Devine Scripture

Matthew 21:38

What does Matthew 21:38 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 21:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 21:38 means

When the wicked tenants recognized the son as the heir, their greed and rebellion intensified. They conspired, saying, "This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance." This chilling plan directly foreshadows the chief priests' and elders' plot to kill Jesus, hoping to retain their religious authority and perceived control over God's 'vineyard' (Israel). It reveals the depth of their covetousness and spiritual blindness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But when the workmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property; come, let us put him to death and take his heritage.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the husbandmen having seen the son, said among themselves, This is the heir, come, we may kill him, and may possess his inheritance;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But the husbandmen seeing the son, said among themselves: This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and we shall have his inheritance.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But the husbandmen, seeing the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him and possess his inheritance.

Context

This verse describes the tenants' malicious realization and their subsequent plot to kill the son, immediately following his arrival. This sinister decision directly precedes their violent act against the son, intensifying the parable's dark foreshadowing. It powerfully illustrates the religious leaders' murderous intentions toward Jesus, identifying Him as the rightful heir.

v.37But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

v.38This passage

v.39And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 4:27

    for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,

  • Mark 12:7

    But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

  • Hebrews 1:2

    hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;

  • Matthew 26:3

    Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, unto the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas;

  • Luke 20:14

    But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

  • John 11:47

    The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs.

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