Understanding the Parable of the Laborers in Matthew 20
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, found in Matthew 20:1-16, illustrates principles of the kingdom of heaven. The parable begins with a landowner who "went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard" [1]. He agreed with these laborers for "a denarius a day" and sent them to work [2]. Later, at various times throughout the day (the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours), he hired more laborers, promising to pay them "whatever is right" [1].
The imagery of a vineyard is commonly used in the Bible to represent God's people or the work of cultivating souls for heaven, as seen in passages like Psalm 80:8-16 and Isaiah 5:1-7 [3]. John Gill notes that "the kingdom of heaven" in this context refers to the Gospel dispensation or the times of the Messiah, and the "householder" represents Christ as the master of God's family [6].
When evening came, the landowner instructed his steward to pay the laborers, starting with those hired last and ending with those hired first [5]. Those who worked only one hour received a full denarius, the same amount agreed upon by those who had worked all day [1]. This "remarkable direction" of paying the last first is a key element of the parable [5]. When the first laborers received their pay, they expected more, but the landowner reminded them of their original agreement and asserted his right to be generous with his own money [1].
This parable addresses a "calculating, mercenary spirit" that may have been subtly present in Peter's question in Matthew 19:27, where he asked what the disciples would receive for following Jesus [7]. The parable serves to counter such an attitude among Christ's followers [7]. Matthew Henry suggests that parables like this one, and the parable of the vineyard in Luke 20, were spoken against those who questioned Christ's authority, implying that by doing so, they forfeited their own standing [4, 8]. The "day of final account" is implied in the evening reckoning time between masters and laborers [5].
Sources
- Matthew “Matthew 20:1 (NASB) — "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.”
- Matthew “When he had agreed with the laborers for a denariusa day, he sent them into his vineyard. -- Matthew 20:2”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 20 (introduction): PARABLE OF THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD. (Mat. 20:1-16) 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. (Psa 80:8-16; Isa 5:1-7; Jer 2:21; Luk 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 sec”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 20:9: Christ spoke this parable against those who were resolved not to own his authority, though the evidence of it was ever so full and convincing; and it comes very seasonably to show that by questioning his authority they forfeited their own. Their disowning the lord of their vineyard was a defeasance of their lease of the vineyard, and giving up of all their title. I. The parable has nothing added here to what we had before in Matthew and Mark. The scope of it is to show that the Jewish nation, by persecuting the prophets, and at length Christ himself, had provoked Go”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 20:8: So when even was come--that is, the reckoning time between masters and laborers (see Deu 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 Mat 11:27; Joh 3:35; Joh 5:27). Call the labourers and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first--Remarkable direction this--last hired, first paid.”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 20 (introduction): For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man,.... That is, the Gospel dispensation, or times of the Messiah, may fitly be represented by a man that is an householder, or master of a family, as Christ is; See Gill on Mat 10:25 He is master of the whole family of God, in heaven, and in earth, of all the children of God, and household of faith; his house they are, he is Father and master, son and firstborn, priest and prophet there. Which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard: by "the vineyard" may be meant the church, which,”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 20:10: 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 (Mat 19:27), and which this parable was designed once for all to put down among the servants of Christ.”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 20 (introduction): In this chapter we have, I. Christ's answer to the chief priests' question concerning his authority (Luk 20:1-8). II. The parable of the vineyard let out to the unjust and rebellious husbandmen (Luk 20:9-19). III. Christ's answer to the question proposed to him concerning the lawfulness of paying tribute to Caesar (Luk 20:20-26). IV. His vindication of that great fundamental doctrine of the Jewish and Christian institutes - the resurrection of the dead and the future state, from the foolish cavils of the Sadducees (Luk 20:27-38). V. His puzzling the scr”