Luke 20 12

Luke 20:12 kjv

And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

Luke 20:12 nkjv

And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.

Luke 20:12 niv

He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

Luke 20:12 esv

And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out.

Luke 20:12 nlt

A third man was sent, and they wounded him and chased him away.

Luke 20 verses

Luke 20 12 Meaning

Luke 20:12 is part of Jesus' Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. It describes the owner's third attempt to collect his rightful share of the vineyard's fruit by sending another servant. However, like the previous messengers, this servant is severely mistreated by the rebellious tenants; they wound him and violently cast him out. This act underscores the tenants' escalating defiance and profound wickedness, contrasting with the owner's persistent, long-suffering patience in seeking what is rightfully his. Parabolically, this verse represents God's consistent sending of prophets to ancient Israel, who were repeatedly rejected, persecuted, and often killed by the people, particularly their religious leaders.

Luke 20 12 Context

Luke 20:12 is embedded within a direct confrontation between Jesus and the religious establishment in Jerusalem, during the pivotal final week leading to His crucifixion. After Jesus' Triumphal Entry and subsequent Temple cleansing, the chief priests, scribes, and elders directly questioned His authority (Luke 20:1-8). In response, Jesus masterfully told the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Luke 20:9-19). This parable served as a profound answer to their challenge, illustrating their historical pattern of rejecting God's divine messengers, the prophets, and chillingly predicting their ultimate rejection and murder of God's beloved Son, Jesus Himself. The immediate audience would have included the Jewish leaders as well as a large crowd (Luke 20:9). The verse's depiction of the owner's persistent sending and the tenants' escalating violence highlights God's continuous outreach and appeal to His people, despite their entrenched rebellion, thus setting the critical stage for the climax of the parable: the tragic sending and rejection of the Son.

Luke 20 12 Word analysis

• And again (Καὶ προσέθετο):

  • Καὶ (Kai): "And," functions as a connective, linking this action to the previous attempts. It implies continuation and reinforcement of a pattern.
  • προσέθετο (prosetheto): From prostithemi, meaning "he added," "he proceeded," or "he sent yet again." It indicates an intentional and repeated effort, highlighting the owner's remarkable patience and perseverance in the face of ongoing rebellion. This term signifies that the owner continued to act kindly, adding another opportunity to those previously extended.

• he sent (πέμψαι - pempsai):

  • "To send." While a simple verb, its repeated use in this context (after two previous sendings) underscores the deliberate and consistent nature of the owner's efforts to seek fruit, paralleling God's relentless communication with Israel.

• a third (τρίτον - triton):

  • "Third" messenger or servant. The specific numerical sequence emphasizes a clear pattern of repeated warnings and opportunities given to the tenants. This pattern underscores God's persistent long-suffering with Israel throughout its history before final judgment. It also builds tension, hinting that such boundless patience might soon reach its limit.

• and they (οἱ δὲ - hoi de):

  • "But they," or "and these." This marks a stark contrast, shifting focus from the owner's persistent goodwill to the tenants' continued, and escalating, malevolence and resistance. It highlights their defiance as an independent, wilful choice.

• wounded him also (κἀκεῖνον τραυματίσαντες - kakeinon traumatisantes):

  • κἀκεῖνον (kakeinon): "that one also," explicitly connecting the fate of this third servant to the preceding ones, indicating a persistent pattern of ill-treatment.
  • τραυματίσαντες (traumatisantes): From traumatizo, "having wounded," "having injured severely." This Greek term implies more severe physical injury than mere beating (as with the first servant, Luke 20:10). It signifies significant physical harm, demonstrating the escalating violence and intensified wickedness of the tenants. This detail is crucial for showing the escalating sin of rejecting God's messengers, who were often killed.

• and cast him out (ἐξέβαλον - exebalon):

  • ἐξέβαλον (exebalon): From ekballo, "they threw out," "they expelled." This denotes a forceful, definitive expulsion. It is not just about physical removal but implies disgrace, banishment, or even putting one outside the community to be harmed or killed, just as Jesus would be crucified outside the city walls. This act represents the ultimate rejection and contempt for the owner's representative.

• words-group by words-group analysis data

  • "And again he sent a third": This phrase conveys the extraordinary patience and longsuffering of the vineyard owner. His persistent efforts to send messengers, even after previous ones were mistreated, beautifully illustrates God's grace and continuous outreach to His people, granting repeated opportunities for repentance before ultimate judgment.
  • "and they wounded him also, and cast him out": This collective action signifies the escalating rebellion and hardened hearts of the tenants. "Wounding" indicates severe physical abuse, while "casting out" denotes complete rejection and forceful expulsion, perhaps leading to death outside the rightful domain. This mirror Israel's history of not merely ignoring but violently persecuting and ultimately crucifying God's messengers and Son, physically outside the gates.

Luke 20 12 Bonus section

• The parable directly addressed the Jewish leadership of Jesus' time, who, according to Luke 20:19, understood that the parable was spoken against them.
• The progression from verbal warnings (first messenger) to physical beatings (first and second messengers) and ultimately severe wounding and expulsion (second and third messengers), leads to the foretold killing of the son, emphasizing the escalating wickedness of humanity's rebellion against divine authority.
• This verse highlights the covenant relationship implied between the owner (God) and the tenants (Israel/leaders) where fruit (obedience, righteousness) was expected, and refusal had dire consequences.

Luke 20 12 Commentary

Luke 20:12 vividly portrays the escalating pattern of rejection in Jesus' Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. The owner's decision to send a "third" servant, despite previous failures, epitomizes God's infinite patience and longsuffering in calling humanity, particularly Israel, to Himself. Each sending underscores His profound desire for a response and for the "fruits" of obedience. However, the tenants' actions reveal an escalating depravity: they "wounded" this servant severely and "cast him out," demonstrating not merely disrespect but outright violent defiance against the owner's authority. This parabolic event directly foreshadows the history of God's prophets, many of whom were indeed persecuted, injured, or executed by their own people. The final act of "casting out" resonates deeply with the impending fate of Jesus, who was led "outside the city" to be crucified, fulfilling this prophetic rejection at its climax. The verse's somber depiction underscores the gravity of rejecting God's continued gracious appeals, leading ultimately to divine judgment upon those who reject His ultimate Messenger, His Son.