Matthew 21 37

Matthew 21:37 kjv

But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

Matthew 21:37 nkjv

Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

Matthew 21:37 niv

Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.

Matthew 21:37 esv

Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

Matthew 21:37 nlt

"Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'

Matthew 21 verses

Matthew 21 37 Meaning

Matthew 21:37 reveals a pivotal moment in the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, portraying the vineyard owner's ultimate act of sending his unique Son, hoping for reverence and recognition. This verse illustrates God's persistent patience and escalating attempts to gather His people, culminating in the incarnation and mission of Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. The owner's expectation, "They will respect my son," underscores the profound spiritual blindness and ultimate culpability of those who reject God's final, greatest messenger.

Matthew 21 37 Context

This verse is an integral part of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matt 21:33-46), delivered by Jesus shortly after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, during the final week of His earthly ministry. It immediately follows the Parable of the Two Sons, which addressed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Historically, Jesus is challenging the authority of the chief priests and elders (Matt 21:23) who had confronted Him. This parable served as a direct polemic against them, clearly identifying them as the "wicked tenants" and portraying God (the owner) and Himself (the Son). The context highlights God's historical patience with Israel, who continually rejected His messengers (prophets), ultimately leading to the rejection of His own Son, Jesus.

Matthew 21 37 Word analysis

• Finally (Τέλος - Telos): This word signifies a conclusion, the end of a process, or the ultimate point. In this context, it doesn't merely mean "lastly," but emphasizes that sending the Son is the climax, the decisive and final act of the owner, implying nothing else remains to be done. It highlights the uniqueness and supremacy of the Son among all previous messengers.
• he sent (ἀπέστειλεν - aposteilén): From the verb apostellō, meaning "to send forth with a special commission or authority." This implies that the Son was sent by the Father with full authority and divine mandate, much like an apostle is sent by Christ. It indicates a deliberate divine act of dispatch for a specific, vital purpose.
• his son (τὸν υἱόν αὐτοῦ - ton huion autou): The definite article "the" combined with "Son" strongly identifies this individual as unique and preeminent. This is not just a son, but the Son, carrying a special relationship and heirship with the owner. The title "Son" directly points to Jesus' divine identity and unique relationship with God the Father, a clear Christological claim within the parable.
• to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Refers to the tenants, representing the Jewish religious leaders and ultimately unfaithful Israel. It emphasizes the direct confrontation and ultimate accountability they faced.
• saying (λέγων - legōn): Describes the owner's mindset and expectation as he sends the Son. It expresses his hopeful anticipation, though tragically misguided in light of the tenants' wickedness.
• They will respect (Ἐντραπήσονται - Entrapēsontai): From the verb entrepō, which can mean "to turn toward," "to regard with awe," "to reverence," or "to be put to shame." Here, it primarily denotes an expectation of reverence, honor, and proper recognition of the Son's status and authority, leading to respectful treatment. The underlying idea is that their conscience should be pricked, leading them to feel shame if they mistreat such a dignitary.
• my son (τὸν υἱόν μου - ton huion mou): This possessive emphasizes the owner's direct paternity and deep affection, reinforcing the Son's supreme value and authority in the owner's eyes. It solidifies the Son's status as the true heir, making the tenants' planned actions all the more heinous.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "Finally he sent his son to them": This phrase signifies God's culminating act of revelation and grace in salvation history. After sending many messengers (prophets), God sent His very own unique Son. It highlights the profound love, patience, and seriousness of God's final offer of grace and truth to humanity through Christ. This demonstrates divine initiative and underscores the magnitude of the Incarnation.
• "saying, 'They will respect my son'": This phrase reveals the owner's expectation, which, from a divine perspective, speaks to God's ultimate desire for His Son to be acknowledged and honored. It signifies the ideal response: that humanity, particularly those entrusted with spiritual care, would finally yield to the supreme authority of God's own Son. It also highlights the tenants' moral bankruptcy for failing to meet even this fundamental expectation, despite the profound honor bestowed by the owner. The expectation of respect points to their profound moral failure.

Matthew 21 37 Bonus section

The entire Parable of the Wicked Tenants, culminating in verse 37, is Jesus' direct and highly pointed claim to divine Sonship and Messiahship. It is not merely a story but a prophetic allegorical drama of salvation history from God's patient sending of prophets to the ultimate sacrifice of His Son and the judgment that follows rejection. The "sending" of the Son implies His pre-existence and direct commissioning from God. Furthermore, the master's statement in the parable implicitly draws upon ancient near-eastern legal practices where an owner's son would act on his behalf and receive the property. The tenants' rejection of the Son means rejecting the ultimate revelation and heirship of God. This parable functions as a "judgment speech" by Jesus against the very leaders who were questioning His authority, revealing their culpability and foreshadowing their ultimate removal from spiritual leadership.

Matthew 21 37 Commentary

Matthew 21:37 is a profoundly significant verse within Jesus's teachings, acting as a climax in the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. It encapsulates God's consistent patience and ultimate decision in the history of salvation. After a long succession of prophets (the "servants"), who were rejected and persecuted by Israel's leadership, God sent His own Son. This sending is presented not as a desperate last resort, but as the supreme, climactic act of the vineyard owner, symbolizing God's full and final revelation in Christ.

The owner's expectation, "They will respect my son," conveys a sense of divine hope mixed with perhaps an underlying understanding of potential rejection. "Respect" here (entrepō) implies a deep reverence, a sense of awe that would prevent dishonor. The logical human response upon seeing the master's unique heir should have been submission and honor, a recognition of his authority and claim. This verse prophetically lays bare the spiritual blindness and profound wickedness of the religious leaders and ultimately, the unfaithful portion of Israel, who not only failed to respect but actively planned to murder the Son, as described in the subsequent verses (Matt 21:38-39). This highlights that the rejection of Christ was not an accidental oversight but a deliberate act against God's ultimate manifestation.