“Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.
Parallel translations
- KJV Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
- BSB Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
- NKJV “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.
- NASB Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit.
- NLT I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.
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
Jesus warns that the Kingdom will be taken from the unfaithful leaders and given to a people producing its fruit. Privilege without faithfulness leads to forfeiture.
Overview
This solemn declaration interprets the parable's outcome: the stewardship of God's Kingdom is removed from the unbelieving leadership and entrusted to a fruit-bearing people. This points forward to the church, composed of believing Jews and Gentiles, who bear the fruit God seeks through faith in Christ. The verse warns that religious standing means nothing apart from genuine, fruitful obedience.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 21:41They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season.”
- Matt 8:11–12I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,
- 1 Pet 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
- John 3:3Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”
- Isa 26:2Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.
- Luke 17:20–21Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation;
- John 3:5Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.
- Isa 28:2Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand.
- Exod 19:6and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
- 1 Cor 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
- Matt 12:28But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 21:43 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.