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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 21:33-46

This parable plainly sets forth the sin and ruin of the Jewish nation; they and their leaders are the husbandmen here; and what is spoken for conviction to them, is spoken for caution to all that enjoy the privileges of the visible church, not to be high-minded, but fear. I. We have here the privileges of the Jewish church, represented by the letting out of a vineyard to the husbandmen; they were as tenants holding by, from, and under, God the great Householder. Observe, 1. How God established... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 21:33-46

21:33-46 Jesus said, "Listen to another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and surrounded it with a hedge, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and gave it out to cultivators and went away. When the time of the fruits had come, he dispatched his servants to the cultivators, to receive his fruits; and the cultivators took his servants, and beat one of them, and killed another of them, and stoned another of them. Again he dispatched other servants, more than... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 21:33-46

This parable has much to tell us in three directions. (i) It has much to tell us about God. (a) It tells of God's trust in men. The owner of the vineyard entrusted it to the cultivators. He did not even stand over them to exercise a police-like supervision. He went away and left them with their task. God pays men the compliment of entrusting them with his work. Every task we receive is a task given us to do by God. (b) It tells of God's patience. The master sent messenger after... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 21:33-46

The parable concludes with the picture of the stone. There are two pictures really. (i) The first is quite clear. It is the picture of a stone which the builders rejected but became the most important stone in the whole building. The picture is from Psalms 118:22 : "The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner." Originally the Psalmist meant this as a picture of the nation of Israel. Israel was the nation which was despised and rejected. The Jews were hated by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:33

Hear another parable ,.... Which, though Luke says was spoken to the people, who, were gathered round about him, yet was directed to, and against the chief priests; who continued with him till it was delivered, and the application of it made; when they perceived it was spoken of them. The design of it is, to set forth the many favours and privileges bestowed on the Jewish nation; their unfruitfulness, and the ingratitude of the principal men among them; and their barbarous usage of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:34

And when the time of the fruit drew near ,.... Of gathering the fruit, when it was ripe, and might be eaten, or profit made of it, according to the law in Leviticus 19:23 . The fruit of all manner of trees, for the first three years, was uncircumcised; it was not to be eaten, nor any profit made of it, and on the fourth year it was to be holy to praise the Lord with; being either given to the priests, or eaten by the owners before the Lord at Jerusalem; and on the fifth year it might be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:35

And the husbandmen took his servants ,.... They seized and laid hold of them in a rude and violent manner: so far were they from treating these servants with respect, as they ought to have done; considering whose they were, from whom they came, and upon what account; and also so far from delivering to them the fruit due to their master, or excusing their inability to make a suitable return, as might be expected, they use them very roughly: and beat one ; either with the fist, as Jeremiah... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:36

Again he sent other servants ,.... Meaning, perhaps, such as suffered in the times of the Maccabees: more than the first ; their number was greater, though their office was the same, at least not higher: and they did unto them likewise ; they beat them with rods, they killed them with the sword, and stoned them, Hebrews 11:36 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:37

But last of all ,.... In the last times, in the last days, in the end of the world, the Jewish world, at the close of their ecclesiastic and civil state; after all the prophets had been sent, and finished their course, came the greatest prophet of all, to seal up the vision and prophecy: he sent unto them son ; not a servant as before, but a son; his own son, his only begotten son, the son of his love, his dearly beloved one; him he sent to these husbandmen the Jews. The Son of God, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:38

But when the husbandmen saw the son ,.... Whom many of them knew, though some did not: some were entirely ignorant of him; some knew him, but durst not confess him, yet were not injurious to him; others acted against light and conscience, with spite and malice, as did these men. They expected the Messiah about this time; they knew, by prophecy, it could not be long ere he appeared: when they saw Jesus of Nazareth, they knew by various circumstances, by all the characters of the Messiah... read more

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