Skip to content
cento53

The Workers in the Vineyard

Some work from dawn, some only for the last hour — and all receive the same pay. A parable about God's generosity, and about our envy.

Read Matthew 20:1–16 in the reader

Awaiting theological review

Before you read

Who Jesus was speaking to

Scripture

Just before, Peter has asked what the disciples will receive for leaving everything (Matthew 19:27). Jesus answers with promises, and then with this parable. It is framed by the same saying: the last shall be first, and the first last.

Matthew 20:1–16

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · Public Domain

Hired at every hour1The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And going about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place idle. 4And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just. 5And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner. 6But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle? 7They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard. Paying the wages8And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first. 9When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny. 11And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house, 12Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats. Is thy eye evil, because I am good?13But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny? 14Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee. 15Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil, because I am good? 16So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.

Early and late

The householder and his labourers

I am good

The householder

He keeps going back to the market, hires everyone he finds, and pays the last as much as the first.

  1. 20:6 — Why stand you here all the day idle?
  2. 20:13 — Friend, I do thee no wrong
  3. 20:15 — Is thy eye evil, because I am good?

Interpretation

No one is cheated: the first receive exactly what they agreed. The last receive more than they earned. Justice is kept, and generosity goes beyond it.

Think about it

Where have you received more than you deserved?

They murmured

The first labourers

They worked all day in the heat, and expected more.

  1. 20:12 — Thou hast made them equal to us

History & scholarship

An evil eye was a common way of speaking about envy: looking at another's good as if it were a loss to oneself.

Interpretation

Like the older brother of the prodigal son, they are not outside the house; but they measure grace by merit and cannot rejoice for others.

Think about it

Do you find it hard to rejoice when someone else receives grace?

No man hath hired us

The last labourers

They stood idle all day, not by choice, and are called at the last hour.

  1. 20:7 — Because no man hath hired us

Interpretation

Christians have often seen in them those who come to God late in life, like the good thief on the cross. It is never too late to be called.

Think about it

Is there someone you have written off as too late?

What first hearers would have noticed

Context

Day labourers

History & scholarship

Day labourers waited in the market place to be hired. A denarius — the penny of the Douay-Rheims — was a normal day's wage, enough to feed a family for a day. The Law required them to be paid before sunset (Deuteronomy 24:15).

The hours

History & scholarship

Hours were counted from sunrise: the third hour is about nine in the morning, the sixth noon, the ninth three in the afternoon, and the eleventh about five — one hour before the end of the working day.

Look closer

Symbols

The vineyardMatthew 20:1

Scripture

In the prophets, the vineyard is an image of God's people (Isaias 5:1–7).
One penny for allMatthew 20:9–10

Interpretation

The wage is not divided by hours: God's gift is himself, and it cannot be given in smaller pieces.

Remember

Quiz me

Question 1 of 4beginner

How much did the first labourers agree to be paid?

The next question

What did Peter ask just before?The older brother of the prodigal sonIs it fair that God forgives at the last moment?The good thief