Matthew 21 39

Matthew 21:39 kjv

And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

Matthew 21:39 nkjv

So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Matthew 21:39 niv

So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Matthew 21:39 esv

And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Matthew 21:39 nlt

So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

Matthew 21 verses

Matthew 21 39 Meaning

This verse is part of Jesus' parable of the wicked vinedressers, which directly follows His entry into Jerusalem and challenges to His authority by the chief priests and elders. Spiritually, it describes the deliberate and violent actions of the vinedressers against the owner's son: taking him, expelling him from the vineyard, and killing him. This vividly prefigures the religious leaders' rejection, expulsion, and crucifixion of Jesus, God's Son, outside the gates of Jerusalem. It exposes their motive of covetousness—desiring the "inheritance" (the vineyard, representing Israel/God's kingdom) for themselves, leading them to eliminate the rightful heir. The expulsion before killing emphasizes the profound contempt and deliberate denial of His rightful place.

Matthew 21 39 Context

Matthew chapter 21 recounts Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, His cleansing of the temple, and His public ministry in the city, which immediately prompts questions from the religious authorities regarding His authority (Matt 21:23). In response, Jesus tells several parables that serve as pointed condemnations and warnings to these leaders. The parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Matt 21:33-46) directly addresses the chief priests and elders. In this parable, the vineyard represents Israel, the owner is God, the servants are the prophets, and the son is Jesus Himself. The verse prior (Matt 21:38) explicitly states the vinedressers' realization that the man coming to them is "the heir," leading to their covetous plot. Their decision to cast him out and kill him is an attempt to usurp the inheritance. The historical context includes the Roman occupation of Judea and common tenant farming practices where landowners sent servants to collect rents; rebellion by tenants could lead to severe punishment, often by Roman forces. This parable functions as a polemic against the Jewish leaders who had historically rejected God's prophets and were now planning to reject and kill His Son, fulfilling the ultimate act of rebellion against God's plan.

Matthew 21 39 Word analysis

• So they took him (λαβόντες αὐτόν, labontes auton, "having taken him"): This highlights a deliberate, willful, and physical act of apprehension. It signifies not merely a casual encounter but an intentional seizure of the Son by the vinedressers. The use of "they" clearly points to the religious authorities who plotted against Jesus.

• and threw him out (ἐξέβαλον, exebalon, "they cast out"): This verb implies a violent expulsion or rejection. It suggests disinheritance, exclusion, and dishonor. Symbolically, Jesus was indeed led "outside" Jerusalem to be crucified, linking His physical death with a public act of rejection by those within the "vineyard" (John 19:17; Heb 13:12). This act before killing also reveals the vinedressers' desire to ensure the son had no claim to the vineyard, by removing him from its perceived boundaries and rights.

• of the vineyard (τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, tou ampelonos, "of the vineyard"): The vineyard here is a common biblical metaphor for Israel (Is 5:1-7; Ps 80:8-19). Their expulsion of the Son from the vineyard signifies the religious leaders' rejection of God's Son within His own chosen nation, as well as a usurpation of its spiritual authority for their own. The act takes place in "their" sphere of influence.

• and killed him (ἀπέκτειναν, apekteinan, "they slew him"): This is the ultimate act of malice and rebellion. It represents the historical climax of Israel's rejection of God's messengers, culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus. This act reveals the depth of their hostility and their determination to secure the inheritance by any means, including murder. It serves as a direct prophecy of Jesus' death at the hands of those He came to save.

• took him and threw him out: This phrase indicates a sequence of deliberate and escalating hostile actions. First, seizing control, then removing and rejecting Him from the rightful place. This prefigures the Sanhedrin’s capture of Jesus, followed by their handing Him over to be crucified outside the city. It underscores their complete repudiation of His authority and presence within what they considered their domain.

• threw him out... and killed him: The sequence of events is crucial. Killing the son outside the vineyard carries a specific theological and cultural resonance. Executions, particularly of criminals or those deemed outcast, often took place outside city walls to emphasize their separation from the community and to prevent ritual defilement within the holy city (Lev 24:14; Num 15:35-36; Heb 13:12). For Jesus, it was a death of shame and rejection, yet it was also part of God's plan for purification (Heb 9:22, 13:12). The vinedressers' action attempts to strip the heir of all claim and dignity before taking his life.

Matthew 21 39 Bonus section

The phrase "killed him" points to the violent, bloody sacrifice that was to take place, linking it to the covenant concept of blood shedding for remission of sins (Heb 9:22). While the vinedressers' intent was malicious and for personal gain, God superintended this act for redemptive purposes. The deliberate "casting out" also reflects a recurring biblical theme of God's chosen ones being rejected by their own people (e.g., Joseph by his brothers, Moses by Israel in the wilderness) yet being elevated by God. The parabolic language cloaks a direct accusation against the chief priests and elders (as they themselves understood, Matt 21:45), revealing Jesus' awareness of their murderous intentions and serving as His final public appeal and warning to them before His Passion. The imagery of casting out is also echoed in some traditions, linking to the idea of Jesus taking the sins and defilements outside the holy city, cleansing His people.

Matthew 21 39 Commentary

Matthew 21:39 encapsulates the tragic climax of the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, serving as a chilling prophetic portrayal of Jesus' own impending fate. The vinedressers' actions—taking, casting out, and killing the son—reflect the deliberate hostility of the Jewish religious leaders toward Jesus. Their motive, as revealed in the preceding verse, was rooted in covetousness and a desire to claim God's spiritual "vineyard" (Israel) as their own. The act of "throwing him out of the vineyard" before killing him is highly significant; it foretold Jesus being led outside Jerusalem for His crucifixion, a place of shame and public rejection, aligning with customs of execution outside city walls for outcasts and defilement. This emphasizes the profound dishonor intended for the Son. The act of "killing him" is the ultimate rebellion against the Owner, paralleling Israel's long history of rejecting and murdering God's prophets (symbolized by the servants earlier in the parable) and culminating in their rejection and crucifixion of God's unique Son, Jesus. This verse powerfully underscores the divine foreknowledge of Christ's suffering and death, not merely as an unfortunate event, but as a deliberate act of rejection by those He came to redeem. It warns of the spiritual blindness and profound judgment that accompanies such rebellion against God's loving provision and His divine Son.