MPV Commentary

The Authority of Jesus Questioned and the Reply--The Parables of the Two Sons, and of the Wicked Husbandman.

Now begins a series of parables and discourses in which our Lord develops His hostility to the hypocrisy and iniquity of those who oppose Him. This series is characterized by their increasing opposition to Jesus, culminating in their desire to compass His death.

The Authority of Jesus Questioned, and the Reply (Mt 21:23-27).

23. By what authority do you do these things? The question refers specifically to the expulsion of the buyers and sellers from the temple.

24. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing...

25. The baptism of John—meaning his whole mission and ministry—whence was it? From heaven, or of men?

If we say, "From heaven," He will say to us, Why did you not then believe him? For that was the burden of John's testimony.

26. But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people... for all hold John as a prophet.

27. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell...

Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. Our Lord turns their question upon themselves, revealing His knowledge of their hypocrisy and closing their mouths.

Parable of the Two Sons (Mt 21:28-32).

28. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard.

29. He answered and said, I will not... This answer represents careless, reckless sinners resisting God to His face.

30. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir...

and went not... The second son was self-righteous, saying, "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men" (Lu 18:11).

31. Whether of them twain did the will of his Father? They say unto him, The first.

Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you... The publicans and harlots were the first son, who repented and went to work in the Lord's vineyard. The chief priests and elders, with whom our Lord was speaking, were the second son, who said they would go but did not.

32. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness... and ye believed him not...

but the publicans and the harlots believed him... and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Parable of the Wicked Husbandman (Mt 21:33-46).

33. Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard...

and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower... These details are taken from Isa 5:1-7.

34. 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...

35. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard... and slew him.

36. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh... what will he do unto those husbandmen?

37. They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men... and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen...

38. Jesus saith unto them. Did ye never read in the scriptures—Ps 118:22-23.

The stone which the builders rejected, &c.—A bright Messianic prophecy, which reappears in various forms (Isa 28:16, etc.).

39. Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you...

40. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder... The Kingdom of God is here a Temple, in the erection of which a certain stone, rejected as unsuitable by the spiritual builders, is made the keystone of the whole.

41. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables...

42. Jesus saith unto them. Did ye never read in the scriptures—Ps 118:22-23.

43. Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you... and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof...

44. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder...

45. But when they sought to lay hands on Him...

46. They feared the multitude because they took Him for a prophet... Miserable creatures! So, for this time, "they left Him and went their way" (Mr 12:12).