He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

LUKE 20:16KJV
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Luke 20:16 (KJV)

What does Luke 20:16 mean?

Luke 20:16 says that the owner will come, destroy the tenants who were caring for his vineyard, and give the vineyard to others. When the people listening heard this, they responded with shock, saying, “God forbid,” meaning they hoped such a thing would never happen.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a crowd in Jerusalem, telling a parable about a landowner and tenants who refused to give him his due and mistreated his messengers. The verse is the turning point in the story, where Jesus explains the consequences for the tenants’ actions. The crowd’s strong reaction shows they understood the seriousness of what Jesus was saying, especially as it hinted at a change in who would be entrusted with God’s work.

The Greek behind Luke 20:16

  • ἀπολέσει (apolesei, “destroy”): This word means to utterly ruin or do away with, showing the severity of the owner’s response to the tenants’ behavior.
  • γεωργοὺς (geōrgous, “husbandmen” or “tenants”): This term refers to those working the vineyard, making clear that the judgment falls on those who were supposed to care for what was entrusted to them.
  • ἄλλοις (allois, “others”): The word points to a transfer of responsibility, not just punishment, but giving the vineyard to a new group.
  • μὴ γένοιτο (mē genoito, “God forbid”): This is a strong Greek expression of rejection or horror, showing the listeners’ emotional response to the idea of losing their special place.

Why Luke 20:16 matters

  • Luke 20:16 clarifies that Jesus is warning about real consequences for rejecting God’s messengers, not just telling a story.
  • The verse highlights a shift: God’s work and blessings are not tied to one group forever, but can be given to others if those entrusted with them are unfaithful.
  • The shocked reaction of the crowd helps us see how radical and unsettling Jesus’ message was to his original audience, especially those who saw themselves as God’s chosen people.

Where else these words appear

“husbandmen” Greek G1092 · used in 17 verses

  • 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:
  • Matthew 21:41 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.
  • Luke 20:9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

“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.

“these” Greek G5128 · used in 25 verses

  • Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
  • Luke 9:44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
  • Acts 16:36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

“destroy” Greek G622 · used in 86 verses

  • Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • Luke 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
  • John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.