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

MATTHEW 21:34KJV
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Matthew 21:34 (KJV)

What does Matthew 21:34 mean?

Matthew 21:34 describes the vineyard owner’s expectation that the people tending his vineyard will give him its produce at harvest time. He sends servants to collect the fruit, making clear that the workers are tending land that belongs to someone else.

Jesus is telling a story to the chief priests and elders who have questioned his authority. After the owner leases the vineyard in verse 33, the harvest brings the owner and the workers into contact again.

The Greek behind Matthew 21:34

  • “time” — καιρός (kairos): This word can mean an appointed or suitable time. Here it points to the season when the vineyard’s produce would be ready to gather.
  • “husbandmen” — γεωργός (geōrgos): This word means a worker of the land or a farmer. The KJV’s “husbandmen” refers to the people who farm the vineyard, not to husbands.
  • “servants” — δοῦλος (doulos): This word can mean a slave or a servant. It describes people under the owner’s authority whom he sends on his behalf.

Why Matthew 21:34 matters

  • The owner’s request concerns the vineyard’s produce. The words “the fruits of it” point back to the vineyard rather than to an unrelated payment.
  • The servants act as the owner’s representatives. In the following verse, the workers’ treatment of the servants therefore matters to the story’s conflict between the workers and the owner.
  • The collection attempt begins a sequence of messages from the owner. He later sends more servants and then his son, making the workers’ response a central part of the story.

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:
  • Mark 12:1 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
  • Luke 20:10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

“near” Greek G1448 · used in 42 verses

  • Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  • Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
  • Luke 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

“fruit” Greek G2590 · used in 56 verses

  • Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
  • Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
  • Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

“time” Greek G2540 · used in 82 verses

  • Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
  • John 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
  • Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.