Matthew 21:37

“But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will reverence my son'.”

Finally the owner of the vineyard decided that He would give them one last chance. He would send to them his own son. This was with the twofold hope, firstly that they would acknowledge the potential owner as having the right to collect payment. It was one thing to ill treat, mock and kill slaves. It would be quite another to ill treat the son of the house. And secondly in the hope that their consciences might be moved at the thought that it was His own Son Who came to them, with the result that that they would repent and respond to Him. They would recognise that while they might get away with illtreating servants, it would be a very different matter with His only son. The implication was clear for all who had eyes to see. It was as clear a declaration of Jesus' uniqueness, and of His Sonship as it is possible to have.

Some have suggested that the son was simply indicating a higher grade of response than the servants. But note the order of those who came, servants, more servants, only Son, Owner Himself. In the light of the inclusion of the last only the spiritually and obstinately blind could have failed to see the special nature of the Son, especially in view of the expectation of the Messiah.

Matthew alone drops the phrase ‘the beloved son'. But this is in line with his abbreviating tendencies. (Just as he dropped the ‘good' in ‘Good Teacher' - Matthew 19:16). He does not need to mention it. The parable that follows leaves us in no doubt as to Whose Son He is. He is the King's Son.

And yet, as was necessary at this time of such bitterness, Jesus' claim to be the Owner's Son was couched in such a way that it could not be used as an instrument against Him. His claim was clear, but all knew that if they questioned Him about it and tried to accuse Him of blasphemy He would come back with one of His devastating questions, such as, ‘Why do you think that this applies to Me?' and wait for their answer. All would, of course, know that it was meant to apply to Him, but they would simply be left looking foolish, not daring to answer.

Note that the sending of the Son is here seen as God's final act towards men before judgment (see John 3:16). If they will not respond to Him, and to those who go out in His Name, they will not respond to anyone. Hebrews 1:1 may well have partly resulted as a consequence of this parable.

Some may argue that no father in his right senses would do such a thing, and they would, of course, be right, especially in the sending of His Son on His own. But this is not speaking of any father. It is speaking of God the Father. And this is precisely what God amazingly did do. It is meant to sound remarkable, for it was remarkable. In the words of Tertullian when speaking of the crucifixion of God's Son, it was impossible and therefore it must be true (Joh 3:16; 1 John 4:9; Romans 5:8; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 1:1).