New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 21:41

The King Enters

“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.” Matthew 21:41 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 21:41, in plain English

They answer, 'He'll bring those terrible tenants to a terrible end, and rent the vineyard to people who'll actually give him his share.'

Why it's here

They answered correctly — and they just judged themselves. They don't see it yet.

Who's speaking

The leaders pronounce the verdict that applies to them.

Where it sits in the story

They give the right answer with full conviction, not realizing they just wrote their own sentence.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The leaders pronounce harsh judgment: the wretches deserve a wretched end (kakous kakōs apolesei — a play on words), and the vineyard will be given to faithful tenants.

Language and setting

The wordplay kakous kakōs intensifies the judgment; ironically, they have condemned themselves.

Voice

The religious leaders unwittingly pronounce judgment on themselves.

Significance

The leaders deliver a fierce verdict, not realizing they are the wicked tenants in Jesus' story.

In context

Matthew 21:39–43

39So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”

41“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”

42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

Read all of Matthew 21 — Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey while the crowds shout hosanna. Within hours, he's overturning tables in the temple.

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