Matthew 21:45

45 And the chief priests and the Pharisees, having heard his parables, knew that he spoke about them.

Matthew 21:45 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 21:45

And when the chief priests and Pharisees
Which latter, though not before mentioned, were many of them of the grand sanhedrim, as well as the chief priests, scribes, and elders: "had heard his parables"; that of the two sons being sent into the vineyard, and that of the letting out the vineyard to husbandmen,

they perceived that he spake of them:
they plainly saw that they were designed by the son, that promised to go into the vineyard, but did not; only talked of works, but did not do them: and that they were the husbandmen that acted the ungrateful part to the householder, and the cruel one to his servants, and would to his son, their own consciences told them they were the men. They knew that the whole was levelled against them, and designed for them, and exactly hit their case.

Matthew 21:45 In-Context

43 Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and shall be given to a nation producing the fruits of it.

44 And he that falls on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder.

45 And the chief priests and the Pharisees, having heard his parables, knew that he spoke about them.

46 And seeking to lay hold of him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they held him for a prophet.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit. 'speaks.'