Matthew 21:38 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The tenants conspire to kill the son so they can seize his inheritance.
What Does Matthew 21:38 Mean?
Seeing the son arrive, the tenants recognize him as the heir and plot together to kill him, imagining they can seize the inheritance for themselves. Their wickedness reaches its height in this calculated scheme against the owner's own child.
The tenants' reasoning is both evil and foolish, for the inheritance was never theirs to take. The parable foreshadows the rejection the Son would suffer, and the deadly intent that prized self-possession over rightful obedience. It exposes the terrible logic of sin: grasping for what belongs to God by refusing His authority. Yet what the tenants meant for their own gain would become, in God's purpose, the very means of redemption.
Matthew 21:38 in the Original Language
kleronomia (κληρονομία), 'inheritance' -- the rightful possession belonging to the heir.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 21:38
What does Matthew 21:38 mean?
The tenants conspire to kill the son so they can seize his inheritance.