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
And G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 ye G5210 which G3588 have followed G190 me, G3427 in G1722 the regeneration G3824 when G3752 the Son G5207 of man G444 shall sit G2523 in G1909 the throne G2362 of his G846 glory, G1391 ye G5210 also G2532 shall sit G2523 upon G1909 twelve G1427 thrones, G2362 judging G2919 the twelve G1427 tribes G5443 of Israel. G2474
And G1161 he said G2036 unto them, G846 What G5101 would G2309 ye that I G3165 should do G4160 for you? G5213 G1161 They said G2036 unto him, G846 Grant G1325 unto us G2254 that G2443 we may sit, G2523 one G1520 on G1537 thy G4675 right hand, G1188 and G2532 the other G1520 on G1537 thy G4675 left hand, G2176 in G1722 thy G4675 glory. G1391
[[A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 The LORD H3068 said H5002 unto my Lord, H113 Sit H3427 thou at my right hand, H3225 until I make H7896 thine enemies H341 thy footstool. H1916 H7272
Then said H559 the king H4428 unto her, What wilt thou, queen H4436 Esther? H635 and what is thy request? H1246 it shall be even given H5414 thee to the half H2677 of the kingdom. H4438
And G2532 when the daughter G2364 of the said G846 Herodias G2266 came in, G1525 and G2532 danced, G3738 and G2532 pleased G700 Herod G2264 and G2532 them that sat with him, G4873 the king G935 said G2036 unto the damsel, G2877 Ask G154 of me G3165 whatsoever G3739 G1437 thou wilt, G2309 and G2532 I will give G1325 it thee. G4671
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
In Gibeon H1391 the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 to Solomon H8010 in a dream H2472 by night: H3915 and God H430 said, H559 Ask H7592 what I shall give H5414 thee.
And G2532 to our beloved G27 Apphia, G682 and G2532 Archippus G751 our G2257 fellowsoldier, G4961 and G2532 to the church G1577 in G2596 thy G4675 house: G3624 Grace G5485 to you, G5213 and G2532 peace, G1515 from G575 God G2316 our G2257 Father G3962 and G2532 the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547
When G3303 they therefore G3767 were come together, G4905 they asked G1905 of him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 G1487 wilt thou G600 at G1722 this G5129 time G5550 restore again G600 the kingdom G932 to Israel? G2474
And G1161 as they G846 heard G191 these things, G5023 he added G4369 and spake G2036 a parable, G3850 because G1223 he G846 was G1511 nigh G1451 to Jerusalem, G2419 and G2532 because they G846 thought G1380 that G3754 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 should G3195 immediately G3916 appear. G398
Saying, G3004 What G5101 wilt thou G2309 that I shall do G4160 unto thee? G4671 And G1161 he said, G2036 Lord, G2962 that G2443 I may receive my sight. G308
And G1161 when he was demanded G1905 of G5259 the Pharisees, G5330 when G4219 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 should come, G2064 he answered G611 them G846 and G2532 said, G2036 The kingdom G932 of God G2316 cometh G2064 not G3756 with G3326 observation: G3907 Neither G3761 shall they say, G2046 Lo G2400 here! G5602 or, G2228 lo G2400 there! G1563 for, G1063 behold, G2400 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 is G2076 within G1787 you. G5216
So G3303 then G3767 after G3326 the Lord G2962 had spoken G2980 unto them, G846 he was received up G353 into G1519 heaven, G3772 and G2532 sat G2523 on G1537 the right hand G1188 of God. G2316
And G2532 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G3004 unto him, G846 What G5101 wilt G2309 thou that I should do G4160 unto thee? G4671 G1161 The blind man G5185 said G2036 unto him, G846 Lord, G4462 that G2443 I might receive my sight. G308
Kings' H4428 daughters H1323 were among thy honourable women: H3368 upon thy right hand H3225 did stand H5324 the queen H7694 in gold H3800 of Ophir. H211
Bathsheba H1339 therefore went H935 unto king H4428 Solomon, H8010 to speak H1696 unto him for Adonijah. H138 And the king H4428 rose up H6965 to meet H7125 her, and bowed H7812 himself unto her, and sat down H3427 on his throne, H3678 and caused a seat H3678 to be set H7760 for the king's H4428 mother; H517 and she sat H3427 on his right hand. H3225
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.