Matthew 21:34

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

This verse is part of a parable known as the Parable of the Wicked Tenants or the Parable of the Vineyard. In this parable, Jesus uses allegory to convey spiritual truths and teachings to his disciples and the crowd gathered around him.

To better understand the meaning of Matthew 21:34, it is helpful to consider the surrounding context. In the preceding verses, Jesus tells the parable of a landowner who planted a vineyard, dug a winepress, and built a tower. He then leased it out to tenant farmers and went on a journey. When the time for the harvest came, the landowner sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the produce.

Now, let’s explore the key elements and spiritual lessons from this verse:

The landowner:Represents God the Father. He is the owner and provider of the vineyard, symbolizing the world and everything in it.

The vineyard:Symbolizes God’s creation and the people of Israel. In the broader context, it can represent humanity as a whole.

The husbandmen or tenants:These individuals represent the religious leaders and those responsible for the spiritual well-being of God’s people. Specifically, in the context of Jesus’ time, it refers to the Jewish religious leaders, such as the chief priests and Pharisees.

The time of the fruit:Indicates the appointed time for the tenants to produce the expected harvest. This represents the period in which God expects the religious leaders to guide and nurture His people, leading them in righteousness and producing spiritual fruits.

The servants:The landowner sends his servants to the tenants to collect the fruits of the vineyard. These servants are the prophets and messengers of God sent throughout history to call people to righteousness and remind them of their responsibility towards God.

From this verse, we can gather several key lessons:

• a) Stewardship: The parable highlights the concept of stewardship. God has entrusted His creation and His people to certain individuals, expecting them to fulfill their responsibilities faithfully. This applies not only to the religious leaders of Jesus’ time but also to all believers today. We are called to be good stewards of the resources, talents, and opportunities that God has entrusted to us.
• b) Accountability: The tenants in the parable were expected to produce fruits for the landowner. Similarly, God expects us to bear spiritual fruits in our lives. This includes demonstrating love, kindness, patience, self-control, and sharing the good news of salvation with others. We will be held accountable for how we have utilized our time, abilities, and opportunities to fulfill God’s purposes.
• c) Rejection of God’s messengers: Throughout the parable, we see that the servants sent by the landowner are mistreated, beaten, and even killed by the tenants. This foreshadows the rejection and persecution that God’s messengers, including the prophets in the Old Testament and Jesus himself, would experience. It serves as a warning against hardening our hearts to God’s Word and disregarding His messengers.
• d) God’s patient pursuit: Despite the mistreatment of his servants, the landowner continues to send messengers to the tenants. This highlights God’s patience, grace, and longsuffering towards humanity. It reveals His desire for repentance and redemption, even in the face of rejection and rebellion.

In summary, Matthew 21:34, within the context of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, conveys important lessons on stewardship, accountability, the rejection of God’s messengers, and God’s patient pursuit of humanity. It reminds us of our responsibility to bear spiritual fruits, to heed the messengers of God, and to live in a way that honors our role as stewards of God’s creation.