The Parable of the Wicked Tenants:
Christ’s Authority and Our Accountability
(Matthew 21:23–46)

The Wicked Tenants: Christ’s Authority and Our Accountability (Matthew 21:23–46)

Setting the Scene: Authority Challenged in the Temple
Just days after the triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple, Jesus teaches in the temple courts. The chief priests and elders confront Him: “By what authority are You doing these things?” (Matthew 21:23). Rather than answer directly, Jesus tells three parables. The second—the Parable of the Wicked Tenants—exposes the spiritual bankruptcy of Israel’s leaders and calls hearers to receive the Son and bear fruit for God.

The Parable Explained
A landowner plants a carefully prepared vineyard and leases it to tenants (Matthew 21:33). At harvest, he sends servants to collect fruit. The tenants beat, stone, and kill them; more servants meet the same fate. Last of all, he sends his son. The tenants murder him, hoping to seize the inheritance (Matthew 21:34–39). Jesus asks what the owner will do. The leaders answer their own judgment: destroy the wicked tenants and lease the vineyard to others who will render fruit in season (Matthew 21:40–41).

Israel as God’s Vineyard; Leaders as Unfaithful Tenants
Scripture had already pictured Israel as the Lord’s vineyard (Isaiah 5:1–7; Psalm 80:8–9). God prepared, protected, and expected fruit—justice and righteousness—yet wild grapes appeared (Isaiah 5:2, 7). The tenants represent Israel’s religious leaders—the very men charged with shepherding the people. The servants are the prophets and messengers God sent across the centuries, often persecuted and killed (Matthew 23:34, 37). The Son is Jesus Himself, uniquely sent by the Father and rejected unto death.

The Rejected Stone and the Cornerstone
Jesus cites Psalm 118:22–23: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” God’s purpose stands. The kingdom is taken from rejecters and entrusted to a people who bear its fruit (Matthew 21:42–43; Acts 13:45–47). Simeon foresaw this dividing line: many would rise or fall on account of Christ (Luke 2:34). Isaiah foretold a sanctuary for believers and a stumbling stone for the disobedient (Isaiah 8:14–15). Those who collide with this Stone are broken; on whom He falls, there is crushing judgment (Matthew 21:44).

What This Means for Us
Every person will give account to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Belonging to the kingdom includes bearing fruit that reflects God’s rule. The Father loved the world and sent His Son (John 3:16). The rightful response is reverent faith, obedience, and fruitfulness that honors the Owner of the vineyard.

The Wicked Tenants Sermon Outline:

• Introduction & Context (Matthew 21:12–23)

  • Triumphal entry; cleansing of the temple establishes Christ’s authority.

  • Leaders question His authority (21:23).

• The Parable Retold (Matthew 21:33–39)

  • Landowner’s careful provision: planting, hedge, press, tower (21:33; Isaiah 5:1–2).

  • Tenants’ violence toward servants (prophets): beating, stoning, killing (21:35; Matthew 23:34, 37).

  • Final appeal: sending the Son; tenants kill the heir (21:37–39).

• Interpretation & Verdict (Matthew 21:40–41)

  • Leaders pronounce justice on themselves: destroy the wicked tenants; lease to faithful ones.

• Scripture Fulfilled—The Rejected Stone (Matthew 21:42; Psalm 118:22–23)

  • Builders reject the Stone; God makes Him the cornerstone.

  • Kingdom entrusted to fruit-bearing people (21:43; Acts 13:46–47).

• The Stumbling/Crushing Stone (Matthew 21:44; Isaiah 8:14–15; Luke 2:34)

  • Christ as sanctuary to believers and stumbling stone to the disobedient.

  • Collision with the Stone brings breaking or crushing judgment.

• Israel as the Vineyard; God as Owner (Isaiah 5:1–7; Psalm 80:8–9)

  • God’s past care and righteous expectation.

  • Wild grapes expose failure to render fruit.

• Why the Leaders Rejected Jesus

  • Envy and fear of losing status (Matthew 21:15; Acts 13:45).

  • Misguided kingdom expectations (John 18:36).

• Applications for the Church Today

  • Authority: Christ’s authority governs doctrine and life (Matthew 28:18).

  • Accountability: All must answer to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

  • Fruitfulness: True belonging shows in seasonable fruit (Matthew 21:41; cf. John 15:8).

  • Reverence for the Son: Receive Him in faith and obedience (John 3:16).

Call to Action

Honor the Owner by honoring His Son. Receive Jesus’ authority with a trusting heart, leave envy and hardness, and render the fruit God desires—repentance, justice, mercy, and obedience. Today is a day for clear allegiance: step onto the cornerstone in faith and let your life become a vineyard that yields fruit in its season.

Key Takeaways

• Christ’s authority confronts religious pride and demands fruit (Matthew 21:23, 33–41).

• Israel is God’s vineyard; leaders failed their stewardship (Isaiah 5:1–7; Psalm 80:8–9).

• Rejecting the Son fulfills Scripture—yet God exalts the Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22–23; Matthew 21:42–43).

• Christ is both sanctuary and stumbling stone; response determines destiny (Isaiah 8:14–15; Luke 2:34; Matthew 21:44).

• Each person must give account and should live fruitfully under the King (2 Corinthians 5:10; John 3:16).

Scripture Reference List

• Matthew 21:23–46 — Authority challenged; parable of the tenants; rejected Stone; transfer of the kingdom.

• Isaiah 5:1–7 — Israel as God’s vineyard; expectation of justice and righteousness.

• Psalm 80:8–9 — God planted the vine brought out of Egypt.

• Psalm 118:22–23 — Rejected Stone becomes the cornerstone.

• Matthew 23:34, 37 — Prophets sent; Jerusalem’s history of rejecting messengers.

• Acts 13:45–47 — Jewish rejection; gospel turns to the Gentiles as foretold.

• Isaiah 8:14–15 — Sanctuary and stumbling stone.

• Luke 2:34 — Appointed for the fall and rising of many.

• John 18:36 — Jesus’ kingdom and its nature.

• 2 Corinthians 5:10 — Everyone must appear before Christ’s judgment seat.

• John 3:16 — The Father’s love shown in sending the Son.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO