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Scott's Reference Library
Matthew 20:1 through Matthew 20:16 (NIV)
1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the
morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius
for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3“About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace
doing nothing. 4He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will
pay you whatever is right.’ 5So they went.
“He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same
thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing
around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing
nothing?’
7“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the
workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going
on to the first.’
9“The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a
denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive
more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it,
they began to grumble against the landowner. 12‘These men who were hired last
worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have
borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t
you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man
who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don’t I have the right to do what I
want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-16
The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the Jews were
first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel should be preached to the
Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with
the Jews. The parable may also be applied more generally, and shows, 1. That God
is debtor to no man. 2. That many who begin last, and promise little in
religion, sometimes, by the blessing of God, arrive at a great deal of
knowledge, grace, and usefulness. 3. That the recompense of reward will be given
to the saints, but not according to the time of their conversion. It describes
the state of the visible church, and explains the declaration that the last
shall be first, and the first last, in its various references. Till we are hired
into the service of God, we are standing all the day idle: a sinful state,
though a state of drudgery to Satan, may be called a state of idleness. The
market-place is the world, and from that we are called by the gospel. Come, come
from this market-place. Work for God will not admit of trifling. A man may go
idle to hell, but he that will go to heaven, must be diligent. The Roman penny
was sevenpence halfpenny in our money, wages then enough for the day’s support.
This does not prove that the reward of our obedience to God is of works, or of
debt; when we have done all, we are unprofitable servants; but it signifies that
there is a reward set before us, yet let none, upon this presumption, put off
repentance till they are old. Some were sent into the vineyard at the eleventh
hour; but nobody had hired them before. The Gentiles came in at the eleventh
hour; the gospel had not been before preached to them. Those that have had
gospel offers made them at the third or sixth hour, and have refused them, will
not have to say at the eleventh hour, as these had, No man has hired us.
Therefore, not to discourage any, but to awaken all, be it remembered, that now
is the accepted time. The riches of Divine grace are loudly murmured at, among
proud Pharisees and nominal Christians. There is great proneness in us to think
that we have too little, and others too much of the tokens of God’s favour; and
that we do too much, and others too little in the work of God. But if God gives
grace to others, it is kindness to them, and no injustice to us. Carnal
worldlings agree with God for their penny in this world; and choose their
portion in this life. Obedient believers agree with God for their penny in the
other world, and must remember they have so agreed. Didst not thou agree to take
up with heaven as thy portion, thy all; wilt thou seek for happiness in the
creature? God punishes none more than they deserve, and recompenses every
service done for him; he therefore does no wrong to any, by showing
extraordinary grace to some. See here the nature of envy. It is an evil eye,
which is displeased at the good of others, and desires their hurt. It is a grief
to ourselves, displeasing to God, and hurtful to our neighbours: it is a sin
that has neither pleasure, profit, nor honour. Let us forego every proud claim,
and seek for salvation as a free gift. Let us never envy or grudge, but rejoice
and praise God for his mercy to others as well as to ourselves.