Matthew 21:39 (KJV)

What does Matthew 21:39 mean?

Matthew 21:39 describes how the tenants in Jesus’ parable seized the landowner’s son, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. This verse is part of a story Jesus tells to illustrate how people rejected and killed someone sent by rightful authority.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem, using a parable about a vineyard to make a point about their treatment of God’s messengers. The landowner’s son represents someone with a unique claim or relationship to the owner, and the tenants’ violent actions show a final, decisive rejection. The story sets up a warning about rejecting what God sends and the consequences that follow.

The Greek behind Matthew 21:39

• "ἐξέβαλον" (exebalon, "cast out"): This word means to throw out or expel. The Greek here emphasizes a forceful removal, not just a polite sending away, highlighting the hostility of the tenants.
• "ἀπέκτειναν" (apekteinan, "slew"): This word means to kill or put to death. The Greek term is direct and final, underscoring the seriousness of the tenants’ actions.
• "ἀμπελῶνος" (ampelōnos, "vineyard"): This word refers to a cultivated vineyard, a common symbol in Jewish tradition for Israel or God’s people. The use of this word connects the parable to familiar imagery for Jesus’ audience.

Why Matthew 21:39 matters

• Matthew 21:39 clarifies that the rejection was not accidental or mild—the tenants acted with deliberate violence against the son, which sharpens the warning Jesus is giving.
• The verse connects the parable to the larger story of Israel’s history, where prophets and messengers were often rejected, but now the son (a figure with special status) is killed, raising the stakes.
• Understanding this verse helps clarify the seriousness of rejecting God’s message and messenger, which is a central point in Jesus’ confrontation with the religious leaders.