Luke 20 14

Luke 20:14 kjv

But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

Luke 20:14 nkjv

But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'

Luke 20:14 niv

"But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

Luke 20:14 esv

But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.'

Luke 20:14 nlt

"But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!'

Luke 20 verses

Luke 20 14 Meaning

Luke 20:14 describes a pivotal moment in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers where the rebellious tenants, upon recognizing the owner's son as the rightful heir, conspire to murder him. Their motive is sheer greed: by eliminating the heir, they intend to unlawfully seize ownership of the vineyard, which rightfully belongs to him, thus attempting to possess what is not theirs through violence and usurpation. This allegorically represents the chief priests, scribes, and elders of Israel recognizing Jesus as the Son of God and rightful heir of God's spiritual vineyard (Israel), yet conspiring to kill Him out of malice, envy, and a desire to maintain their own authority and control, rather than submit to God's ultimate ownership and plan.

Luke 20 14 Context

Luke 20:14 is part of the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Luke 20:9-19), told by Jesus in the Temple courts. It directly follows Jesus' cleansing of the Temple and his powerful teaching that established his authority, which the chief priests, scribes, and elders then challenged (Lk 20:1-8). This parable serves as Jesus' direct response and a stinging rebuke to these religious leaders who questioned his divine authority. Historically, these leaders felt their power and control over the people threatened by Jesus' growing influence. Culturally, vineyard parables were common, with the vineyard often symbolizing Israel. The "owner" represents God, the "tenants" represent the Jewish religious leaders (stewards of God's people and covenant), and the "servants" sent earlier represent the prophets whom the leaders persecuted. Verse 14 specifically portrays their ultimate and decisive act of rebellion against the "heir," Jesus Christ, anticipating His crucifixion by the very leaders he was confronting. The audience immediately understood this parable was directed at them (Lk 20:19), revealing their malicious intentions and the divine consequences that would follow their rejection of the Messiah.

Luke 20 14 Word analysis

• But (Ἀλλά - Alla): A strong adversative conjunction, emphasizing a sharp contrast. It signals a turning point in the tenants' attitude from dealing with servants to the owner's son, highlighting the malicious and deliberate nature of their subsequent actions.
• when the tenants (οἱ γεωργοί - hoi georgi): Literally "the cultivators" or "farmers." In this context, these are not slaves but those given a delegated responsibility over the vineyard. They symbolize the religious leaders who were given charge over God's spiritual "vineyard," Israel, and were expected to produce fruit (righteousness) for the owner. Their role implies a trust they betrayed.
• saw him (ἰδόντες αὐτόν - idontes auton): Implies not merely perceiving him with their eyes, but recognizing his identity. They understood he was the rightful heir, the owner's son. This recognition underscores their wilful wickedness; they rebelled against perceived divine authority, not in ignorance.
• they reasoned among themselves (διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἀλλήλους - dielochizonto pros allēlous): The verb dielochizonto (imperfect tense) signifies an ongoing, internal debate, careful deliberation, or intensive plotting. This was a considered conspiracy, not a spontaneous act. It reveals calculated malice and forethought in their plan.
• saying, ‘This is the heir. (λέγοντες Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ κληρονόμος - legontes Houtos estin ho klēronomos): Their spoken words confirm their clear understanding of his identity. Klēronomos (heir) means one legally entitled to inherit property upon the death of the owner. They knew he represented the owner's full legal claim. This confession of his identity makes their subsequent actions even more reprehensible. Jesus uses their own acknowledged perception to expose their sin.
• Come, let us kill him, (δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτόν - deute apokteinōmen auton): Deute is an imperative, meaning "come (plural)," inviting a joint, concerted effort. Apokteinōmen (let us kill) reveals their horrific solution to the perceived obstacle. This portrays the Jewish leaders' ultimate act against Jesus – His crucifixion. It is the pinnacle of their rebellion against God's direct sovereignty.
• so that the inheritance may be ours.’ (ἵνα ἡμῖν γένηται ἡ κληρονομία - hina hēmin genētai hē klēronomia): The Greek hina clause indicates purpose or intent. Their sole motivation for murder is greed and self-serving usurpation. They desired total control and ownership of God’s "inheritance"—the vineyard, allegorically Israel and the Kingdom of God. They sought to secure ultimate power and possession, eliminating the rightful heir and claiming the kingdom as their own domain.

Words-group analysis

• when the tenants saw him, they reasoned among themselves: This phrase highlights the deliberate nature of their evil intent. It wasn't a snap decision; they paused, recognized, and conspired, indicating hardened hearts and an active rebellion against truth. Their internal plotting against divine authority is a stark indictment of the religious leaders.
• ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’: This full statement captures the core of their depravity. They acknowledge his legitimate claim, yet directly propose his murder for selfish gain. It is the perfect allegorical representation of the Jewish leadership's knowledge of Jesus' claims (even if they denied it publicly), their plotting of His death, and their desire to cling to power and control over what rightfully belonged to God. The progression from recognition to conspiracy to murderous intent to covetous motivation reveals their deep-seated rejection of God's will and sovereign claim.

Luke 20 14 Bonus section

The parable serves not only as a prophecy of Christ's rejection and death but also highlights a critical theological concept: divine patience juxtaposed with human depravity. God sent servant after servant (prophets), each abused or killed, yet He finally sent His "beloved son," demonstrating the ultimate extension of His grace. The tenants' response, however, demonstrates the depths of human sin and the extreme lengths to which people will go to defy God's sovereign plan for selfish gain. This act of violence against the heir underscores that for humanity, rebellion against God reaches its climax in the rejection and attempted murder of His own Son, which culminates in the Cross. However, as subsequent verses in the parable imply (Lk 20:17-18, quoting Ps 118:22), God’s plan is ultimately unstoppable, and the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone. The tenants’ plot to "inherit" the vineyard through murder would ironically lead to their utter destruction (Lk 20:16), reinforcing God's righteous judgment against those who resist His will.

Luke 20 14 Commentary

Luke 20:14 profoundly unveils the nature of spiritual rebellion and self-serving ambition. The wicked tenants, stewards of the vineyard, knowingly identify the owner's son as the true heir. Their clear understanding amplifies the heinousness of their subsequent actions. Driven by an insatiable desire to seize unearned authority and possession, they scheme to commit murder, believing this would transfer ownership to them. This directly prefigures the conspiracy of the Jewish religious authorities against Jesus. They recognized something divine in Him (though they often attributed it to Beelzebul or sought to trap Him), yet their deep-seated covetousness for the authority they exercised over Israel and their desire to reject God's true sovereignty led them to plot His crucifixion. This verse therefore functions as a prophetic allegory, exposing the malicious hearts of those who reject God’s ultimate claim in favor of their own self-interest and desire for control. It illustrates that spiritual blindness is often less about ignorance and more about willful opposition driven by sinful ambition.