40 “When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 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.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (Matthew 21:40-42 ESV)
Following His parabolic teaching, Jesus then asked the Jewish religious leaders a question: “When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” The answer seemed to be obvious but the Lord wanted the chief priests and the elders of the people to verbalize their response.
They said to Jesus, ““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.” The religious leaders’ response two-fold.
First, they wanted the master of the house who owned the vineyard to punish the tenants with a miserable and severe death. No punishment would be unjust. Second, they reasoned the master should then lease the vineyard to other tenants who would provide him with the justifiable first fruits of the harvest.
“In typical rabbinical fashion, Jesus led His hearers to finish the story themselves. They no doubt were highly pleased with this unusual opportunity to parade their self-righteousness before Jesus. They rightly assessed the proper ending of the parable, that the irate owner would first severely punish the wicked growers and then replace them with others who were reliable. They were completely unaware that, as they fed their pride on Jesus’ baited question, they sprang the trap of their own condemnation,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
Jesus, referencing Psalm 118:22-23, said, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
“Clearly, the parable is based on Isaiah 5:1–7; thus, the vineyard of Matthew 21:33 is the old covenant community. Jesus does not say that the vineyard is uprooted; rather, the vineyard’s tenants, those responsible for its upkeep and care, are judged (v. 43). These wicked tenants are ethnic Israelites, but not every ethnic Israelite. Furthermore, the new tenants are not of Gentile stock alone. Jews like the twelve disciples are also included,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“God displaces the first tenants because of their abject failure. By grace alone the Almighty redeemed His people from Egypt (Ex. 20:1–2) and gave them all they needed to bear fruit for His kingdom (Matt. 21:33) — to be a light unto the world (Isa. 42:6). Under the old covenant many failed at this task, especially the religious leaders; even worse, they persecuted those servants (the prophets) who exhorted Israel to fulfill her call (Matt. 21:34–36). But God will be patient until they go past the point of no return and murder His Son (vv. 37–39). By this dreadful deed the evil tenants will earn their own destruction (vv. 40–41).”
This passage is a somber warning for confessing, and professing, believers in Christ. Salvation is by God’s sovereign grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. The biblical evidence of true conversion is spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:16-26). The absence of such fruit, no matter one’s position and place in the world, reveals spiritual deadness (Eph. 2:1-3). Be diligent to make your calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:3-11).
Soli deo Gloria!
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