PARABLE 34 — MATTHEW 20:1-16 — LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD
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.
Discussion Questions – Parable 34
PARABLE 34 — MATTHEW 20:1-16 — LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD
1. Who was Jesus speaking to (Matthew 19:27)? And what prompted him to tell this parable?
This lengthy parable is found only in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus tells the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard in response to Peter’s question in Matthew 19:27: "Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" Peter wanted to know what reward would be given to those who give up everything to follow Jesus. In response, Jesus explains this truth about the kingdom of heaven.
2. Was anyone underpaid or cheated? Why then did the workers complain? Was anyone overpaid?
The owner of this particular vineyard went to the marketplace at the first hour of the morning (6:00 a.m.) to find workers for the day. His offered wage of a penny a day, a Roman’s soldier’s pay for a day, was generous indeed. The workers in the first group were more than happy to work for the generous wage.
NOTICE: As the day progressed and more workers were hired, the specific wage was not mentioned, but the landowner promised to pay “whatever is right.”
Altogether, four groups of workers were hired, the last group just one hour before the end of the day. When the time came for the wages to be paid, the first group of workers saw the last group being paid a penny and were naturally thinking they would be paid more since they had worked the longest. Their anger against the landowner spilled forth when they saw they would all be paid the same, even though they got exactly what they had agreed upon when they were hired. The landowner was forced to defend his actions to the first group, even though he had dealt them in perfect fairness according to his word.
3. Was the landowner’s decision to pay all the workers the same, an act of injustice?
The landowner, whose decision to pay all the workers the same was an act of mercy—not injustice. The landowner represents God, whose grace and mercy are shed abundantly upon those of His choosing. “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy” (Romans 9:15-16). In the matter of salvation, His grace and mercy are given to those whose self-righteous works could never obtain it. We are all sinful and “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but His grace is sufficient to redeem all who believe. Whether God calls someone early or late in life to partake of His grace, the glory and praise for our salvation is His and His alone and in no way amounts to unfairness. Just as the landowner has a right to do what he wishes with his own money, so does God have the right to have mercy on whom He will have mercy.
4. Whose attitude comes to mind at the actions of the disgruntled workers? How can we keep from being jealous of others rewards?
The first group of workers in the vineyard resented receiving the same wage as the last group. Their attitude was similar to that of the Pharisees, who were incensed at Jesus’ teaching that others could inherit a heavenly kingdom they thought was reserved for them alone. They despised Jesus for offering the kingdom to poor, oppressed, weak sinners whom He made equal to them. In verse 15, the landowner asks, “Is your eye evil because I am good?” The “evil eye” was a Hebrew expression referring to jealousy and envy. God’s goodness and mercy produced in the self-righteous Pharisees the evil eye of envy. The rest of the workers received their wages without complaint or envy of others.
In the same way, as Christians, we should rejoice when others come to the Saviour, as we should rejoice in the service others render to Him. He is faithful to reward us for our service as He has promised, and how He rewards others should be of no consequence to us, nor should it affect our devotion to Him.
5. What does it mean, “the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen”?
Jesus made the statement “many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” in His response to the disciples’ asking what reward they would have for giving up everything to follow Him (Matthew 19:27-30; Mark 10:28-31).
This parable concerns some hard-working individuals who complain that others, who did not work as long, were paid an amount equal to what they received. In other words, they saw their own labor as worthy of compensation, but considered their companions’ labor to be of little worth – so less worthy of reward. Jesus ends the parable with the statement, “The last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16). The most direct interpretation, based on the content of the parable, is that no matter how long or how hard a believer works during his lifetime, the reward of eternal life will be the same given to all.
Another meaning of this verse can be found by reading (Luke 13:24-30). During the life of Christ, the Jews were the first to hear the gospel of God’s kingdom. However, most did not accept Christ or believe His message.
But when Christ opened the gospel to the Gentiles, many accepted it. They believed and followed God. In this example, even though the Gentiles were LAST to receive the gospel and the chance to be in the kingdom, they will be among the FIRST to enter it!
Consequently, the Lord closed with the simple but sobering statement, many are called, but few are chosen. That phrase reflects the scriptural balance between God’s sovereignty and man’s will. The gospel invitation is sent to everyone, because it is not the Father’s will that a single person be excluded from His kingdom and perish (2 Pet. 3:9). But not everyone wants God, and many who claim to want Him do not want Him on His terms, even though they were called they will not be chosen. Those who are called and accept God on His terms, and are obedient to His Word are chosen and enter into God’s kingdom.
2 Peter 1:10-11 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fail: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
For if we do what things? 2 Peter 1:5-8, “giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brother kindness charity.”
For if you do these things and they be in you, you will never be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. What would happen if God gave each of us what we deserved?
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