Luke 20:12

And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

Luke 20:12 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, which Jesus spoke to the religious leaders in Jerusalem. In the parable, a man plants a vineyard, leases it to husbandmen, and travels to a far country. At harvest time, he sends servants to collect his share of the fruit. The husbandmen beat the first servant and send him away empty; they shamefully mistreat the second. By verse 12, the owner sends a third servant, whom they wound and cast out.

The vineyard represents Israel, the owner represents God, and the husbandmen represent the religious leaders and authorities of Israel. God entrusted His people with the care of the vineyard, expecting them to produce fruit for Him. The servants sent by the owner are the prophets, whom God sent throughout the Old Testament to call Israel to repentance and to remind them of the covenant. The escalating mistreatment, from beating to wounding, illustrates the pattern of resistance and rejection that God’s messengers faced.

Meaning

The Greek term translated “cast out” (ekballo) indicates a forceful expulsion, emphasizing the husbandmen’s complete rejection of the owner’s authority. They did not merely refuse the servant; they wounded him and threw him out of the vineyard. This action shows the growing guilt of those who reject divine authority. The owner’s persistence in sending servant after servant demonstrates the patience of God, who continued to reach out to His people even as His messengers were mistreated.

This verse directly sets up the climax of the parable in verse 13, where the owner decides to send his beloved son, expecting that the husbandmen will reverence him. The escalating violence against the servants foreshadows the ultimate act of rejection: the killing of the owner’s son. This points to Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who would be rejected and crucified by the religious leaders and many of the people of Israel.

Biblical connections

The parallel account in Mark 12:4-5 shows the same pattern of escalating violence, with some servants being killed, which underscores the severity of the tenants’ rebellion. The parable concludes with the owner’s judgment: he will destroy the husbandmen and give the vineyard to others. This refers to the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Application

This verse calls readers to examine how they respond to God’s messengers. The husbandmen rejected those who came with the owner’s authority, and their resistance grew more violent with each servant. Believers are reminded to receive God’s word with humility and to produce the fruit He expects from His vineyard. The parable also warns against the danger of religious privilege, for those who had been entrusted with the vineyard were the very ones who rejected the owner’s son.

Reflection

The patience of the vineyard owner stands in contrast to the cruelty of the husbandmen. God continued to send messengers even after they were beaten and wounded, and He finally sent His beloved Son. This verse invites reflection on the depth of God’s persistence and the seriousness of rejecting His authority. It also offers hope, for the vineyard was given to others, showing that God’s purposes are not defeated by human rebellion.