Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 20:14

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.

14. that the inheritance may be ours ] “His Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things,” Heb 1:2. Comp. Joh 11:47-53. “They killed that they might possess, and because they killed they lost.” Aug.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

14. reasoned amongthemselves(Compare Gen 37:18-20;Joh 11:47-53).

the heirsublimeexpression of the great truth, that God’s inheritance was destinedfor, and in due time to come into the possession of, His Son inour nature (Heb 1:2).

inheritance . . . oursandso from mere servants we may become lords; the deep aimof the depraved heart, and literally “the root of all evil.“

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

But when the husbandmen saw him,…. In human nature, heard him preach, and observed the miracles done by him:

they reasoned among themselves; as the Scribes and Pharisees, and elders of the people often did:

saying, this is the heir; the heir of God, being his Son; and so the Ethiopic version; “this Son is his heir”, or the heir of the vineyard; being, by appointment, heir of all things, and by his descent from David heir to the kingdom of Israel;

come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. The Arabic and Persic versions render it, “and his inheritance shall be ours”: the nation, city, temple, and all the emoluments and benefits thereof. The word “come” is left out in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Gothic and Vulgate Latin versions.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

That the inheritance may be ours ( ). That the inheritance may become (, second aorist middle subjunctive of ). Here Mt 21:39 has “let us get, ingressive aorist active subjunctive.” Cf. , present subjunctive of the same verb in Rom 5:1; Mark 12:7 has “and it will be ours” ().

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

1) “But when the husbandman saw him,” (idontes de auton hoi georgoi) “Then when the husbandmen saw him,” saw the son of the vineyard owner, and recognized who he was, Mat 21:38; Mar 12:7.

2) “They reasoned. among themselves, saying,” (dielogizonto pros allelous legonts) “They connived among themselves saying,” repeatedly, in collusion, Mat 21:38.

3) “This is the heir” (houtos estin kleronomos) “This is (exists as) the legal heir,” Psa 2:6; Isa 9:6; Col 1:15-16; Php_2:9-11; Heb 1:2, the heir to the estate, the vineyard, Mat 21:38; Mar 12:7; This seems to be an implication that the Jews really knew that Jesus was the Messiah or Redeemer, Joh 3:2.

4) “Come let us kill him,” (apokteinomen auton) “Let us just kill him,” put him out of the way, Mat 21:38; Mar 12:7; This was their resolve, Mat 27:21; Mat 27:25.

5) “That the inheritance may be ours.” (hina hemon genetai he kleronomia) “In order that the inheritance (of the estate) may become ours,” may fall to us. We may seize or lay legal claim to it,” Mat 21:38; Mar 12:7. The statement of Caiaphas also seems to indicate that the rulers of the Jews had a conviction of fear that Jesus was the Messiah, Joh 11:49-52.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

“But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ ”

The reaction of the husbandmen is then given. Reasoning with each other (which has been seen to be a trait of the Jewish leaders – Luk 20:5) they determined what they would do. They would kill the heir so that they might retain control of the inheritance. For the Law allowed for the fact that if those in physical possession of land were able to farm it untroubled by anyone for a number of years they could claim legal possession of it also.

Certainly as the Jewish leaders saw the great crowds hanging on to Jesus’ every word they must have felt that ‘their inheritance’ was slipping away from them. Thus the picture is graphic, and in view of their plans to kill Jesus, telling. And once He was out of the way they would be able to regain control over the inheritance.

‘Let us kill him.’ The words are similar to those used by Joseph’s brothers in Gen 37:20 (see LXX). Jesus was likening these men to Joseph’s brothers, full of hate and jealousy. They were the forerunners of the persecutors of the prophets, and of these men who now planned Jesus’ downfall.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

14. . ] This is taken up from the of the verse before, and is emphatic On the contrary, when they saw him.

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament