And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the season for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit.
- BSB When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit.
- NKJV Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.
- NASB And when the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his fruit.
- NLT At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop.
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
At harvest the owner sends servants to collect his fruit. They picture the prophets God sent to call Israel to faithfulness.
Overview
The owner's rightful claim to the vineyard's fruit represents God's expectation of righteousness and obedience from His people. The servants stand for the long line of prophets sent throughout Israel's history. The scene anticipates the tragic pattern of how those messengers were received.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Luke 20:10–19And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
- Zech 1:3–6Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Isa 5:4What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
- Neh 9:29–30And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
- Song 8:11–12Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
- Zech 7:9–13Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
- Mark 12:2–5And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
- Matt 22:3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
- 2 Kgs 17:13–23Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
- 2 Chr 36:15–16And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
- Jer 25:3–7From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.
- Jer 35:15I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 21:34 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.