What is the meaning of Matthew 21:36? Again “Again He sent other servants...” (Matthew 21:36) • The word “again” shows the literal, historical patience of the landowner, picturing God’s persistent mercy toward His covenant people (2 Peter 3:9; Psalm 86:15). • God does not give up after one rejected invitation; He repeats His call, reflecting the steadfast love that “never ceases” (Lamentations 3:22-23). • Israel’s history records cycle after cycle of rebellion answered by renewed divine outreach (Judges 2:16-18). He sent other servants • The “servants” are the prophets—real men sent at specific moments to speak God’s word (Jeremiah 7:25-26; 2 Kings 17:13). • Each prophet carried the same essential message: repent, return, bear fruit (Isaiah 1:18; Hosea 14:1-2). • Their presence underscores that the Owner’s rights over His vineyard are unquestionable and that His appeal is always delivered through human messengers (Hebrews 1:1). More than the first group • The increase in number magnifies God’s grace. Instead of fewer warnings, He multiplies them (2 Chronicles 36:15-16). • It also heightens accountability. With every added prophet, the tenants’ responsibility grows (Luke 12:48). • Scripture lists this expanding line: Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the twelve minor prophets, John the Baptist—each confirming God’s unwavering call (Malachi 4:5-6). But the tenants did the same to them • The tenants’ repeated violence reveals hardened hearts (Zechariah 7:11-12). • Jesus confirms the literal pattern: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets” (Matthew 23:37; cf. Acts 7:52). • Their refusal exposes the tragic irony: those entrusted with God’s vineyard resist the very servants sent to bless them (Nehemiah 9:26). • Repetition of sin forms a trajectory that will culminate in the ultimate rejection of the Son (Matthew 21:37-39). summary Matthew 21:36 depicts God’s relentless, historical pursuit of His people through an ever-growing chorus of prophets, contrasted with the tenants’ equally persistent rejection. The verse highlights divine patience, human responsibility, and the escalating conflict that will soon center on God’s own Son. |
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