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.’
Parallel translations
- WEB “But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’
- KJV But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
- NKJV But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’
- NASB But when the vine-growers saw him, they discussed with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let’s kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’
- NLT “But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The tenants plot to kill the heir so the inheritance will be theirs. The parable foretells the leaders' murder of Jesus.
Overview
The tenants' scheming exposes the rebellious desire to seize what belongs to God by removing his Son. Their reasoning thinly veils the conspiracy of Israel's leaders to put Jesus to death. The verse lays bare the sinful heart that rejects God's rightful claim and rejects his Son.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Rom 8:17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
- Heb 1:2But 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.
- Acts 3:15You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.
- Luke 19:47Jesus was teaching at the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him.
- Ps 2:1–6Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Matt 16:7They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.”
- Luke 20:5They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
- Ps 89:27I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
- Ps 2:8Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
- Matt 2:2–16asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
- John 11:47–50Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.
- Matt 27:21–25“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.
- Acts 2:23He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.
- Matt 21:25What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
- Luke 22:2and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.
- Gen 37:18–20Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him.
- Luke 20:19When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 20:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.