Whether from heaven, or of men; in this, no doubt, they told an untruth: but they chose rather to sacrifice their consciences than their interest, and pretend ignorance rather than profess the truth, when they saw they should be put to confusion, or be exposed to the resentments of the people. read more
And Jesus said unto them ,.... Since they would not give him a direct answer to his question: neither tell I you by what authority I do these things ; nor was there any need of it; they might easily perceive by what he had said, from whence he professed to have received his authority, from God, and not men; See Gill on Matthew 21:27 . read more
Then began he to speak to the people this parable ,.... According to the other evangelists it seems to be spoken to the chief priests, Scribes, and elders; and certain it is, that they looked upon themselves as struck at in it; it might be spoken to both. Christ having silenced the sanhedrim, turned himself to the people, and delivered the parable of the vineyard to them, though his principal view was to the priests: a certain man planted a vineyard ; the people of the Jews are designed... read more
And at the season ,.... Or "when it the time of fruit", as the Ethiopic version renders it, agreeably to See Gill on Matthew 21:34 , he sent a servant to the husbandmen ; or servants, as in Matthew 21:34 ; the prophets of the Lord, his messengers, whom he sent to them, to exhort them to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, as follows: that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard ; that is, that they, bringing forth good fruit in their lives and conversations,... read more
And again he sent another servant ,.... Or set of prophets in after times, and yet before the Babylonish captivity: and they beat him also ; as they had done the other; they continued in their malpractices, yea increased in them: and entreated him shamefully ; putting him to open shame, using him in a very ignominious and shameful manner, which it was a shame to relate, and which was shameful for them to do: and sent him away empty ; as they had done the other. read more
And again he sent the third ,.... Perhaps after the return of the Jews from captivity, and between that time and the coming of Christ, in which interval many good men were used in a very inhuman manner, Hebrews 11:37 and they wounded him also ; by casting stones at him; see Mark 12:4 and cast him out ; of the vineyard. read more
Then said the Lord of the vineyard ,.... Who planted it, and let it out to husbandmen, and expected fruit from it, and sent his servants from time to time for it: what shall I do ? or what can be done more than has been done? Isaiah 5:4 who else can be sent that is likely to do any good with such an ungrateful and unfruitful people? I will send my beloved Son ; the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who lay in his bosom, was the darling of his soul, and the delight of his heart;... read more
But when the husbandmen saw him ,.... In human nature, heard him preach, and observed the miracles done by him: they reasoned among themselves ; as the Scribes and Pharisees, and elders of the people often did: saying, this is the heir ; the heir of God, being his Son; and so the Ethiopic version; "this Son is his heir", or the heir of the vineyard; being, by appointment, heir of all things, and by his descent from David heir to the kingdom of Israel; come, let us kill him, that... read more
So they cast him out of the vineyard ,.... Rejected him as the Messiah, even denied that he was of the Jewish nation; said he was a Samaritan, and delivered him to the Gentiles that were without, and were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel; and at last had him without their city, and put him to death, as follows: and killed him ; the Prince of life, the Lord of glory, and heir of all things; see Acts 2:23 what therefore shall the Lord of the vineyard do unto them ? the... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 20:6
But and if we say of men ,..... Which they had a good will to, against the dictates of their own consciences: all the people will stone us ; meaning the common people, that were then in the temple about Christ, hearing him preach; who would be so enraged at such an answer, that without any regard to their character and office, they would rise and stone them. The Ethiopic version adds, "whom we fear"; see Matthew 21:26 for it seems that they had not so behaved as to have the good will... read more