Luke 20:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

NIV: So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

NASB: And so they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

CSB: So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

NLT: So they dragged him out of the vineyard and murdered him. 'What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do to them?' Jesus asked.

KJV: So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

NKJV: So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

This is the climax of the parable of the wicked tenants (Luke 20:9–18). The owner of a vineyard has sent servants to his vineyard and its hired hands. He expects the servants to bring back some of the harvest. However, the tenants have beaten or killed all the servants (Matthew 21:35). Finally, the owner sends his son. The tenants think if they kill the son, they will inherit the vineyard. In Jewish culture, patriarchs did sometimes adopt a servant as his heir (Genesis 15:3), and the owner has been in another country for a long time (Luke 20:9).

Jesus is telling this parable on the Temple Mount to a crowd that includes chief priests, scribes, and elders (Luke 20:1). These men are the religious, legal, and civil leaders of the Jewish people. Jesus has interrupted their smooth rule of Jerusalem, positions which earn them both honor and money. If they can get rid of Him, they can go back to reaping the rewards of their labor.

Jesus warns that their plan will fail. The owner of the vineyard will return and avenge his son. Then he will find new tenants to keep his vines. And in the same way, God will destroy the corrupt Jewish leaders who refused to guide the people in worship of their Messiah. Instead, He will find others—like lowly fishermen (Mark 1:16–17) and even Gentiles (Acts 15:17)—to lead His people. This makes the priests and scribes want to kill Jesus even more (Luke 20:16–19).

Luke 20:9–18 records Jesus' response to religious leaders who challenged His authority (Luke 20:1–8). This comes in the form of the parable of the wicked tenants. The underlying meaning is that as the Son of God, Jesus has proper authority over religious leaders. However, the leaders of His era will kill Him, and God will destroy them. In the mirrored structure of Luke 20, the parallel argument is that Jesus is also superior to the line of the Jewish kings (Luke 20:41–44). In between, religious leaders foolishly challenge Jesus' understanding of the Mosaic law (Luke 20:19–40). This passage echoes the records in Matthew 21:33–46 and Mark 12:1–12.

After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus find Himself in conflict with the city's religious leaders. Elders, priests, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees all attempt to discredit Him. This comes mostly in challenging Jesus with trick questions. Jesus deftly handles those challenges without falling into the trap. He provides several teachings about His role as the Son of God and directly warns the Jewish people against their generation of scribes, who are arrogant and pretentious.

Luke 20 is a chiasm about authority. Jesus has entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple (Luke 19:28–46). Now, the priests and teachers attack Jesus' authority in religion, law, and doctrine; Jesus defends Himself and shows their sinful lifestyles disqualify them for authority. After holding up a widow as a better role model (Luke 21:1–4), Jesus warns His disciples about the challenges they will face in the coming years, including the destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21:5–38). The events in Luke 20 are also discussed in Matthew 21—23 and Mark 11—12.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.