What does Luke 20:13 mean?

The parable of the wicked tenants is in the form of an allegory, where each character represents something true. A landowner plants a vineyard and hires tenants to farm it. When the vine is mature enough, he sends servants to collect some of the grapes. The tenants beat and kill (Matthew 21:35) the servants and send them away empty-handed. So, the owner sends his son.

In much the same way, God established how He ought to be worshiped. He chose a people to worship Him. He designated leaders for that people. Then He sent prophets to remind the leaders how they should worship Him in their time and context. The leaders beat and killed the prophets. So, God sends His Son.

The tenants think if they can get rid of the son, they can keep the fruit of the vineyard. But after they kill him, the owner destroys them and finds new tenants. Likewise, the religious leaders of Jesus' day think if they can kill Jesus, they can keep the authority of their positions. Instead, God destroys them and the church is made without them.

Jesus uses this parable to answer and warn a group of chief priests, scribes, and elders. They had asked Jesus what gave Him the authority to drive merchants and money changers from the Temple Mount (Luke 19:45–46). Jesus turned the question back on them, demonstrating their hypocrisy (Luke 20:1–8). This parable, however, gives His answer: He is the Son, sent by His father. They may kill Him, but God will destroy them.