Matthew 21:33

ἄλλην π. ἀ., hear another parable; spoken at the same time, and of kindred import. The abrupt introduction betrays emotion. Jesus is aware that He has given mortal offence, and here shows His knowledge by foreshadowing His own doom. The former parable has exposed the insincerity of the leaders of Israel, this exposes their open revolt against even divine authority. ἀμπελῶνα : it is another vineyard parable. They were both probably extemporised, the one suggesting the other, the picture of non doing calling up the companion picture of mis doing. φραγμὸν α. περιέθηκε, etc.: detailed description of the pains taken by the landlord in the construction of the vineyard, based on Isaiah's song of the vineyard (chap. Matthew 5:2), all with a view to fruitfulness, and to fruit of the best kind; for the owner, at least, is very much in earnest: a hedge to protect against wild beasts, a press and vat that the grapes may be squeezed and the juice preserved, a tower that the ripe fruit may not be stolen. ἐξέδετο, let it out on hire; on what terms whether for a rent in money or on the metayer system, produce divided between owner and workers does not here appear. The latter seems to be implied in the parallels (Mark 12:2, ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν, Luke 20:10, ἀπὸ τοῦ καρποῦ). ἀπεδήμησεν, went abroad, to leave them freedom, and also to give them time; for the newly planted vines would not bear fruit for two or three years. No unreasonableness in this landlord.