Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus declares that the kingdom of God won't just be taken away, but given to a new group who will produce its "fruits." This highlights that belonging to God's kingdom isn't about inherited status, but about actively yielding the fruit of righteousness that reflects that kingdom's values.
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just finished telling the parable of the wicked tenants, where the vineyard owner sends his son to collect his share of the produce, only for the tenants to kill him. When Jesus asks the chief priests and elders what the owner will do, they condemn themselves by saying he will destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Jesus then quotes Psalm 118, calling himself the rejected cornerstone, and declares that the kingdom of God will be taken from them and given to a people who produce its fruits.
Jesus' words here aren't just a pronouncement; they're a verdict. Who was this 'kingdom' meant for, and why was it taken away?
Jesus, speaking to the religious leaders, directly applies the parable of the wicked tenants to them. They had been entrusted with God's vineyard – His kingdom, His people, His covenant blessings. However, their actions, especially their rejection and planned murder of God's Son, demonstrated they were not producing the 'fruits' God expected.
A Privileged Trust Lost
This wasn't a casual dismissal, but a judgment based on their failure to bear the fruit of righteousness and obedience.
The kingdom isn't abandoned; it's transferred. What does it mean to be part of the 'people producing its fruits'?
Jesus declares that the kingdom will be 'given to a people producing its fruits.' This new group isn't defined by ethnic heritage but by their response to God's Son and their subsequent actions.
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The Marks of the Fruitful
It's a transition from a covenant based on lineage to one based on a surrendered heart that yields the fruit of the Spirit.
Understand the original words
basileia · Greek Noun
The sovereign reign, rule, and authority of God over His creation and His people. It is both a present reality in the hearts of believers and a future, eternal kingdom established by the Messiah.
Jesus' words in this verse directly addressed the rejection he faced from the Jewish religious leaders and foretold the transfer of God's favor from the nation of Israel to the burgeoning Christian church, primarily composed of Gentiles who would bear the 'fruits' of faith and obedience.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
Jesus' public ministry, including his teachings and miracles, took place during this period, culminating in his confrontation with the religious authorities in Jerusalem.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus was crucified and resurrected, events that marked a pivotal moment in the establishment of the Christian faith.
c. 30-60 AD
Early Spread of the Gospel
The apostles and early followers of Jesus began spreading the gospel message throughout Judea and beyond, leading to the formation of the early Church.
c. 48-50 AD
Council of Jerusalem
This council addressed the issue of whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law, affirming that salvation was available to all through faith in Christ, not just Jews.
c. 64-67 AD
Persecution of Christians
Christians in Rome and elsewhere began to face persecution, notably under Emperor Nero, highlighting the growing tension between the new faith and established powers.
70 AD
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple, a catastrophic event that symbolized the end of an era for Judaism and further dispersed its people.
This passage is the Old Testament source for the vineyard imagery Jesus uses, portraying Israel as God's vineyard that failed to produce good fruit, foreshadowing the rejection of the Jews and the transfer of God's favor.
Jeremiah 7:1-15Jeremiah prophesied against the Temple and the people for their corrupt practices, declaring God's judgment would fall upon them as it did on Shiloh, mirroring Jesus' judgment on the religious leaders and the impending loss of their status.
Acts 13:46Paul and Barnabas boldly declare to the Jews in Antioch that because they found themselves unworthy of eternal life, they would turn to the Gentiles, directly illustrating the transfer of God's kingdom spoken of in Matthew 21:43.
Romans 11:11-24Paul explains how the natural branches (Israel) were broken off due to unbelief, and wild branches (Gentiles) were grafted in, providing a theological framework for how the kingdom of God could be taken from one group and given to another based on faith and fruitfulness.
1 Peter 2:9-10Peter calls believers a 'chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own possession' who are called to show God's excellencies, directly echoing the idea of a new people producing the fruits of God's kingdom.
barnesMatthew 21:43: "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."
The kingdom of God ... - 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 special people, but he says that now this privilege would be taken away; that they would cease to be the special people of God, and that th…
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…
Jesus declares that the kingdom of God won't just be taken away, but given to a new group who will produce its "fruits." This highlights that belonging to God's kingdom isn't about inherited status, but about actively yielding the fruit of righteousness that reflects that kingdom's values.
Jesus has just finished telling the parable of the wicked tenants, where the vineyard owner sends his son to collect his share of the produce, only for the tenants to kill him. When Jesus asks the chief priests and elders what the owner will do, they condemn themselves by saying he will destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Jesus then quotes Psalm 118, calling himself the rejected cornerstone, and declares that the kingdom of God will be taken from them and given to a people who produce its fruits.
Jesus has just finished telling the parable of the wicked tenants, where the vineyard owner sends his son to collect his share of the produce, only for the tenants to kill him. When Jesus asks the chief priests and elders what the owner will do, they condemn themselves by saying he will destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Jesus then quotes Psalm 118, calling himself the rejected cornerstone, and declares that the kingdom of God will be taken from them and given to a people who produce its fruits.
"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits." — Jesus declares that the kingdom of God won't just be taken away, but given to a new group who will produce its "fruits." This highlights that belonging to God's kingdom isn't about inherited status…
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Last reviewed October 2026