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Matthew 20:8-16

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

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. 9. And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11. And when they had received [it], they murmured against the goodman of the house, 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. 13. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14. Take [that] thine [is], and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20:8-16 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 20:8

Theological / Devotional

Even was come. Probably about the time of early nightfall (see on v. 12).

Lord of the vineyard. That is, the “householder” (see on v. 1).

Call the labourers. It would seem that they kept on working until called by the steward, the man whom the owner had entrusted with oversight of the work.

Give them their hire. According to the OT (see Lev. 19:13), an employer was required to settle accounts with day laborers at the close of each day. This wise provision was designed to help prevent unscrupulous employers from postponing or avoiding payment of wages.

Beginning from the last. It would hardly seem that this was the usual custom, but this procedure is necessary to the lesson of the parable. Had the workmen been paid off in the order in which they were hired, the dissatisfaction of the first men hired for the day would probably not have occurred. The lesson of the parable rules out the explanation suggested by some that the men who had “home the burden and heat of the day” had not worked as diligently as they should have, and that the “lord of the vineyard” sought to teach them a lesson.

By SdaBc