God had chosen Israel as a people to make His virtues known among the other nations. But we know from the Old Testament that the people were generally unbelieving and disobedient: an unfruitful people. God sent prophets to instruct and warn His people.
Matthew 21 (based on ISA)
35 And the tenants took his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
36 He sent other slaves again, more than the first, and they treated them in the same way.
killed
The master sends his servants, who are mistreated and even murdered. When he sends more, the same thing happens. This is how it has always gone in the history of the Jewish people. The prophets God sent were persecuted and killed (Acts 7:52; Rom. 11:2–3).
37 Afterward, however, he sent his son to them, and he said: They will respect my son.
My Son, the beloved
The parallel passage in Luke 20:13 states: “I will send my son, the beloved.” Does this not strongly call to mind the words spoken at Jesus’ baptism, when a voice from heaven says: “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased”?
38 And the tenants saw the son and said among themselves: This is the heir; come here, let us kill him so that we may have his inheritance.
possessor of the lot
Literally, the text does not simply say “heir,” but “possessor of the lot.” He is the one to whom the father’s property belongs. The tenants therefore understand that the arrival of the son puts their position at risk. The vineyard belongs to his father and is the son’s rightful inheritance. That is why they say: “Let us kill him, so that we may possess his inheritance.”
the leaders
The tenants — who represent the leaders of the Jewish people — knew that the Lord’s arrival posed a threat to their position. The chief priests and Pharisees feared that Jesus would spark a Messianic popular movement which Rome would view as an insurrection, resulting in the destruction of the Temple, their autonomy, and the nation (John 11:47–48). Consequently, they chose to eliminate Jesus in order to preserve their position and power.
Caiaphas
At a meeting of the Sanhedrin, Caiaphas says regarding this: “It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish” (John 11:50). This statement stemmed from a mindset of power, yet it was simultaneously an unintended prophecy. Caiaphas meant that Jesus had to die to save their position and the nation, but without realizing it, he prophesied that Christ would indeed die for the people (John 11:51).
39 And they took him, and they threw him out — outside the vineyard — and they killed him.
And so it happened with Jesus, too. He was led out and crucified outside the city.
Hebrews 13 (based on ISA)
12 Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, in order to sanctify the people through His own blood.
And so this parable ends with the death of the son, who represents the Lord Jesus. Those to whom He told this parable would kill Him some time later. Consequently, the parable does not speak of what would happen afterwards. To the Jewish people, He is dead, and His tomb is the last thing they saw of Him.