*Matthew 20:1-19
Jesus emphasizes God’s fairness by illustrating how all workers receive the same reward despite varying hours.
- Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard:
- Jesus tells a parable comparing the kingdom of heaven to a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard.
- He agrees to pay the first group a denarius for the day’s work.
- The landowner goes out multiple times throughout the day, hiring workers at the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours, promising to pay each one what is right.
- Payment Time and Discontent:
- At day’s end, the landowner instructs his foreman to pay the workers, starting with those hired last.
- Those hired at the eleventh hour receive a full denarius, causing expectations among those who worked longer.
- When the first-hired also receive one denarius, they complain about being paid the same as the latecomers despite working longer hours.
- Response from the Landowner:
- The landowner replies that he has not been unfair, as the first group agreed to their pay.
- He asserts his right to be generous with his own money and warns them against envy, declaring, “The last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection:
- On their way to Jerusalem, Jesus takes the Twelve aside to prepare them.
- He predicts that he will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, who will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles.
- He will be mocked, flogged, and crucified, but will rise on the third day.
20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
20:17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.