and future fate.
They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just told a parable about a vineyard owner whose tenants brutally mistreated his servants and even killed his son. The listeners, particularly the religious leaders, become enraged and pass their own judgment on the tenants. In their anger, they declare that the wicked tenants will surely be put to a miserable death and the vineyard given to others who will be more faithful.
Have you ever made a judgment about a situation, only to realize later that you were describing yourself? That's exactly what happens in this moment between Jesus and the religious leaders.
Unintentional Self-Condemnation
In Matthew 21:41, the religious leaders, trying to answer Jesus' parable about the wicked tenants, deliver a harsh verdict. They declare, 'He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants.' They are so focused on the injustice of the parable's tenants that they fail to see they are describing their own fate.
The Parable's Double Edge
Jesus masterfully uses this parable to expose their hearts. By having them pronounce judgment, he forces them to acknowledge the owner's right to reclaim his vineyard and punish those who refuse to yield its fruit. This answer, while seemingly straightforward to them, becomes a self-inflicted condemnation, highlighting their own rejection of God's Son and their impending judgment.
The parable doesn't just end with judgment; it points to a dramatic transfer of responsibility. What does this shift signify?
The Just Transfer of the Vineyard
Verse 41 clearly states that the vineyard will be 'let out to other husbandmen.' This isn't just a minor change; it's a radical reallocation of God's favor and a testament to His justice.
God's Unwavering Purpose
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Even though the original tenants (representing the corrupt leadership of Israel) prove themselves unworthy and violently reject the owner's authority, God's plan for the vineyard (His people and His kingdom) will not be thwarted. He will find others who will render the fruits in their seasons. This foreshadows the coming of the new covenant, where the Gospel would be preached to Gentiles who would embrace Christ and bear fruit for the Kingdom.
Understand the original words
ampelōn · Greek Noun
A cultivated area, frequently used in the Bible as a symbol for the people of God, Israel, or the sphere of God's authority and judgment. It implies stewardship, as the owner expects a return on the investment of care and resources.
geōrgos · Greek Noun
In this context, those entrusted with the care of God's kingdom or covenant who fail to fulfill their obligations or display rebellion against the Owner (God). It implies a failure of stewardship and accountability.
The listeners' own words condemning the wicked tenants in the parable become a self-inflicted judgment, foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple about forty years later.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches Parables in Jerusalem
Jesus tells the Parable of the Wicked Tenants to the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem, directly challenging their authority and exposing their impending judgment.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus, the 'beloved son' in the parable, is crucified by the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities, fulfilling the parable's core narrative.
c. 30-33 AD
Pentecost and the Early Church
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the establishment of the Christian church, which takes the 'vineyard' (the people of God) from the rejected Jewish leadership.
c. 66-70 AD
First Jewish-Roman War
The Roman Empire wages war against Judea in response to a Jewish revolt, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple.
70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Roman army sacks Jerusalem and destroys the Second Temple, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy and the parable's prediction of the 'miserable destruction' of the wicked tenants and the loss of their vineyard.
Luke presents this response as Jesus speaking, with the religious leaders saying 'God forbid!' This highlights the stark contrast between the leaders' denial and the crowd's (or even their own initial, unthinking) acknowledgment of deserved judgment.
Acts 4:11This verse directly quotes Psalm 118:22, referencing Jesus as the 'stone that the builders rejected' which has become the cornerstone, echoing the parable's theme of the rightful heir being rejected by the tenants.
Romans 11:11Paul discusses Israel's stumbling and the Gentiles being brought in, mirroring the parable's concept of the vineyard being given to new tenants who will yield its fruits.
1 Peter 2:4-8Peter also speaks of Jesus as a 'living stone' rejected by men but chosen by God, connecting the rejected builder's stone to the parable's narrative of the vineyard owner's son.
Revelation 18:24This passage speaks of blood being found in Babylon, including the blood of prophets and saints, which parallels the vineyard tenants' shedding of innocent blood and their impending judgment.
barnesMatthew 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."
They say ... - They answered according as they knew people 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. The case was so clear that they could not answer otherwise. He wished to show them the justice of taking aw…
henryMatthew 21:33-46: "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:"
21:33-46 This parable plainly sets forth the sin and ruin of the Jewish nation; and what is spoken to convict them, is spoken to caution all that enjoy the privileges of the outward church. As men treat God's people, they would treat Christ himself, if he were wi…
Their answer, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men," is a chilling self-condemnation. By agreeing with the parable's justice, they unknowingly pronounced judgment upon themselves, not realizing Jesus was referring to their own actions and future fate.
Jesus has just told a parable about a vineyard owner whose tenants brutally mistreated his servants and even killed his son. The listeners, particularly the religious leaders, become enraged and pass their own judgment on the tenants. In their anger, they declare that the wicked tenants will surely be put to a miserable death and the vineyard given to others who will be more faithful.
Jesus has just told a parable about a vineyard owner whose tenants brutally mistreated his servants and even killed his son. The listeners, particularly the religious leaders, become enraged and pass their own judgment on the tenants. In their anger, they declare that the wicked tenants will surely be put to a miserable death and the vineyard given to others who will be more faithful.
"They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”" — Their answer, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men," is a chilling self-condemnation. By agreeing with the parable's justice, they unknowingly pronounced judgment upon themselves, not realizin…
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Last reviewed October 2026