Luke 20 10

Luke 20:10 kjv

And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

Luke 20:10 nkjv

Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

Luke 20:10 niv

At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

Luke 20:10 esv

When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

Luke 20:10 nlt

At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers attacked the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed.

Luke 20 verses

Luke 20 10 Meaning

This verse describes the owner of a vineyard sending a servant at harvest time to collect a share of the fruit from the tenants. However, instead of complying, the tenants physically assault the servant and send him back empty-handed, signifying their defiance and refusal to honor their obligation. Within Jesus' parable, this symbolizes God's sending of prophets to Israel to call them to repentance and righteous living, only for them to be repeatedly rejected and persecuted by the people and their leaders.

Luke 20 10 Context

Luke 20:10 is part of Jesus' parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Luke 20:9-19), spoken in the temple courts of Jerusalem during his final week before the crucifixion. Immediately preceding this parable, the chief priests, scribes, and elders challenged Jesus' authority (Luke 20:1-8). Jesus responds with this parable, which is a veiled but piercing indictment of the Jewish religious leadership and, more broadly, of Israel's long history of rejecting God's messengers. The vineyard symbolizes Israel, the owner is God, the tenants are the Jewish leaders (and ultimately, the nation), the servants are the prophets God sent throughout history, and the son, tragically, is Jesus himself. Historically, Israel often failed to heed the prophets' warnings and calls to repentance, leading to divine judgment and exile, a pattern Jesus alludes to and foretells in their rejection of Him.

Luke 20 10 Word analysis

• And (Kai): A conjunction, typically translated "and." Here, it simply connects this action as the first step in the owner's attempt to collect what is due.
• at the season (kairō): From the Greek kairos (καιρός), meaning a specific, opportune, or fitting time; the appointed time. This emphasizes that the collection was expected and proper, indicating the harvest period when fruit would be ready. It implies God's timing and expectation for a spiritual yield.
• he sent (apesteilen): From the Greek verb apostellō (ἀποστέλλω), meaning "to send forth, send away, dispatch." This is the root of the word "apostle." It signifies the owner's active initiative and authority in sending a representative. In the parable, it signifies God's divine initiative in sending messengers to His people.
• a servant (doulon): From the Greek doulos (δοῦλος), meaning "a slave" or "bondservant." This term highlights the complete submission and obedience of the one sent to the owner's will. In the allegorical sense, these are the prophets whom God sent to Israel, acting as His loyal bondservants. Their low status accentuates the tenants' audacity in abusing them.
• to the husbandmen (pros tous geōrgous): From the Greek geōrgos (γεωργός), meaning "a tiller of the ground, a farmer, a vineyard worker/dresser." These are the ones entrusted with the care and cultivation of the vineyard. In the parable, these represent the religious leaders of Israel, who were entrusted with the spiritual care of God's people.
• that they should give him (hina apodōsin autō): This is a purpose clause. Apodōsin (ἀποδῶσιν) is from apodidōmi (ἀποδίδωμι), meaning "to give back, render what is due, pay." It stresses the obligation to return what rightfully belongs to the owner, a part of the produce as rent or tribute. Spiritually, this signifies the obedience, repentance, and righteous living God expected from His people, a "fruit" of their stewardship.
• of the fruit (apo tou karpou): From the Greek karpos (καρπός), meaning "fruit, produce, outcome." The owner sought a share of the harvest. Symbolically, this "fruit" represents spiritual outcomes: the righteous deeds, the justice, mercy, and true worship that God expected from His covenant people.
• of the vineyard (tou ampelōnos): From the Greek ampelōn (ἀμπελών), meaning "a vineyard." This is a well-established Old Testament metaphor for the nation of Israel (e.g., Isa 5:1-7, Ps 80:8). It speaks of a chosen, carefully cultivated people.
• but (de): A strong adversative conjunction, "but," highlighting the sharp contrast between the owner's expectation and the tenants' rebellious action.
• the husbandmen (hoi geōrgoi): Repeats the recipients of the command, reinforcing their identity as the accountable party.
• beat him (deirantes auton): From the Greek derō (δέρō), meaning "to flay, skin, beat, flog." This indicates severe physical violence and maltreatment. It portrays the shocking brutality and contempt shown towards the owner's representative. This represents the persecution and rejection endured by God's prophets throughout Israel's history.
• and sent him away (kai apesteilan): Uses the same verb apostellō (ἀποστέλλω) as the owner "sent" the servant, creating a stark parallelism. Here, it denotes dismissal or expulsion. The tenants sent him away without fulfilling the owner's request.
• empty (kenon): From the Greek kenos (κενός), meaning "empty, void, devoid of." The servant was sent back with nothing, his mission a complete failure due to the tenants' resistance. This emphasizes their total refusal to give any share and their deliberate disrespect towards the owner's authority and demands. Spiritually, it signifies the absence of the "fruit" God expected.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard": This phrase portrays God's rightful ownership, His patience in waiting until the "season," His gracious initiative in sending messengers, and His legitimate expectation of receiving "fruit" from those to whom He entrusted His vineyard, Israel. It underscores the divine right to the produce of what belongs to Him, established by covenant.
• "but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty": This contrasting phrase exposes the wicked rebellion of the tenants. Their response is not just refusal, but violent aggression. To "beat him" signifies severe abuse, and to send him away "empty" symbolizes not only a lack of payment but profound contempt for the owner's authority, representative, and rightful claim. This establishes a pattern of resistance to God's overtures through His prophets.

Luke 20 10 Bonus section

• Progressive Revelation and Rejection: The parable, beginning with Luke 20:10, illustrates a pattern of escalating rejection. The initial "beating" foreshadows increasing violence that will eventually culminate in the murder of the owner's son, representing the murder of Jesus Himself. This shows a long history of unresponsiveness to divine calls.
• Warning to Stewards: The verse carries a profound warning for all who are entrusted with spiritual responsibility. It highlights the danger of claiming ownership over what belongs to God and failing to render to Him what is due. The 'fruit' is not for the tenants' exclusive consumption but is to be shared, symbolizing the expectation of good spiritual conduct and obedience from God's people, especially those in leadership.
• The Unpaid Debt: The phrase "sent him away empty" emphasizes that the expected "fruit" (God's due) was never rendered. This unfulfilled obligation carries significant theological weight, implying a debt of unrighteousness that accumulated over generations.

Luke 20 10 Commentary

Luke 20:10 sets the stage for one of Jesus' most poignant and condemnatory parables, directly challenging the authority of the religious leaders in Jerusalem. It depicts God's persistent and gracious effort to collect the rightful spiritual 'fruit' from Israel, His vineyard. The 'servant' represents the multitude of prophets God sent throughout Old Testament history, like Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many others, who called Israel to repentance, justice, and faithfulness. The 'husbandmen,' the caretakers of the vineyard, are allegorically the Jewish religious leaders and the nation itself, entrusted with God's spiritual heritage.

The act of "beating" and sending the servant "empty" is not merely neglect but active defiance and violent rejection. This reflects Israel's historical mistreatment and persecution of God's prophets, recorded extensively in the Old Testament (e.g., Jer 7:25-26, Neh 9:26, Matt 23:37, Acts 7:51-53). Despite God's patience and the clear expectation of fruit (righteous living, obedience, genuine worship), the tenants exhibited deep-seated rebellion and self-serving greed, refusing to acknowledge the owner's claim or the message of his representative. This initial act of violence foreshadows the escalating hostility against subsequent messengers, ultimately leading to the rejection of the owner's Son—a chilling prophecy of Jesus' own impending crucifixion.