1 For G1063 the kingdom G932 of heaven G3772 is G2076 like G3664 unto a man G444 that is an householder, G3617 which G3748 went out G1831 early in the morning G260 G4404 to hire G3409 labourers G2040 into G1519 his G846 vineyard. G290
2 And G1161 when he had agreed G4856 with G3326 the labourers G2040 for G1537 a penny G1220 a day, G2250 he sent G649 them G846 into G1519 his G846 vineyard. G290
3 And G2532 he went out G1831 about G4012 the third G5154 hour, G5610 and saw G1492 others G243 standing G2476 idle G692 in G1722 the marketplace, G58
4 And said G2036 unto them; G2548 Go G5217 ye G5210 also G2532 into G1519 the vineyard, G290 and G2532 whatsoever G3739 G1437 is G5600 right G1342 I will give G1325 you. G5213 And G1161 they went their way. G565
5 Again G3825 he went out G1831 about G4012 the sixth G1623 and G2532 ninth G1766 hour, G5610 and did G4160 likewise. G5615
6 And G1161 about G4012 the eleventh G1734 hour G5610 he went out, G1831 and found G2147 others G243 standing G2476 idle, G692 and G2532 saith G3004 unto them, G846 Why G5101 stand ye G2476 here G5602 all G3650 the day G2250 idle? G692
7 They say G3004 unto him, G846 Because G3754 no man G3762 hath hired G3409 us. G2248 He saith G3004 unto them, G846 Go G5217 ye G5210 also G2532 into G1519 the vineyard; G290 and G2532 whatsoever G3739 G1437 is G5600 right, G1342 that shall ye receive. G2983
8 So G1161 when even G3798 was come, G1096 the lord G2962 of the vineyard G290 saith G3004 unto his G846 steward, G2012 Call G2564 the labourers, G2040 and G2532 give G591 them G846 their hire, G3408 beginning G756 from G575 the last G2078 unto G2193 the first. G4413
9 And G2532 when they came G2064 that were hired about G4012 the eleventh G1734 hour, G5610 they received G2983 every man G303 a penny. G1220
10 But G1161 when the first G4413 came, G2064 they supposed G3543 that G3754 they should have received G2983 more; G4119 and G2532 they likewise G2532 received G2983 every man G846 G303 a penny. G1220
11 And G1161 when they had received G2983 it, they murmured G1111 against G2596 the goodman of the house, G3617
12 G3754 Saying, G3004 These G3778 last G2078 have wrought G4160 but one G3391 hour, G5610 and G2532 thou hast made G4160 them G846 equal G2470 unto us, G2254 which G3588 have borne G941 the burden G922 and G2532 heat G2742 of the day. G2250
13 But G1161 he answered G611 one G1520 of them, G846 and said, G2036 Friend, G2083 I do G91 thee G4571 no G3756 wrong: G91 didst G4856 not G3780 thou agree G4856 with me G3427 for a penny? G1220
14 Take G142 that thine G4674 is, and G2532 go thy way: G5217 G1161 I will G2309 give G1325 unto this G5129 last, G2078 even G2532 as G5613 unto thee. G4671
15 G2228 Is it not G3756 lawful G1832 for me G3427 to do G4160 what G3739 I will G2309 with G1722 mine own? G1699 G1487 Is G2076 thine G4675 eye G3788 evil, G4190 because G3754 I G1473 am G1510 good? G18
16 So G3779 the last G2078 shall be G2071 first, G4413 and G2532 the first G4413 last: G2078 for G1063 many G4183 be G1526 called, G2822 but G1161 few G3641 chosen. G1588
17 And G2532 Jesus G2424 going up G305 to G1519 Jerusalem G2414 took G3880 the twelve G1427 disciples G3101 apart G2596 G2398 in G1722 the way, G3598 and G2532 said G2036 unto them, G846
18 Behold, G2400 we go up G305 to G1519 Jerusalem; G2414 and G2532 the Son G5207 of man G444 shall be betrayed G3860 unto the chief priests G749 and G2532 unto the scribes, G1122 and G2532 they shall condemn G2632 him G846 to death, G2288
19 And G2532 shall deliver G3860 him G846 to the Gentiles G1484 to G1519 mock, G1702 and G2532 to scourge, G3146 and G2532 to crucify G4717 him: and G2532 the third G5154 day G2250 he shall rise again. G450
20 Then G5119 came G4334 to him G846 the mother G3384 of Zebedee's G2199 children G5207 with G3326 her G846 sons, G5207 worshipping G4352 him, and G2532 desiring G154 a certain G5100 thing G3844 of him. G846
21 And G1161 he said G2036 unto her, G846 What G5101 wilt thou? G2309 She saith G3004 unto him, G846 Grant G2036 that G2443 these G3778 my G3450 two G1417 sons G5207 may sit, G2523 the one G1520 on G1537 thy G4675 right hand, G1188 and G2532 the other G1520 on G1537 the left, G2176 in G1722 thy G4675 kingdom. G932
22 But G1161 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said, G2036 Ye know G1492 not G3756 what G5101 ye ask. G154 Are ye able G1410 to drink G4095 of the cup G4221 that G3739 I G1473 shall G3195 drink of, G4095 and G2532 to be baptized G907 with the baptism G908 that G3739 I G1473 am baptized with? G907 They say G3004 unto him, G846 We are able. G1410
23 And G2532 he saith G3004 unto them, G846 Ye shall drink G4095 indeed G3303 of my G3450 cup, G4221 and G2532 be baptized G907 with the baptism G908 that G3739 I G1473 am baptized with: G907 but G1161 to sit G2523 on G1537 my G3450 right hand, G1188 and G2532 on G1537 my G3450 left, G2176 is G2076 not G3756 mine G1699 to give, G1325 but G235 it shall be given to them for whom G3739 it is prepared G2090 of G5259 my G3450 Father. G3962
24 And G2532 when the ten G1176 heard G191 it, they were moved with indignation G23 against G4012 the two G1417 brethren. G80
25 But G1161 Jesus G2424 called G4341 them G846 unto him, and said, G2036 Ye know G1492 that G3754 the princes G758 of the Gentiles G1484 exercise dominion over G2634 them, G846 and G2532 they that are great G3173 exercise authority upon G2715 them. G846
26 But G1161 it shall G2071 not G3756 be G2071 so G3779 among G1722 you: G5213 but G235 whosoever G3739 G1437 will G2309 be G1096 great G3173 among G1722 you, G5213 let him be G2077 your G5216 minister; G1249
27 And G2532 whosoever G3739 G1437 will G2309 be G1511 chief G4413 among G1722 you, G5213 let him be G2077 your G5216 servant: G1401
28 Even as G5618 the Son G5207 of man G444 came G2064 not G3756 to be ministered unto, G1247 but G235 to minister, G1247 and G2532 to give G1325 his G846 life G5590 a ransom G3083 for G473 many. G4183
29 And G2532 as they G846 departed G1607 from G575 Jericho, G2410 a great G4183 multitude G3793 followed G190 him. G846
30 And, G2532 behold, G2400 two G1417 blind men G5185 sitting G2521 by the way G3598 side, G3844 when they heard G191 that G3754 Jesus G2424 passed by, G3855 cried out, G2896 saying, G3004 Have mercy G1653 on us, G2248 O Lord, G2962 thou Son G5207 of David. G1138
31 And G1161 the multitude G3793 rebuked G2008 them, G846 because G2443 they should hold their peace: G4623 but G1161 they cried G2896 the more, G3185 saying, G3004 Have mercy G1653 on us, G2248 O Lord, G2962 thou Son G5207 of David. G1138
32 And G2532 Jesus G2424 stood still, G2476 and called G5455 them, G846 and G2532 said, G2036 What G5101 will ye G2309 that I shall do G4160 unto you? G5213
33 They say G3004 unto him, G846 Lord, G2962 that G2443 our G2257 eyes G3788 may be opened. G455
34 So G1161 Jesus G2424 had compassion G4697 on them, and touched G680 their G846 eyes: G3788 and G2532 immediately G2112 their G846 eyes G3788 received sight, G308 and G2532 they followed G190 him. G846
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Matthew 20
Commentary on Matthew 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 20
Mt 20:1-16. Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard.
This parable, recorded only by Matthew, is closely connected with the end of the nineteenth chapter, being spoken with reference to Peter's question as to how it should fare with those who, like himself, had left all for Christ. It is designed to show that while they would be richly rewarded, a certain equity would still be observed towards later converts and workmen in His service.
1. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, &c.—The figure of a vineyard, to represent the rearing of souls for heaven, the culture required and provided for that purpose, and the care and pains which God takes in that whole matter, is familiar to every reader of the Bible. (Ps 80:8-16; Isa 5:1-7; Jer 2:21; Lu 20:9-16; Joh 15:1-8). At vintage time, as Webster and Wilkinson remark, labor was scarce, and masters were obliged to be early in the market to secure it. Perhaps the pressing nature of the work of the Gospel, and the comparative paucity of laborers, may be incidentally suggested, Mt 9:37, 38. The "laborers," as in Mt 9:38, are first, the official servants of the Church, but after them and along with them all the servants of Christ, whom He has laid under the weightiest obligation to work in His service.
2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny—a usual day's hire.
he sent them into his vineyard.
3. And he went out about the third hour—about nine o'clock, or after a fourth of the working day had expired: the day of twelve hours was reckoned from six to six.
and saw others standing idle in the market place—unemployed.
4. And said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right—just, equitable, in proportion to their time.
I will give you. And they went their way.
5. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour—about noon, and about three o'clock in the afternoon.
and did likewise—hiring and sending into his vineyard fresh laborers each time.
6. And about the eleventh hour—but one hour before the close of the working day; a most unusual hour both for offering and engaging
and found others standing idle, and saith, Why stand ye here all the day idle?—Of course they had not been there, or not been disposed to offer themselves at the proper time; but as they were now willing, and the day was not over, and "yet there was room," they also are engaged, and on similar terms with all the rest.
8. So when even was come—that is, the reckoning time between masters and laborers (see De 24:15); pointing to the day of final account.
the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward—answering to Christ Himself, represented "as a Son over His own house" (Heb 3:6; see Mt 11:27; Joh 3:35; 5:27).
Call the labourers and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first—Remarkable direction this—last hired, first paid.
9. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny—a full day's wages.
10. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more—This is that calculating, mercenary spirit which had peeped out—though perhaps very slightly—in Peter's question (Mt 19:27), and which this parable was designed once for all to put down among the servants of Christ.
11. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house—rather, "the householder," the word being the same as in Mt 20:1.
12. Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat—the burning heat.
of the day—who have wrought not only longer but during a more trying period of the day.
13. But he answered one of them—doubtless the spokesman of the complaining party.
and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? &c.
15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?—that is, "You appeal to justice, and by that your mouth is shut; for the sum you agreed for is paid you. Your case being disposed of, with the terms I make with other laborers you have nothing to do; and to grudge the benevolence shown to others, when by your own admission you have been honorably dealt with, is both unworthy envy of your neighbor, and discontent with the goodness that engaged and rewarded you in his service at all."
16. So the last shall be first, and the first last—that is, "Take heed lest by indulging the spirit of these murmurers at the penny given to the last hired, ye miss your own penny, though first in the vineyard; while the consciousness of having come in so late may inspire these last with such a humble frame, and such admiration of the grace that has hired and rewarded them at all, as will put them into the foremost place in the end."
for many be called, but few chosen—This is another of our Lord's terse and pregnant sayings, more than once uttered in different connections. (See Mt 19:30; 22:14). The "calling" of which the New Testament almost invariably speaks is what divines call effectual calling, carrying with it a supernatural operation on the will to secure its consent. But that cannot be the meaning of it here; the "called" being emphatically distinguished from the "chosen." It can only mean here the "invited." And so the sense is, Many receive the invitations of the Gospel whom God has never "chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2Th 2:13). But what, it may be asked, has this to do with the subject of our parable? Probably this—to teach us that men who have wrought in Christ's service all their days may, by the spirit which they manifest at the last, make it too evident that, as between God and their own souls, they never were chosen workmen at all.
Mt 20:17-28. Third Explicit Announcement of His Approaching Sufferings, Death, and Resurrection—The Ambitious Request of James and John, and the Reply. ( = Mr 10:32-45; Lu 18:31-34).
For the exposition, see on Mr 10:32-45.
Mt 20:29-34. Two Blind Men Healed. ( = Mr 10:46-52; Lu 18:35-43).
For the exposition, see on Lu 18:35-43.