The Meaning of Luke 20:13 Explained

Luke 20:13

KJV: Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

YLT: And the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my son -- the beloved, perhaps having seen this one, they will do reverence;

Darby: And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: perhaps when they see him they will respect him.

ASV: And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  said  the lord  of the vineyard,  What  shall I do?  I will send  my  beloved  son:  it may be  they will reverence  [him] when they see  him. 

What does Luke 20:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 20:9-18 - "the Stone Which The Builders Rejected"
The vineyard represents the privileges and blessings of the Hebrew race. The servants are evidently the prophets and others sent from God. Whatever our position in life, God expects a revenue from it. We are not owners, but tenants; not proprietors, but stewards. Are you sure that you are giving God the dues which He may justly claim?
Notice how our Lord severs Himself from all human messengers, as the Son. When He said my beloved Son, He anticipated John 3:16. The warm kiss of the father's love was on His cheek. He realized that He was the heir, Hebrews 1:2; Romans 8:17.
It is said that in the building of Solomon's Temple, a valuable carved stone was cast aside and neglected, till a part of the structure absolutely called for it. You may build society as you like, but there will come a time when Christ will be needed to give the finishing touch. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 20

1  Jesus confirms his authority by a question of John's baptism
9  The parable of the vineyard
19  Of giving tribute to Caesar
27  He instructs the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection
41  How Jesus is the Son of David
45  He warns his disciples to beware of the scribes

Greek Commentary for Luke 20:13

What shall I do? [Τι ποιησω]
Deliberative future indicative or aorist subjunctive (same form). This detail only in Luke. Note the variations in all three Gospels. All three have “will reverence” (εντραπησονται — entrapēsontai) for which see Matthew and Mark. [source]
It may be [ισως]
Perhaps, from ισος — isos equal. Old adverb, but only here in the N.T. [source]
It may be [ἴσως]
Only here in New Testament. The adverb of ἴσος , equal. It expresses more than perhaps, implying rather a strong probability. Compare the phrase, it is an even chance that. [source]
Reverence []
See on Matthew 21:37. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 20:13

Mark 12:6 A beloved son [υιον αγαπητον]
Luke 20:13 has τον υιον τον αγαπητον — ton huion ton agapēton Jesus evidently has in mind the language of the Father to him at his baptism (Mark 1:11; Matthew 3:17; Luke 3:22). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 20:13 mean?

Said then the master of the vineyard What shall I do I will send the son of me beloved perhaps him they will respect
Εἶπεν δὲ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος Τί ποιήσω πέμψω τὸν υἱόν μου ἀγαπητόν ἴσως τοῦτον ἐντραπήσονται

Εἶπεν  Said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
κύριος  master 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀμπελῶνος  vineyard 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἀμπελών  
Sense: a vineyard.
ποιήσω  shall  I  do 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
πέμψω  I  will  send 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: πέμπω  
Sense: to send.
υἱόν  son 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀγαπητόν  beloved 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀγαπητός  
Sense: beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love.
ἴσως  perhaps 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἴσως  
Sense: equally, in like manner.
ἐντραπήσονται  they  will  respect 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐντρέπω  
Sense: to shame one.