Matthew 21:33

Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the chief priests and Pharisees immediately after condemning their rejection of John the Baptist (Matthew 21:32). He introduces the narrative as a direct response to their challenge regarding his authority.

The words — The Greek οἰκοδεσπότης (oikodespotēs) literally means "master of a house," defining the figure as the property's sovereign. The imperative ἀκούσατε (akousate) commands "do hear," framing the account as a binding judicial illustration rather than casual storytelling.

The thread — The vineyard motif originates in Isaiah 5:1, where God describes His own planting on a fertile hill. Jesus echoes this imagery in Mark 12:1 and Luke 20:9 to frame the coming conflict over the land's stewardship.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that the landowner's extensive preparation and subsequent departure establish his legal right to demand fruit. The reader must confront the reality that rejecting the owner's agents constitutes a direct challenge to his ownership and authority.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

Isaiah 5:1 I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
Luke 20:9 Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.
Jeremiah 2:21 I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?
Song of Solomon 8:11 Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He leased it to the tenants. For its fruit, each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver.
John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard.
Psalms 80:8 You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it.
Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land!
Malachi 2:4 Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Luke 19:12 So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return.