Christian antisemitism has long misused Matthew 21 to argue that God “rejected the Jews” in favor of the Gentile Church. The parable of the tenants (Matthew 21:33-46) is often cited1 to support the claim that God replaced Israel with a new people. But is that really what Jesus was saying?
A close reading of the passage, especially in context, shows that Jesus was not speaking about replacing Israel as God’s chosen people but rather about shifting its leadership to those who would be faithful stewards of God’s mission.
The Key Verse: Matthew 21:43
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” (Matthew 21:43)
At first glance, this might seem like a statement of total rejection. But who is the “you” that Jesus is addressing? And who are the “people who will produce its fruit”?
Verse 45: Identifying the “You”
Just two verses later, Matthew explicitly tells us who Jesus was talking about:
“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew He was talking about them.” (Matthew 21:45)
Jesus was not condemning all Jews but the corrupt religious leadership of His day. The chief priests and Pharisees had failed in their role as stewards of God’s people. They were not bearing the fruit of righteousness, justice, or faithfulness.
Not The First Time Israel’s Leadership Was Replaced
The Old Testament consistently shows that leadership is conditional—if Israel’s leaders fail, exploit, or mislead the people, God will remove them and raise up new, righteous leaders. God repeatedly promised never to abandon Israel, even when they faced judgment or exile (Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Samuel 12:22, Psalm 94:14, Isaiah 41:8-10, Jeremiah 31:35-37, Ezekiel 37:21-22, 26, Romans 11:1-2). You can’t just cherry-pick verses about God’s judgment of Israel and ignore His promises.
God’s judgment was never about replacing His chosen nation but about replacing Israel’s leadership. Below are a few examples:
1. God Rejects Eli’s Priestly Line (1 Samuel 2)
Eli, the High Priest, and his corrupt sons abused their power. God rejected their priesthood and promised to replace them with a faithful priestly line, fulfilled in Zadok’s line.
2. Shebna Replaced by Eliakim (Isaiah 22)
Shebna, a corrupt royal steward, was removed by God and replaced with Eliakim, a righteous leader. This shows God removing Israel’s failed leaders and installing better ones.
3. God Will Remove Unfaithful Shepherds (Ezekiel 34)
Israel’s leaders had exploited the people instead of caring for them. God promises to remove them.
4. Hosea 13:10-11 – God Removes Kings When Israel Rejects Him
Israel wanted a king like the nations (1 Samuel 8), but God warned them that He could remove kings just as easily as He allowed them to rule.
Who Are the “People Who Will Produce Its Fruit”?
Going back to the The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21), does “given to a people” mean given to the Gentiles? Some assume so, but Matthew himself provides the answer elsewhere.
A few chapters earlier, Jesus tells Peter:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)
This is key (no pun intended). The authority of God’s kingdom was not taken from Israel as a nation but from its corrupt leadership and entrusted to faithful Jews like Peter and the disciples. This promise was given before Jesus died. In other words, this was a family dispute.
So, Did God Reject Israel?
“I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.” (Romans 11:1-2)
The spiritual leadership was taken from Israel’s corrupt religious leaders and given to those who would be faithful to God’s mission—also Jews!
The first church in Acts was composed of Jewish believers (Acts 2:5). The apostles, Jesus’ disciples, and nearly all early followers of Jesus were Jews who remained within Israel’s covenantal identity.
God did not cast away Israel. Instead, He entrusted faithful Jewish disciples to lead the movement that would bring the message of the kingdom to the nations.
God Didn’t Replace Israel—He Shifted Leadership
To illustrate this, imagine a government leadership change. If the leadership of a country shifts from one political party to another, does that mean the nation itself has been replaced? Of course not.
Likewise, when Jesus spoke of taking the kingdom from the corrupt religious leaders and giving it to faithful stewards, He was not replacing Israel—He was entrusting it to those who would fulfill its purpose.
Another way to illustrate this is through the example of a family business. Imagine a father who owns a company and entrusts his eldest son with its management. However, the eldest son mismanages the company, abuses employees, and fails to uphold the family’s values. The father, seeing this failure, does not abandon the family business or sell it to outsiders. Instead, he removes the eldest son from leadership and gives the responsibility to a younger son who will uphold the family’s mission. The family business remains, and its purpose is preserved—but the leadership shifts to someone who will represent it faithfully.
Similarly, Jesus was not declaring the rejection of Israel but rather the removal of its corrupt leadership in favor of faithful Jewish followers who would carry out God’s mission as it was intended.
Conclusion
Jesus’ parable in Matthew 21 does not support the idea that God replaced Israel. Rather, it teaches that leadership within Israel shifted from corrupt leaders to faithful stewards—who, in this case, were Jewish disciples of Jesus.
Christian antisemitism has misused this passage to promote a false narrative of replacement theology. But a proper understanding of the text shows that God remains faithful to Israel. His kingdom was never taken away from Israel itself—only from those who failed to lead it well.
God did not fail with Israel and had to devise a “Plan B.” He did not change His mind about His chosen people. The covenant remains, the promises endure, and the Jewish people still play a vital role in His plan.
- For instance: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEwMN3lgg5J/?igsh=N29paHlxOGx5aGx0 ↩︎
