Matthew 21:39Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Where do you plan to execute Him? Outside the vineyard. Do you notice how Christ predicts the exact location of His death? 'And taking him out of the vineyard, they killed him' (Luke 20:15). According to the account of the Evangelist Luke, Christ Himself revealed the suffering they would endure because of this, and they responded, 'Let it not be!' Yet He testified, 'When He looked at them, He said, "What does this scripture mean: the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone?" And "Whoever falls on that stone will be shattered"' (Luke 20:16-18).

The phrase "They led out of the vineyard and killed" signifies that Christ was executed away from the city. As previously indicated, the vineyard represents the people; thus, the Pharisees, who are the malevolent caretakers, crucified the Master’s Son outside this vineyard, detached from the will of the innocent multitude.

The apostle indicates that Jesus Christ was crucified outside the city, outside the gate (Hebrews 13:2). We can also interpret this to mean that He was cast out of the vineyard and there met His death, signifying the transfer of the vineyard to others as the Gentiles accepted Him.

You, lawless individuals, are on the verge of completing what your ancestors began. They put the prophets to death, and you will also bring about the death of God, surpassing their wickedness! I am the Heir, the cornerstone that you have rejected, yet it will ultimately bring about your downfall. I will unify the heavenly and the earthly realms, raising up One Church composed of both angels and humanity. Those who were once adversaries of my Father will find reconciliation through me. I will declare peace, and as a sign of this peace, my blood will be shed for the redemption of the world.

Outside the vineyard, which refers to the city; indeed, He was crucified outside the city limits. However, Mark indicates that He was slain first and then cast out of the vineyard. How are we to understand this? It appears that Mark (Mark 12:8) employs the term "cast out" in a different context, rather than simply meaning "deprived of the vineyard," as they presumed.

In this parable, the landowner represents the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The vineyard that He established symbolizes the Jewish people, rooted in the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who multiplied like the stars in the heavens and the grains of sand by the sea. They were delivered from slavery in Egypt and led through the sea into the Promised Land, as the prophet states: ‘Out of Egypt You carried the vine, You drove out the nations and planted it (Psalm 79:9).’ God planted the Jewish people in the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, so they might produce the fruit of His commandments.

The ecclesiastical leaders and Pharisees observed Jesus Christ, who with remarkable insight and grace interpreted the Holy Scriptures and the divine laws, confronting their transgressions with a striking consistency and authority. He performed miracles with extraordinary power and dominion, even raising the dead from their graves. Although they refused to acknowledge Him as the Son of God and divine by nature, they recognized His celestial authority, capable of accomplishing all things. Consequently, they convened a council of the High Priests and Pharisees, posing the question, “What are we to do, for this man performs many signs?” (John 11:47-48).

The vinedressers, noticing the son from a distance, spoke to each other, saying, ‘This is the sole heir, the one destined to inherit the vineyard; come, let us eliminate him and seize his inheritance.’ They then captured him, took him away from the vineyard, and put him to death.

In a similar expression, the Lord continued to disclose that due to their obstinacy and evil opposition, not only were they affected, but the entire nation was losing the privilege of being the first to enter the kingdom of the Messiah. The new parable, shared with both the Pharisees and the crowd (Luke 20:9-19), was drawn from the imagery of a vineyard, which the Lord entrusted not for labor but gave to certain workers, dispatching them solely for the purpose of gathering fruits, sending them multiple times; yet the unworthy workers beat some, killed others, and stoned still others. Subsequently, He sent His Son: however, they resolved to kill Him too, seeking to seize the possessions of the Lord by force. Thus, they took Him, led Him outside the vineyard, and executed Him.

It appeared that the moment had arrived to reclaim the vineyard from the unjust caretakers. However, the owner, filled with compassion, opted to make one final attempt: "I have," he declared, "a cherished son; I will send him; surely, they will not dismiss him; perhaps they will feel shame and honor him." Thus, the owner's son was sent to the vinedressers, who, spotting him from afar, recognized him as their rightful heir. Fearing the loss of the vineyard, they plotted to eliminate him. "Let us kill him," they conspired, "and then the vineyard will belong to us forever." Resolute in their scheme, they seized him, took his life, and cast him out of the vineyard.

Ultimately, he dispatched his Son, yet this Son, whom they acknowledged and could not fail to recognize, was also beaten, cast out, and slain by them.

"They led out of the vineyard": if we interpret the vineyard as referring to the Old Testament Church in a broader sense, this would specifically point to Jerusalem as its visible sacred heart. In this context, the words of the Lord provide a clear indication of the precise location of His crucifixion, outside the walls of Jerusalem (cf. Heb. 12:13). St. Chrysostom clarifies these words by stating, "Observe how Jesus Christ foretells the exact site of His execution." Additionally, Bl. Theophylact notes that just as the vineyard symbolizes the people, the phrase "out of the vineyard" signifies that the Pharisees, who were the wrongdoers, put the Lord to death without the consent of the innocent populace.