Verse 3 And they would not come. The idea is, that this refusal to join in a celebration made in honor of the prince, was an expression of dislike and opposition to his own and his father's government and authority, and was punished as such. The parable represents the repeated invitations which were addressed at first to the Jews, to receive and honor Jesus, the Son of God,--their refusal, and their punishment,--and the subsequent admission of the Gentiles, in their stead, to the privileges of Christianity.