Matthew 21:36
in Matthew 21Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner.
KJV
Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
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This verse in Matthew 21
Commentary
14 notes on this verse(Verse 35-36) And the vinedressers took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. We read the letter of Paul to the Hebrews (Heb. XI); and from it we learn in great detail the sufferings endured by the servants of the Lord.
This site's exposition
beat one, and killed another, and stoned another
on Matthew 21:35-39
The husbandmen beat one, and killed another, and stoned another, servants sent for the fruit and answered with the violence Israel's own history had shown its prophets, and the pattern repeats with a larger company before the owner sends his own son. They will reverence my son is the parable's most exposed line, since the plan the husbandmen actually form, come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance, answers the owner's hope with murder calculated to keep the vineyard rather than return it. Cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him anticipates a detail Matthew leaves the reader to notice rather than states, that Jesus would likewise suffer outside the city, without the gate.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
At each step of their wickedness the mercy of God was increased, and at each step of the Divine mercy the wickedness of the Jews increased; thus there was a strife between human wickedness and Divine goodness.
A commentator
John ChrysostomHomily on the Gospel of Matthew 68 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
And "He sent His servants," that is, the prophets, "to receive the fruit;" that is, their obedience, the proof of it by their works. But they even here showed their wickedness, not only by failing to give the fruit, after having enjoyed so much care, which was the sign of idleness, but also by showing anger towards them that came. For they that had not to give when they owed, should not have been indignant, nor angry, but should have entreated. But they not only were indignant, but even filled their hands with blood, and while deserving punishment, themselves inflicted punishment. Therefore He sent both a second, and a third company, both that the wickedness of these might be shown, and the love towards man of Him who sent them.
These more than the first who were sent, denote that time, when, after the preaching of single Prophets, a great number was sent forth together.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Or, the first servants who were sent were the Lawgiver Moses himself, and Aaron the first Priest of God; whom, having beaten them with the scourge of their tongue, they sent away empty; by the other servants understand the company of the Prophets.
Morally; a vineyard has been let out to each of us to dress, when the mystery of baptism was given us, to be cultivated by action. Servants one, two, and three are sent us when Law, Psalm, and Prophecy are read, after whose instructions we are to work well. He that is sent is beaten and cast out when the word is contemned, or, which is worse, is blasphemed. He kills (as far as in him lies) the heir, who tramples under foot the Son, and does despite to the Spirit of grace. The wicked husbandman is destroyed, and the vineyard is given to another, when the gift of grace which the proud has contemned is given to the lowly.
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
"The time of the fruit drew near" during the years of the prophets. For the servants who were sent are the prophets who were abused in various ways by the husbandmen, that is, the false prophets and false teachers of those times. One they beat, …
"Again he sent other servants." Likewise, he sent prophets individually, as Moses and Aaron and others; but after, in the time of David, he sent many companies of prophets. For the Lord wills to set his mercy against their malice. Hence "and they did to …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Again he sent other servants,.... Meaning, perhaps, such as suffered in the times of the Maccabees: more than the first; their number was greater, though their office was the same, at least not higher: and they did unto them likewise; they beat them with rods, they killed them with the sword, and stoned them, Heb 11:36.
But in this public appearance, 1. The preparation was sudden and offhand. For his glory in the other world, and ours with him, preparation was made before the foundation of the world, for that was the glory his heart was upon; his glory in this world he was dead to, and therefore, though he had it in prospect, did not forecast for it, but took what came next.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
The parable contained in these verses was spoken with special reference to the Jews. They are the husbandmen here described: their sins are set before us here as in a picture. Of this there can be no doubt: it is written that “he spake of them.” But we must not flatter ourselves that this parable contains nothing for the Gentiles. There are lessons laid down for us, as well as for the Jew. Let us see what they are. We see in the first place what distinguishing privileges God is pleased to bestow on some nations.
The parable contained in these verses was spoken with special reference to the Jews. They are the husbandmen here described: their sins are set before us here as in a picture. Of this there can be no doubt: it is written that “he spake of them.” But we must not flatter ourselves that this parable contains nothing for the Gentiles. There are lessons laid down for us, as well as for the Jew. Let us see what they are. We see in the first place what distinguishing privileges God is pleased to bestow on some nations. He chose Israel to be a people special to himself. He separated them from the other nations of the earth, and bestowed on them countless blessings; he gave them revelations of himself, while all the rest of the earth was in darkness; he gave them the law, and the covenants, and the oracles of God, while all the world beside was let alone. In short, God dealt with the Jews as a man deals with a piece of land which he fences out and cultivates, while all the country around is left untilled and waste. The vineyard of the Lord was the house of Israel ( Isaiah 5:7 ). And have we no privileges? Beyond doubt we have many. We have the Bible, and liberty for everyone to read it; we have the Gospel, and permission to everyone to hear it; we have spiritual mercies in abundance of which five hundred millions of our fellow-men know nothing at all. How thankful we ought to be! The poorest man in England may say every morning, “There are five hundred millions of immortal souls worse off than I am. Who am I, that I should differ? Bless the Lord, O my soul.” We see in the next place what a bad use nations sometimes make of their privileges. When the Lord separated the Jews from other people, he had a right to expect that they would serve him, and obey his laws. When a man has taken pains with a vineyard, he has a right to expect fruit.
Other servants - There is not a moment in which God does not shower down his gifts upon men, and require the fruit of them. Various instruments are used to bring sinners to God. There are prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers: some with his gift after this manner, and some after that. The true disciples of Christ have been persecuted in all ages, and the greatest share of the persecution has fallen upon the ministers of his religion; for there have always been good and bad husbandmen, and the latter have persecuted the former.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πάλιν | palin | Again | G3825 → | 139 times |
| ἀπέστειλεν | apesteilen | he sent | G649 → | 132 times |
| ἄλλους | allous | other | G243 → | 155 times |
| δούλους | doulous | servants | G1401 → | 129 times |
| πλείονας | pleionas | more | G4119 → | 45 times |
| τῶν | ton | than the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρώτων, | proton | first, | G4413 → | 152 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐποίησαν | epoiesan | they did | G4160 → | 569 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὡσαύτως. | hosautos | likewise. | G5615 → | 17 times |
πάλινAgain
palinG3825 →139 times
ἀπέστειλενhe sent
apesteilenG649 →132 times
ἄλλουςother
allousG243 →155 times
δούλουςservants
doulousG1401 →129 times
πλείοναςmore
pleionasG4119 →45 times
τῶνthan the
tonG3588 →19766 times
πρώτων,first,
protonG4413 →152 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐποίησανthey did
epoiesanG4160 →569 times
αὐτοῖςto them
autoisG846 →5565 times
ὡσαύτως.likewise.
hosautosG5615 →17 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 22:4Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the…
it leads to
- Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we…
- John 6:50–57
This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.
- Luke 14:17
When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
- Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Psalms 86:5
For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.
- Acts 13:46
Where this verse is studied
About Matthew
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Hilary of Poitiers, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 68; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Pseudo-Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Rabanus Maurus, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.