Matthew 21:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Why did God delay in sending the Son? The purpose was so that they might recognize the injustice of their treatment towards the servants He had previously dispatched, allowing them the opportunity to set aside their anger and feel remorse for His arrival. There are additional reasons, but for now, let us delve deeper into the significance of the phrase "they may be ashamed." This does not imply a lack of knowledge about God, but rather serves to demonstrate the enormity of sin and its utter indefensibility. God was fully aware that the Son would face death; still, He chose to send Him. When He states, "they shall be ashamed of my son," He implies what their response should have been - they ought to feel shame. (Ezek.

Ultimately, the Son of God was dispatched and manifested in human form. The Lord proclaimed, ‘They shall be ashamed of My Son,’ not due to a lack of foresight regarding the Son’s crucifixion, but rather to foreshadow the events to come. He stated, ‘Though the wicked took the lives of the servants, they should at least recognize the honor due to the Son.’

Subsequently, he dispatched his Son, not due to His status as the youngest, but rather following the one who had previously existed, as John proclaims: "But after me will come a Husband: who at the same time and before (me)" (cf. John 1:15). Yet, he was unaware that the messengers he sent before were unable to accept the harvest. He acted this way to prevent the stubborn from raising objections, asserting, "Could he not manage all that he wished through the law?" Thus, he sent his Son to put an end to their criticism.

The added words convey: They shall welcome my son with reverence. They shall be humiliated by my son. These sentiments do not stem from a lack of foresight regarding the future. Indeed, what knowledge eludes the master, who symbolizes God the Father in this context? It is often asserted that God fears for the preservation of human free will. We might consult Arius and Eunomius on this matter. In the parable, it is suggested that the Father is unaware and withholds His judgment, implying that He has permitted a falsehood to arise. However, whatever responses they may provide about the Father should also apply to the Son, who states that He does not know the hour of the world's end.

Behold, I am the Son and Heir! Take heed of the privilege of sonship, honor the essence of the Father: for I dwell in the Father, and the Father dwells in Me (John 14:10). I descended to this world out of sorrow for My grapes; yet I find solace in the embrace of My Father. However, offer Me the fruit of My inheritance!

He did not express this as a matter pertaining to the future, for he understood that they would not feel remorse. Rather, he presented it as a crucial matter, implying that it was essential for them to recognize their shame regarding his Son. In Luke 20:13, it is recorded that the owner of the vineyard declared, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved Son, that they may feel shame upon seeing him." His statement was not born out of confusion, but from a place of compassion, demonstrating the depth of his concern for the ungrateful. He did not intend to harm them, but instead sought to find a method to soften the hearts of those who were hostile. In this context, "food" also carries significant meaning—it should.

Following the age of the Prophets, God sent His one and only Son, His Word made flesh. Born of the pure blood of the Virgin Mary, He embodied perfect humanity while being fully divine. He proclaimed, “My son shall be put to sleep,” not out of ignorance regarding the reception He would receive from the Jews, but to clarify the faith and honor that should be accorded to Him by them. Indeed, those who had been instructed by the earlier prophets, upon hearing the heavenly teachings of Jesus Christ—which were consistent with the messages of the prophets—witnessing His many miraculous works and recognizing the fulfillment of prophetic declarations concerning Him, ought to have believed and embraced Him with reverence, transforming from the wicked to the righteous.

Through the same expressive discourse, the Lord continued to disclose that due to their obstinacy and wicked resistance, not only were they hindered, but the entire nation was deprived of the privilege of the initial entrance into the Kingdom of the Messiah. The new allegory, addressed not only to the Pharisees but also to the crowd (Luke 20:9-19), was drawn from the vineyard, which the Lord entrusted not for labor but to certain workers whom He sent primarily to gather the harvest. He sent them not just once but multiple times; yet the unfaithful tenants mistreated some of the messengers, killed others, and stoned yet others. In response, He sent His Son; however, they resolved to kill Him as well, intending to seize control of the possessions of their Master by force.

It appeared that the moment had arrived for the owner to reclaim His vineyard from the unfaithful caretakers. Yet, in His benevolence, He opted for one final measure: “I have,” He stated, “a beloved Son; I will send Him; surely they will not reject Him; they will likely feel ashamed and honor Him.” Thus, the owner's Son approached the vinedressers; however, upon seeing Him from afar, they recognized Him as the heir and, fearing that He would claim the vineyard, plotted against Him. “Let us kill Him,” they conspired, “and then the vineyard will belong to us forever.” Once they reached this conclusion, they seized Him, killed Him, and cast Him out of the vineyard.

Ultimately, he dispatched his Son, and this Son, whom they acknowledged and were unable to ignore, was likewise beaten, cast out, and slain.

Ultimately, He dispatched His Son: the Lord Jesus Christ. Why did He delay in sending His Son? It was so that they could recognize the injustice of their treatment towards the messengers sent before Him, prompting them to set aside their wrath and feel the weight of shame upon His arrival. What is conveyed by the expression that “they shall be ashamed of my son” (or perhaps, “shall they not be ashamed, or possibly they will be ashamed”)? This indicates not a lack of understanding of God but rather a desire to illuminate the severity of sin and the profound disregard of the Jewish people. For God was fully aware that the Son would face death, yet He chose to send Him. The phrase “my son shall be put to shame” illustrates what their response ought to have been; they should have been filled with remorse.