Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

LUKE 20:13KJV
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Luke 20:13 (KJV)

What does Luke 20:13 mean?

Luke 20:13 describes the owner of a vineyard deciding to send his beloved son to the tenants, hoping they will respect him when they see him. The verse shows the owner's hope that, even after his servants were mistreated, the tenants might honor his son.

In this parable, Jesus is telling a story to a crowd that includes religious leaders. The "lord of the vineyard" represents God, and the "beloved son" refers to someone uniquely precious to the owner. The situation is tense: the tenants have already rejected and harmed the owner's previous messengers. The verse highlights the owner's willingness to take one more step, sending his own son in the hope of a different response.

The Greek behind Luke 20:13

  • κύριος (kyrios): This word means "lord" or "master." Here, it emphasizes the authority and ownership of the vineyard's lord, pointing to someone with both responsibility and rights over the property.
  • ἀγαπητός (agapētos): This word means "beloved" or "dearly loved." It stresses the special relationship between the owner and his son, not just any son but one deeply cherished.
  • ἐντραπήσονται (entrāpēsontai): Translated as "they will reverence," this word carries the sense of showing respect or feeling shame. The hope is that the tenants, seeing the son, might finally act with proper regard.

Why Luke 20:13 matters

  • Luke 20:13 clarifies that the owner’s decision to send his son is not rash but hopeful, showing patience and a desire for reconciliation even after repeated rejections.
  • The verse sets up a contrast between the owner’s hope and the tenants’ coming actions, making the later rejection of the son even more striking.
  • Understanding this verse helps clarify the parable’s message about God’s relationship to his people and the significance of sending someone uniquely beloved, which becomes a key point in Jesus’ teaching.

Where else these words appear

“reverence” Greek G1788 · used in 9 verses

  • Matthew 21:37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
  • Luke 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

“vineyard” Greek G290 · used in 21 verses

  • Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
  • Matthew 21:33 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:
  • Mark 12:9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

“beloved” Greek G27 · used in 61 verses

  • Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  • 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
  • 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

“him” Greek G5126 · used in 63 verses

  • Matthew 19:11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
  • John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
  • Acts 16:3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.