Luke 20:13

“Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.”

To understand the context of this verse, let’s explore the parable as a whole. In Luke 20:9-18, Jesus tells a story about a vineyard owner who planted a vineyard and leased it out to some husbandmen (tenant farmers) while he went away. When the time came to receive his portion of the harvest, the owner sent servants to collect the fruit. However, the tenants mistreated the servants, beating and sending them away empty-handed. The owner then decided to send his beloved son, thinking that the tenants would respect and honor him.

This parable was an allegory meant to illustrate a spiritual truth. The vineyard represents Israel, the owner represents God, the tenant farmers represent the religious leaders of Israel, and the servants and the son represent the prophets and Jesus Christ, respectively.

In Luke 20:13, the lord of the vineyard contemplates what to do after the tenants mistreated his servants. He says, “What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.” Here, the owner shows incredible patience and mercy. Despite the wickedness and rejection of the servants, he still hopes that his beloved son will be respected and honored by the tenants.

This verse foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. God, as the owner of the vineyard (representing Israel), sent prophets to His people, but they were often rejected and mistreated. Finally, God sent His beloved Son, Jesus, to fulfil His redemptive plan. The owner’s hope that the tenants would reverence his son reflects God’s desire for His people to receive and honour Jesus as the Messiah and Saviour.

However, the parable goes on to reveal that the wicked tenants, representing the religious leaders of Israel, did not honour or respect the son. Instead, they conspired to kill him, seeking to seize his inheritance. This foretells the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus by the religious leaders of Israel.

The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen serves as a warning and rebuke to the religious leaders of Jesus’ time. It highlights their rejection of the prophets and ultimately, the rejection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The parable also emphasises the consequences of their actions, as the owner of the vineyard (God) would come and destroy those wicked tenants and give the vineyard to others (Luke 20:16).

In summary, Luke 20:13 in the KJV is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. It showcases the owner’s hope that his beloved son would be respected, representing God’s desire for His people to receive and honour Jesus Christ. However, the parable reveals the tragic rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders of Israel, leading to the consequences that befell them.