Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 20:9-19

"And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time. And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth. And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner? Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust. And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them." — Luke 20:9-19 (ASV)

Christ spoke this parable against those who resolved not to acknowledge His authority, though the evidence for it was so compelling. How many resemble the Jews who murdered the prophets and crucified Christ, in their enmity to God and aversion to His service, desiring to live according to their lusts, without control!

Let all who are favored with God's Word ensure that they make proper use of their advantages. Awful will be the doom, both of those who reject the Son, and of those who profess to reverence Him, yet do not render the fruits in due season.

Though they could not help but acknowledge that for such a sin, such a punishment was just, yet they could not bear to hear of it. It is the folly of sinners that they persevere in sinful ways, though they dread the destruction at the end of those ways.