Luke 20:16 Meaning and Explanation
“He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus answers: the owner will come, destroy those tenants, and give the vineyard to others. The hearers cry out, 'God forbid.'
What Does Luke 20:16 Mean?
Jesus completes the parable with its sober end: the long-suffering owner will at last come in judgment, and the vineyard's care will pass to tenants who will render its fruit. The crowd gasps — 'God forbid' — sensing the story is about them, their leaders, their city.
God's patience is real, and so is its limit. A trust persistently betrayed is a trust removed: the work of God goes on, carried by those who will be faithful with it. Yet hear the mercy in the telling — Jesus speaks this not to seal anyone's doom but to break the spell while there is time. The Son is still standing in the vineyard, still able to be received.
Luke 20:16 in the Original Language
me genoito (μὴ γένοιτο), 'God forbid' -- literally 'may it never be', a cry of horrified refusal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 20:16
What does Luke 20:16 mean?
Jesus answers: the owner will come, destroy those tenants, and give the vineyard to others. The hearers cry out, 'God forbid.'