NOTES for Mat 20:1-16
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. |
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. |
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, |
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. |
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. |
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? |
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. |
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. |
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There are many "financial" parables in the Gospel that speak of reward in heaven, of acquiring the Kingdom of God like a field with treasure, or of capital that must be multiplied. Today's parable reveals another side of "heavenly accounting": those who have labored for God all their lives will receive the same reward as the idlers who barely managed to jump onto the departing train.
The paradox of this approach may cool the zeal of some "acquirers of the Kingdom" who are ready to labor for the sake of reward. But in reality this parable simply transfers the idea of value and reward from the result to the process itself. The result, the final outcome, may be the same for all: "God all in all" (1 Cor 15:28), especially since it cannot be earned, but can only be received as a gift. The special reward for those who are ready to labor is that they are already cooperating with God now, while others are still only waiting for an invitation.
Readings for 12 May 2026
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