1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing1idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’
7They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard,1and whatever is right you will receive.’
8“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
9And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.
10But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.
11And when they had received it, they1complained against the landowner,
12saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
13But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.
15aIs it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or bis your eye evil because I am good?’
16aSo the last will be first, and the first last. bFor many are called, but few chosen.”
Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
17aNow Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them,
No entry exists in Forerunner Commentary for Matthew 20:1.
Matthew 20:1-16
In Matthew 20:1-16, the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard illustrates mercy toward willing laborers rather than rewards for idleness. Rewarding different levels of effort equally can be unjust because justice generally requires compensation to reflect the work, the sacrifice, and responsibility involved. Please keep in mind this sermon is about justice and mercy and compassion. And so we are looking at it from a point of how do we become just as God is just, and justice carries out punishments according to what is due.
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