Matthew 21:38

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator reports that tenant farmers, upon seeing the landowner’s son, speak privately to one another at the precise moment they decide to act. Their dialogue shifts from observation to a plotted conspiracy to seize the estate.

The words — The Greek γεωργοὶ (geōrgoi) literally denotes “farmers” or “vine-dressers,” specifying the tenants as agricultural laborers. The verb εἶπον (eipon) is an aorist indicative, recording the exact moment they voice their murderous plan.

The thread — The same sequence appears in Mark 12:7 and Luke 20:14, where parallel accounts record tenants recognizing the son and formulating the identical plot. Genesis 37:18 provides the earlier pattern of relatives recognizing a sent figure and immediately plotting to kill him.

Why it lands — The text states that recognition of the heir triggered hostility rather than submission, demanding a clear-eyed view of human resistance to authority. It asks a reader to identify where they, like the tenants, choose conspiracy over obedience when confronted with rightful claim.

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

But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

Cross-references

Genesis 37:18 Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him.
Luke 20:14 But when the tenants saw the son, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
Mark 12:7 But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
Hebrews 1:2 But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
Matthew 26:3 At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
John 11:47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.
Acts 4:27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
Psalms 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:
Matthew 2:13 When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
Matthew 27:1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.