Matthew 21:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In this parable, Christ conveys numerous teachings: that God has been attentive to the Jews since ancient times; that they have had a tendency towards violence from the very beginning; that every possible effort has been made to guide them; that even after they mistreated the prophets, God continued to send His Son to them; that the same God is present in both the New and Old Testaments; that through Christ's crucifixion, a monumental work has been achieved; that the Jews will face severe consequences for the cross of Christ and their wrongdoing; and that while the Gentiles will be welcomed, the Jews will be turned away. This parable follows the previous one to illustrate the seriousness of their transgressions and their complete lack of justification. In what manner?

The Lord presents yet another parable to illustrate that, despite the abundant care they have received, they remain untransformed. The figure of the ‘master of the house’ represents the Lord, referred to as man due to His incarnation. The vineyard symbolizes the Jewish people, cultivated by God in the promised land, as indicated by the scripture, ‘bringing them in, plant them in His holy mountain.’ The protective fence denotes the Law, which kept the Jews separated from Gentile intermarriage, or it may represent the holy angels safeguarding Israel. The cleaver corresponds to the altar, while the tower refers to the temple; the vinedressers are the spiritual leaders, including the Pharisees and scribes.

A different parable states that a certain man, a landowner, established a vineyard for himself. This aligns closely with the subsequent declaration: "out of Egypt Thou hast brought forth the vine, Thou hast driven out the nations, and planted it" (Psalm 79:9). He frequently surrounded it, particularly through the law, and created a place of sacrifice within it, which is an altar; He erected a stronghold within it, symbolizing the temple, among other elements. Yet, neither the initial vinedressers nor those who followed, nor even the last ones, reaped the harvest of the vineyard.

The Lord conveyed through a proverb that it is difficult to oppose one's inheritance, as noted in Acts 9:5. The high priests and the elders approached the Lord, inquiring, "By what authority are You performing these actions, and who granted You such authority?" They sought to ensnare Wisdom with their words but ultimately found themselves outwitted and heard, through parables, that which they were unworthy to receive plainly.

One individual established a vineyard (Luke 20:9). While many interpret this vineyard in various ways, Isaiah clearly indicates: The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:7). Who else but God could have planted such a vineyard? He cultivated it and set it apart. This implies not that the Lord moves from one location to another—He is omnipresent; however, He draws near to those who seek Him and remains distant from the indifferent. He left for an extended period to avoid an early demand for the harvest. The more patient the generosity, the deeper the offense of obstinacy.

O perverse and unfaithful generation! You wicked individuals who consume the fruit of the Lord of hosts! Which of the Prophets have you not slain? For My Father sent His servants, the Prophets, to you to seek the harvest of His vineyard. I led My people out of Egypt with the guidance of Moses, and after the desolation of the nations, I planted them in a fertile land, divided them into their inheritances, and their flourishing fields, according to the prophecy, spread across the earth, even to the seas and rivers of distant lands; yet you have destroyed their protective wall, removing the safeguarding provided by the Law. Consequently, My vineyard, stripped of its protection, began to be ravaged and consumed by wild beasts. And when My servants, the Prophets, sought the yield from the true, fruitful, and well-planted vineyard, you trembled, cast some into a pit, and stoned others.

In this context, the term "man" refers to God the Father, acknowledging His incarnate nature, a common aspect in parabolic teachings. The vineyard symbolizes the nation of Israel, which God established in the land of promise, as depicted by David when he states, ‘You brought grapes out of Egypt: you drove out nations and planted them...’ (Ps. 79:9). The hedge represents the law that keeps Israel separate from the Gentiles. Divine protection serves as a barrier, guarding His people against the plots of neighboring nations; it is said, He has torn down their strongholds, and they will obliterate all who come near (Psalm 79:13). The cleaver signifies the altar of sacrifice, while the tower represents the temple, reflecting its strength and height. The laborers denote the chief priests, scribes, and elders entrusted by God to oversee this vineyard. The term "departure" as used by Chrysostom refers to the Divine patience extended towards sinners.

The master of a household represents God, the Sovereign and Creator of the Jewish people and of all existence. He is referred to as a human due to His profound love for humanity, and as the master of the household because just as a caretaker looks after their family, so too does the God of all nurture the Jewish nation. The vine symbolizes the assembly of the Jews, as expressed in the words of Isaiah: “The house of Israel is the vine of the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 5:7). God freed these people from Egypt and established them in the Promised Land, as David proclaims: “You brought grapes out of Egypt: you drove out nations, and planted them” (Psalm 79:9). The girdle signifies the law, which serves to shield them from sin and prevent mingling with outsiders.

To declare to the arrogant Pharisees and scribes before the crowds that tax collectors and sinners would enter the kingdom of God ahead of them was to strike them like a lightning bolt. Had Jesus chosen to speak just one more sentence to the people, clearly proclaiming that He was the awaited Messiah and that their leaders were untrustworthy, the destiny of these misguided leaders would have been irrevocably determined: the populace would have been compelled to surrender authority to Jesus Christ. However, the Lord opted instead to share another parable, one that was bitter for them, which illustrated the entire narrative of God's care for the people of Judah and His patience towards their leaders. "Listen to another parable," He began.

In the story of the unfaithful vinedressers, Jesus remarked, "Listen to another parable." A man cultivated a vineyard, surrounded it with a wall, constructed a wine press, and erected a watchtower. However, since he needed to travel, he entrusted the vineyard to vinedressers with the expectation that they would provide him with a share of the harvest. It is clear that the vineyard in this parable symbolizes the people of Israel, whom God has chosen, and to whom He has entrusted care to the priests and leaders, represented as the vinedressers.

He invited them to "listen to another parable," the story of the unfaithful vinedressers who refused to yield the fruits of the vineyard. This vineyard, belonging to the Lord of Hosts, represented the house of Israel, with the Jewish nation being His cherished garden. The leaders and teachers, entrusted with the care of the people, were naturally expected to present the owner with the harvest of the vineyard. Yet, despite all His efforts for His vineyard, no true fruit was yielded, perhaps only wild or worthless produce. Unable to bring forth fruit and unwilling to acknowledge their lack of productivity for which they were accountable, the vinedressers insulted, struck, wounded, and killed one messenger after another sent by the owner of the vineyard.

Here is a paraphrase of the original text that adheres to your guidelines:

Another parable underscores the unworthiness of the people, particularly the leaders and teachers among them. This illustration closely parallels the song of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 5:1 ff.). The term 'master' here refers to God, who orchestrates the salvation of humanity, and is frequently depicted this way in sacred scripture. When it states, 'Planted a vineyard,' it alludes to the establishment of the Old Testament Church (cf. note on Matthew 20:1). The phrase 'Enclosed it with a hedge' indicates that gardens were safeguarded by a fence to ward off animals and thieves; similarly, the law given to the chosen people acts as a barrier, distinguishing them from outsiders (cf. Theophilus).