Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.
- 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 say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
- Matt 8:11–12And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
- 1 Pet 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- John 3:3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
- Isa 26:2Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
- Luke 17:20–21And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
- John 3:5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- Isa 28:2Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
- Exod 19:6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
- 1 Cor 13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
- Matt 12:28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto 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.