Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 21:33

"Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country." — Matthew 21:33 (ASV)

In this parable, a certain householder did all that could be done for his vineyard: it was well planted, enclosed with a hedge, provided with a winepress dug into the rock, and guarded by a tower built for the purpose. In the same way, the Jewish Church had been created, trained, guarded, and fully furnished by the Lord, “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant” (Isaiah 5:7). Everything was in good order for the production of fruit, so that the Lord was able to say, “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” (Isaiah 5:4).

The owner went into a distant country and entrusted the estate to tenant farmers who were to take care of it for him and yield to him a certain share of the produce as rent. Thus, the great Lord of Israel left the nation under the care of priests, and kings, and men of learning, who should have cultivated this heritage of Jehovah for Him and yielded to Him the fruit of this choice vineyard. God for a time seemed to have departed from His chosen people, for miracles had ceased, but this should have made the scribes and priests more watchful, just as good servants are more alert to guard their master’s estate when he is away.