The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:28–46)

[Stephan Choe]

August 14, 2026

Key Verse 42: “Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: <The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes>?’”

We enjoy the taste of grapes. Moreover, grapes help prevent many diseases—such as cancer, circulatory disorders, kidney disease, constipation, infections, and so on. However, to enjoy these grapes, the vineyard must first be planted and tended.

In this passage, Jesus tells us two parables: the Parable of the Two Sons and the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. The sons in the first parable react differently to their father’s word. The tenants in the second parable, on the other hand, act in concert against the will of the vineyard owner.

In a figurative sense, God is the vineyard owner, and we are His tenants.

Today, we want to reflect on how we should conduct ourselves toward the vineyard owner. In doing so, we aim to discover the secret of a blessed life.

Finally, we want to learn why Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Kingdom of God.

1. Two Different Sons (28–32)

The occasion for this parable is the arrival of representatives sent to Jesus by the chief priests and the elders of the people. The chief priests and elders are determined to accuse Jesus and have Him put to death (21:23). Yet Jesus’ love for them does not cease; He wants to lead them to repentance.

Jesus asks the delegation of chief priests and elders (see v. 23) an opening question: “What do you think?” (28a) and then tells them a parable:

“A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go and work in the vineyard today!’ But the latter answered, ‘No, I will not.’ Later, he had a change of heart and went to work. The father went to the second son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘Yes, Father!’ but then did not go to work after all. Which of the two did the father’s will?” (28–31).

Jesus presents us with the image of two different groups of people.

One group initially says “No.” Yet they reflect on the matter and ultimately do the right thing. At first glance, it seems as though they have little interest in the path of life. Nevertheless, they think it over and actually embark on the path of life. Those who initially said “No” become obedient people!

Another group quickly says “Yes.” Yet these people take their promise lightly and do not keep it. At first glance, it seems as though they want to walk the path of life. In reality, however, they have no interest in doing so. Those who said “Yes” become disobedient people!

For Jesus, then, what matters is obedience! Thus, Jesus concludes his Sermon on the Mount with the words: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21 ff.).

Jesus ends this short but powerful parable with a question to the delegation of high priests: “Which of the two did the father’s will?” (31a).

Naturally, those asked reply: “The first!” (31b). In response to their answer, Jesus says: “Truly, I tell you: tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you and taught you the right way, and you did not believe him; yet the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. And although you saw this, you neither repented nor believed him” (31c–32).

2. The Wicked Tenants (33–46)

In ancient Israel, a vineyard was considered a highly valuable possession and a sure sign of prosperity; cultivating it yielded a rich harvest of grapes and wine.

To protect the vineyard from wild animals and thieves, it was surrounded by a fence made of dense thorn hedges. Every vineyard of that time featured a winepress consisting of two basins. One basin was an open, elongated container—much like a livestock trough. One basin was situated higher than the other; the grapes were pressed in the upper basin, and the juice flowed through a channel—a narrow groove in the ground—into the lower basin.

The tower served a dual purpose: it acted as a watchtower to guard the vineyard against thieves while the grapes were ripening, and it also provided temporary shelter for the workers. Jesus tells a parable about the vineyard tenants:

A landowner planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, and built a watchtower. He also constructed a winepress. After carefully establishing the vineyard, he leased it to workers and traveled abroad.

When the harvest season approached, he sent his servants to the workers to collect his share of the produce. But the tenants beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Yet the master was merciful; he wanted the workers to continue cultivating the vineyard. So, he sent more servants. But they treated them the same way.

Finally, the master sent his son, thinking: "They will show reverence for my son." He believed they would at least show respect to his son.

But he was sorely mistaken! When they saw the son coming, they said to one another, "Here comes the heir! Let us kill him! Then the vineyard will be ours." They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

Then Jesus asked his listeners, "What will the owner of the vineyard do to the tenants when he returns?" They answered him, "He will put an end to those wicked vinedressers and entrust the vineyard to other workers who will deliver the produce to him at the right time."

In this parable, the vineyard represents the people of God. The vineyard owner is God. The vinedressers are the religious leaders of Israel. The owner's servants are the prophets. The owner's son is Jesus himself. The history of Israel and its downfall are vividly portrayed in this parable.

However, the vineyard can also symbolize the "community of Jesus" or the "believers." In this case, the vinedressers represent church workers such as pastors, missionaries, and other staff members.

This parable speaks of our responsibility.

The day of reckoning will come for everyone, just as the vinedressers had to give an account to their master on a certain day.

We have a responsibility to make good use of the divine gift and to bear fruit. Unfortunately, many people do not take their responsibility seriously and do not wish to give an account to God.

Yet this parable teaches us that the time of reckoning will certainly come and that God will hold us accountable regarding our responsibility.

This parable deals with our rejection of God.

The vinedressers rebelled against their master. They mistreated and killed his servants. They even killed the master's son. This teaches us that rejecting God is sin, as stated in Romans 1:21a: "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him." And Romans 1:22a goes on to say regarding those who reject God: “They considered themselves wise, but became fools.”

That is true! When people reject God, they feel empty. They look for a substitute god—such as another person, money, a career, or a hobby—to fill that void. Unfortunately, such people or things are fleeting and cannot offer us true meaning in life.

So why do people reject God? Because they believe they will be happy if they reject God and live according to their own desires. The Devil tells us: “If you reject God and live according to your own will, you will be happiest.” It was with this logic that the Devil tempted the first man, Adam, into sin. Yet we must not let ourselves be deceived by the Devil’s lie. We can experience a truly blessed life only if we trust in God and follow Him. The Devil’s path leads to eternal damnation, whereas God’s path leads to eternal bliss. Fourthly, this parable teaches us something about Jesus.

This parable speaks of Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God.

Through this parable, Jesus clearly distinguishes himself from others. The prophets were messengers of God; no one can deny them the honor due to them. Yet they were servants of God, whereas Jesus is God’s Son. In doing so, Jesus makes his claim to be the Son of God unmistakably clear. The fact that God sent His Son into the world—that is the Good News for all people.

God had already proclaimed this message at Jesus’ baptism: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (3:17).

And Peter confessed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” (16:16).

At this point, Jesus reveals himself as the Son of God. A few days later, he answers the High Priest’s question—“I adjure you by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God”—with the words: “You say so!” (26:63–64).

Jesus is the Son of God. God has borne witness to this. Jesus himself has borne witness to this. His disciples, too, have borne witness to this. Finally, he demonstrated his sonship through his resurrection. This is what we are to believe.

This parable deals with the sacrificial death of Jesus.

In the parable, the tenants seize the son, throw him out of the vineyard, and kill him. With this parable, Jesus foretells that, due to the sinfulness of humanity, he will be arrested, mistreated, and killed. And God accepts his death as a sacrifice for the sins of all people. This is the Good News for everyone, for God’s Son dies for the forgiveness of our sins. Whoever recognizes their sin, repents of it, and believes that Jesus died for their sin receives forgiveness and becomes a child of God. That is truly the Good News for all people. Jesus then explains that, through his death and resurrection, he fulfills the word of God from Psalm 118:22–23: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."

Jesus is rejected by the Jewish leaders, which leads to his death. Yet God raises him from the dead and declares that Jesus is the Lord and the Christ. All people who repent of their sins and believe in him as the Son of God receive forgiveness and eternal life, becoming children of God. Thus, God makes Jesus Christ—whom the Jews rejected—the cornerstone of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Is Our Rock

I would now like to summarize the teaching of this parable in two points:

First: We must not forget to offer fruit to God.

We are workers in God’s vineyard, for God has entrusted life and His gifts to us. We are to bear fruit. Of course, we may keep a large portion of the fruit for ourselves, but we must also give God His share. What should we give God? We should offer Him our faith, our gratitude, and our joy, so that God may be praised and glorified through us. We should also lead others to faith and strengthen them in that faith. Our Lord is not harsh, but kind. When we offer Him our fruits, He will rejoice.

Second: Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of God’s house.

Jesus Christ was rejected and killed by men. Yet He has risen and is Lord over both the dead and the living. His death took place for our sins, and His resurrection paves the way for our own resurrection. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ possesses forgiveness, eternal life, and the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus is our cornerstone. We should believe in Him and place our firm trust in Him—even if our world were to collapse—for He is the Rock upon which we are truly secure.

Praise be to God for Jesus Christ, our Rock! Amen!