And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they knew that he spoke of them.
και ακουσαντες οι αρχιερεις και οι φαρισαιοι τας παραβολας αυτου εγνωσαν οτι περι αυτων λεγει
12 Church Fathers comment on this verse
After that, what actions did they take? The Evangelist notes that upon hearing His parables, the chief priests and Pharisees recognized that He was addressing them. They sought to apprehend Him but were fearful of the crowd, as they regarded Him as a prophet. The Jewish leaders ultimately came to understand that Christ was aware of their true nature.
Observe how the people, innocent and sincere, adhere to the truth, while the religious leaders scheme with malice. The Jews continue to seek to embrace Jesus, yet they struggle to put their faith in Him. They may eventually acknowledge and revere the Antichrist, but they will refuse to accept Christ, meaning they will remain unaware of Him.
Despite their hardened hearts and their refusal to accept the words of the Son of God due to their disbelief and malice, they could not dispute the clear teachings laid before them and recognized that the Lord's decrees were aimed at them. Consequently, they sought to take His life, yet they were intimidated by the multitude, who regarded Him as a prophet. The crowd is ever-changing, lacking steadfastness; it behaves like the ocean’s waves, swayed by the wind's direction. In a shocking contradiction, those who once revered Him as a prophet later cried out, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him’ (John 19:6).
In every place, people are more intimidated by others than by God. Christ communicated through parables and delivered prophecies so that their fear might lead them to abandon their wrongdoing, yet their desire to eliminate Him only intensified. Although He was aware that they would not repent, He continued His mission without neglecting any obligation.
The bishops and Pharisees understood that the Lord's parables were directed at them, which allowed them to recognize the truth. Yet, how did they respond in this instance? They devised plans to eliminate the Lord. Had their bias not distorted their reasoning, they might have engaged in thoughtful dialogue regarding whether the Saviour's explanations were indeed accurate, as the clarity of His teachings warranted. However, their partiality led them astray, ultimately revealing them as those who sought the destruction of God. This has been the case historically and continues to be so today.
As soon as the Germans, followed by our increasingly shallow minds, encounter a miraculous event in the Gospel, they quickly reject it, proclaiming, “It cannot be true; it was never true and must be erased.” Isn't this similar to an act of murder? Peruse the works of these intellectuals, and you will find no substantial reasoning behind their conclusions; none can counter what affirms the Gospel’s truth, and none have taken the time to explore the arguments that truth-seeking individuals use to refute their falsehoods. All they assert is merely that it is impossible, and thus they choose not to accept the Gospel. There is no reasoning with them; their rebellion extends even against God Himself.
A person who has committed a significant transgression is predisposed to undertake an even graver one due to a lack of hope in the Lord. As Solomon observes: “With the coming of the wicked comes contempt” (Proverbs 18:3). Similar to a sick individual who, despite intense suffering, yearns for healing and avoids harmful food, a sinner who recognizes his dire condition may abandon restraint. In contrast, someone who sins to a lesser degree still retains hope for redemption and tries to refrain from additional wrongdoings; yet, if he succumbs to despair over serious offenses, he is fully aware that he stands condemned by God’s judgment for his wrongs. What a pitiful fool!
Just as there are varying levels of punishment for wrongdoing, with each person receiving consequences commensurate with their actions, there are also differing degrees of honor for righteousness, where individuals receive glory in line with the good they have accomplished. The high priests of the Old Testament, having lost faith in God while being consumed with evil, raised their hands against God Himself, fully aware that Christ was the Son of God, and they became unrestrained in their wickedness. Does this astonish you? Every wicked person, through the exercise of his will, defies God and seeks His destruction. Those who provoke the wrath of God trample upon His commandments, scorn His name, slander, complain against Him, gaze heavenward with disdain, and shake their fists at God—if given the opportunity, they would eliminate Him to sin without consequence.
Upon listening to his parables, St. Matthew records that the chief priests and the Pharisees realized that he was speaking about them. They were prepared to take action to apprehend the one making the accusations.
To further emphasize the rejection faced by God's chosen people due to their persistent disobedience, the Lord referenced the prophet's words, specifically those of the Psalmist, who had long ago predicted the astonishing reality of the builders dismissing the very stone intended to be the cornerstone. He also indicated that other workers would be found to tend to the vineyard of the Lord. Using imagery from a psalm, He articulated this concept by stating that those who stumble upon this rock will be shattered, and upon it, they will fall.
This reflects two forms of brokenness: the first being the brokenness of repentance leading to entry into the Messiah's kingdom; the second representing the judgment of God, reminiscent of Daniel's vision, where a stone struck the feet of the statue (Dan. 2:45; cf. Is. 8:14-15).
Jesus' final remarks regarding the first parable made it clear to His audience that the following parable would similarly address their transgressions. The message of this second parable was so evident that the spiritual leaders and those corrupting the Jewish community likely saw their own reflection in the malevolent vinedressers. It is reasonable to assume they deduced that Jesus was aware of their intent to orchestrate His death. Indeed, they must have understood this.
The significance and intent of these parables became increasingly evident to them, fueling their desire for retribution. However, they were held back by fear, as Christ remained a revered prophet among the people.
Only the fellow seekers grasped the profound significance of Jesus’ words directed at them, as they stood as symbols of disbelief in the Messiah.
The religious leaders, including the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees, recognized that the parables delivered by the Savior were directed toward them. The disgrace of the nation amplified their animosity toward the Lord Jesus Christ, prompting them to wish to apprehend Him. However, they feared the populace who exalted Him as a prophet.
Through the Lord’s numerous teachings, they grasped everything essential: they realized that the Messiah they spurned identified Himself as the foundational stone upon which the joy of the new Israel would be established; that their violent intentions were fully known to Him; and that the sufferings and death laid before Him did not deter Him, for He was resolute in accomplishing all that was ordained for the salvation of humanity by God’s foreordained plan. Instead of seeking to examine their own hearts and objectively reconsider the essence of their disputes, the adversaries of Christ nurtured bitterness within them.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 15 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS