King James Version

What Does Luke 20:16 Mean?

Luke 20:16 in the King James Version says “He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, Go... — study this verse from Luke chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid .

Luke 20:16 · KJV


Context

14

But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

15

So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

16

He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid .

17

And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

18

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid—Jesus pronounces the judgment: the owner will "come" (ἐλεύσεται, eleusetai, indicating future certainty) and "destroy" (ἀπολέσει, apolesei, utterly ruin) the wicked tenants, giving the vineyard to "others" (ἄλλοις, allois). The destruction is complete and just—they forfeited stewardship by murdering the heir. The "others" prophetically indicates the gospel's extension to Gentiles (Acts 13:46, Romans 11:11-24).

The crowd's response—"God forbid" (μὴ γένοιτο, mē genoito, literally "may it not be!")—reveals horror at the implication. Either they recognize that Israel's rejection of Messiah will bring judgment, or they reject the notion that God would transfer His covenant promises to outsiders. Their reaction shows they've grasped the parable's meaning: Jesus is the Son, the leaders are the wicked tenants, and judgment is coming. Yet mere recognition without repentance changes nothing.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy was literally fulfilled. In 70 AD, Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the temple after the Jewish revolt. The religious system centered on temple sacrifice ended permanently. The vineyard—representing God's covenant people and kingdom—was indeed given to "others": the church composed of both Jews and Gentiles. The gospel went to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Paul explained that Gentiles were grafted into Israel's olive tree (Romans 11:17-24), inheriting the promises through faith in Jesus.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the transfer of the vineyard to others demonstrate that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human rebellion?
  2. What does the crowd's "God forbid" reveal about recognizing truth without acting on it?
  3. How should the sobering reality that God will accomplish His purposes with or without us shape our faithfulness?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 16 words
ἐλεύσεται1 of 16

He shall come

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

καὶ2 of 16

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἀπολέσει3 of 16

destroy

G622

to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively

τοὺς4 of 16
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γεωργοὺς5 of 16

husbandmen

G1092

a land-worker, i.e., farmer

τούτους6 of 16

these

G5128

these (persons, as objective of verb or preposition)

καὶ7 of 16

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

δώσει8 of 16

shall give

G1325

to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)

τὸν9 of 16
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀμπελῶνα10 of 16

the vineyard

G290

a vineyard

ἄλλοις11 of 16

to others

G243

"else," i.e., different (in many applications)

ἀκούσαντες12 of 16

when they heard

G191

to hear (in various senses)

δὲ13 of 16

And

G1161

but, and, etc

εἶπον,14 of 16

it they said

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

Μὴ15 of 16

God forbid

G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

γένοιτο16 of 16
G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 20:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 20:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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