What does Matthew 21:40 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 21:40 is part of a parable taught by Jesus, known as the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen or the Parable of the Tenants.

The parable tells of a landowner who plants a vineyard, puts a fence around it, digs a winepress, builds a tower, and then rents it to some farmers before going on a journey.

When harvest time approaches, the landowner sends his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

However, the tenants beat one servant, kill another, and stone another. He sends more servants, but they receive the same treatment.

Finally, the landowner sends his son, thinking they will respect him, but the tenants kill the son with the intent of taking his inheritance.

The verse in question, Matthew 21:40, is the question Jesus poses to his audience after telling the parable: "When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?" Essentially, Jesus is asking them to consider the just consequence for the tenants' actions when the owner of the vineyard returns.

In a literal sense, this verse anticipates the answer that the landowner would justly punish those who were wicked.

In a deeper sense, the verse speaks to themes of judgment, accountability, and the consequences of rejecting God's messengers.

Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew was written in a first-century Judean context, a predominantly Jewish setting under Roman occupation.

Jesus told this parable during the final week of his life, when he was teaching in the temple in Jerusalem.

In telling the parable, Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of the time, including chief priests and Pharisees, using the rich imagery of a vineyard which was a common symbol for Israel in the Hebrew Scriptures.

The historical setting is critical because it shapes the understanding of the parable as a critique of the religious leadership and their handling of the 'vineyard' they were trusted to oversee.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, the vineyard is often interpreted as representing Israel or God's kingdom, the landowner as God, the servants as prophets, and the son as Jesus Christ.

The husbandmen, or tenants, represent the religious leaders who were responsible for shepherding God's people but who instead abused their power and rejected God's messengers, culminating in their rejection and crucifixion of Jesus.

Some Biblical scholars link this parable to the concept of the "rejected cornerstone," mentioned elsewhere in Matthew (21:42), which refers to Jesus being rejected by the religious leaders but becoming the foundation of a new spiritual edifice.

Practical Applications

This verse can serve as a reminder that stewardship comes with responsibility.

In a practical context, this could apply to any entrusted care, be it in terms of spiritual leadership, community roles, or caring for the environment.

It also serves as a warning against the dangers of self-interest and disrespect for rightful authority.

For believers, it underscores the importance of heeding God's messages and warnings throughout life to ensure they are not the 'husbandmen' who now face judgment.

Cross-References

• Isaiah 5:1-7 - The song of the vineyard, a similar use of the vineyard as a symbol for the House of Israel and God as the owner.
• Mark 12:1-9 - Mark's version of the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.
• Luke 20:9-16 - Luke's account of the same parable.
• Hebrews 1:1-2 - God speaking through the Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things.
• Psalms 118:22 - The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Language Study

In Matthew 21:40, specific key words and phrases in the original Greek are worth noting:

• "lord" (κύριος - kurios): commonly used for "master" or "owner," indicating authority.
• "vineyard" (ἀμπελῶν - ampelōn): a symbol for a place that should produce fruit; in a broader sense, an area of responsibility or a community.
• "husbandmen" (γεωργοί - geōrgoi): tenant farmers or cultivators; metaphorically, those responsible for the care and management of something entrusted to them.
• "cometh" (ἔρχεται - erchetai): speaks to the future arrival or advent, signifying impending judgment or reckoning.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, similar parables and myths involving landowners, stewards, and tenants are seen.

For example, in Greco-Roman myths, there are stories that speak to the moral conduct of mortals and the consequences of their actions, particularly regarding their duties to the gods or to each other.

However, Jesus' parable is distinct in its prophetic condemnation of the religious leadership and its eschatological implications.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives on this verse would be less about physical science and more about the intersection with social sciences like psychology and sociology, exploring the human behaviors of responsibility, consequences, and social contracts.

Understanding the psychological factors behind betrayal, self-interest, and the abuse of power is relevant in analyzing the actions of the husbandmen in the parable.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have various insights into this verse:

• John Calvin saw the parable as a warning to the leaders of the church not to be like the wicked husbandmen.
• William Barclay noted the courage of Jesus in delivering this message, knowing it could provoke those he criticized.
• Craig Keener, in his "IVP Bible Background Commentary," contextualizes the parable within first-century land tenancy practices and the expectations of justice in such contracts.
• R.T.

France, in his commentary on Matthew, emphasizes Jesus' role as the son of God and the deliberate rejection of him by Israel's leaders as a key theme in the parable.