Matthew 21:36 (KJV)

What does Matthew 21:36 mean?

Matthew 21:36 describes how the landowner in Jesus’ parable sent even more servants than before to the tenants, but the tenants treated these new servants the same way as the first ones. The verse shows a repeated pattern of rejection and mistreatment.

In this part of the parable, Jesus is speaking to the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem. He tells a story about a landowner (representing God) and tenants (representing Israel’s leaders). The landowner’s repeated sending of servants (symbolizing prophets) highlights God’s continued patience and persistent efforts to reach His people, even when earlier messengers were rejected or harmed.

The Greek behind Matthew 21:36

• The word "again" (πάλιν, palin) signals a repeated action, emphasizing that the landowner did not give up after the first rejection.
• "Other" (ἄλλους, allous) and "more" (πλείους, pleious) together stress that not only were new servants sent, but there were even more than before, underlining the increasing effort.
• "Likewise" (ὡσαύτως, hōsautōs) means "in the same way," making it clear that the new group of servants faced the same mistreatment as the first, showing a stubborn pattern.

Why Matthew 21:36 matters

• This verse makes clear that the rejection of God’s messengers was not a one-time event but a repeated pattern, highlighting the seriousness of the tenants’ (leaders’) refusal.
• The increasing number of servants shows the landowner’s (God’s) persistence and patience, not giving up easily on the tenants.
• Understanding this pattern helps make sense of the larger parable, where Jesus is building to a point about responsibility, accountability, and the consequences of rejecting God’s message.