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.
Matthew 21:34 (KJV)
Context
Jesus spoke this verse within the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, also called the Parable of the Vineyard, to the chief priests and elders who had questioned his authority (Matthew 21:23-27). In the parable, a landowner plants a vineyard, equips it with a winepress and tower, leases it to tenant farmers, and goes away. When harvest time approaches, he sends servants to collect his share of the fruit.
Meaning
The landowner represents God the Father, the owner and provider of the vineyard, which symbolizes God’s creation and the people of Israel. The husbandmen, or tenants, represent the religious leaders—specifically the chief priests and Pharisees—who were responsible for the spiritual well-being of God’s people. The time of the fruit indicates the appointed season when the tenants were expected to produce the harvest, reflecting the period in which God expected the religious leaders to guide and nurture His people in righteousness. The servants are the prophets and messengers of God sent throughout history to call people to righteousness and remind them of their responsibility toward God.
The phrase “time of the fruit drew near” refers to the season when the grapes were ripe and could be harvested and used for profit. This reflects the Old Testament law in Leviticus 19:23-25, which regulated the use of fruit from newly planted trees: the first three years’ fruit was not to be eaten, the fourth year’s fruit was holy to the Lord and was to be brought to Jerusalem, and from the fifth year onward it could be eaten and used for profit. The parable’s timing alludes to this custom of bringing the fourth-year fruit to Jerusalem, emphasizing God’s rightful claim on the fruit of His vineyard.
Biblical connections
The parallel account in Mark 12:2 uses similar language, confirming the same parable and its meaning. The servants’ mission to receive the fruits that belonged to the owner symbolizes God’s just expectation of spiritual fruit from His people. The verse sets up the subsequent rejection and mistreatment of the servants, which foreshadows the rejection of the prophets and ultimately of Jesus himself.
Application
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.
Accountability: The tenants were expected to produce fruits for the landowner. Similarly, God expects us to bear spiritual fruits in our lives, including 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.
Rejection of God’s messengers: 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.
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 toward humanity, revealing His desire for repentance and redemption even in the face of rejection and rebellion.
Reflection
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.
