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Matthew 21

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

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

But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

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

When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

What does Matthew 21:43 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 21:43 is a part of a parable Jesus told, known as the Parable of the Tenants (also called the Parable of the Vineyard), recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

This particular verse serves as a judgment against the religious leaders of Israel, namely the Pharisees and the chief priests, who failed to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and fulfill their role as God's chosen people.

Jesus proclaims that the kingdom of God, which represents God's sovereign rule and salvation, will be taken from them due to their rejection of Him and given to another 'nation' that will produce its fruit.

The 'nation' referred to is understood to be the community of believers, which is not limited by ethnicity but constituted by those who accept and follow Jesus.

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Historical Context

Matthew 21:43 was set in Jerusalem during the final days of Jesus' ministry before His crucifixion, around 30 A.D.

During this time, the Jewish leaders were entrusted with the religious guidance of Israel, but they often misused their authority and rejected Jesus' teachings and miracles.

Jesus used parables as a form of indirect communication to convey spiritual truths and to fulfill prophecy, with this parable being a direct critique of the religious leaders’ failure to recognize their own Messiah.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Matthew 21:43 can be viewed in different ways:

Continuity and Discontinuity: The verse illustrates both continuity and discontinuity in God's plan.

There is continuity in that God's purpose to have a people for Himself remains, but there is discontinuity in that this purpose is not limited to ethnic Israel but is extended to all nations through faith in Christ.

Covenant Theology: In covenant theology, this passage is often cited as evidence of the New Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah replacing the Old Covenant due to Israel's unfaithfulness.
Dispensationalism: Dispensationalists may interpret this verse as describing a temporary setting aside of national Israel in God's program, anticipating a future restoration during a literal thousand-year reign of Christ.

Practical Applications

Matthew 21:43 invites believers to reflect on their response to the message of Jesus. It encourages individuals to examine whether they are producing the fruits expected of those who belong to the kingdom of God.

This verse advises Christians to be vigilant in their faith and diligent in their walk, understanding that the privilege of being part of God's kingdom implies a responsibility to live out kingdom values.

Cross-References

Luke 20:16: "He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.

And when they heard it, they said, God forbid."

Matthew 8:11-12: "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Romans 11:17-21: "And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches..."

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek text of Matthew 21:43 include:

"The kingdom of God" (βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ): A term frequently used in the Gospels to signify the rule and reign of God.
"Taken from you" (ἀρθήσεται ἀφ' ὑμῶν): This phrase signifies being removed or taken away.
"Nation" (ἔθνει): Often translated as "Gentiles" or "peoples," indicating a group beyond the immediate Jewish audience.
"Fruits thereof" (τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς): Symbolizing the outcomes or products, specifically indicative of the righteous actions God expects of His people.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religions, themes of vineyards and judgment are also present, though they carry different meanings.

For instance, in Greek mythology, Dionysus is the god of the vine, and in his stories, there are instances of divine retribution but without parallel theological implications.

In comparing Judaism with Christianity, this verse captures a critical shift, where the focus moves from ethnic lineage to a faith-centered relationship with God.

Scientific Perspectives

While there are no direct scientific claims in this verse, modern researchers in the field of psychology and sociology might analyze the human behavior components of the parable, such as group dynamics, leadership responsibilities, and responses to authority and expectations, offering insights into the psychological reasons behind the rejection or acceptance of new religious teachings.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentators have offered insights on this verse:

John Calvin: He viewed this passage as describing the rejection of the Jewish nation due to ingratitude and emphasizing the grace of God extended to the Gentiles.
Matthew Henry: He interpreted the 'nation' as signifying the church of Christ, comprising both Jews and Gentiles, and underscored the justice of God in condemning the unfruitful.
William Barclay: He discussed the idea that the privileges of the kingdom of God carry with them responsibilities, and pointed out that the religious leaders were custodians of God's truth who failed in their duty.

Matthew 21

Matthew 21

What does Matthew 21:43 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 21:43 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?