Pentecost Season · Year A
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 4, 2026
Overview & Insights
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Matthew 21:42)
Two symbolic actions of Jesus—his entry as king into Jerusalem and his temple critique (21:1–22)—provoke a contest of authority with the chief priests and Jewish elders (21:23–27). Jesus refuses to answer their question about the source of his authority directly; instead, he tells three parables that provide an implicit claim of his messianic identity and implicate the Jewish leaders in their rejection of his identity and authority (21:28–22:14). In their rejection, Jesus contrasts them to those who have believed his message (and John’s): tax collectors and prostitutes (21:31–32; cf. 9:9–13) and people who produce fruit (21:43; cf. 3:8; 7:15–20; 12:33). It is at this point in Matthew’s story that the Jerusalem leaders begin the final plot to arrest and execute Jesus (21:46; see 26:3–4).
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Commentary
Commentary on Matthew 21:33-46 Working Preacher
A named seminary scholar's exegesis of the rejected son and the vindicating cornerstone.
Matthew 21:33-46 Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on the tenants, the son, and the cornerstone.
Matthew 21 - The Wicked Tenants Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical study of the vineyard parable and its judgment.
Matthew 21 Commentary Precept Austin
An inductive study page with Greek word notes and cross references on the chapter.
Matthew 21:33 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the parable of the tenants.
The Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A) Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
Brant Pitre reads the tenants parable alongside the vineyard song of Isaiah.
Sunday Connection, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Catholic background and reflection questions linking the day's readings to daily life.
Background & Word Study
Matthew 21 (Matthew Henry Complete) Bible Study Tools
Matthew Henry's full exposition of the chapter for a classic devotional reading.
Matthew 21:33 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek word by word with parsing for the vineyard, the son, and the cornerstone quotation.
Enter the Bible: Matthew Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to Matthew and the Jerusalem confrontations.
Gospel of Matthew Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Matthew's design and themes.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Who are the wicked tenants?
In the parable a landowner leases a vineyard to tenants who beat and kill the servants he sends, and finally his son (Matthew 21:33–39). Matthew presents it as an indictment of the Jerusalem leaders; the vineyard imagery draws on Isaiah 5. The cornerstone verse (21:42, quoting Psalm 118) turns rejection into vindication.
Where does this fall in the Catholic lectionary?
This is the Gospel for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A (October 2 to 8).
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