Matthew 20:8-16 8And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Beginning in verse 8, the plot of the parable “thickens” and intensifies. It was typical of that time for people to be paid at the end of the day. When Jesus directed his disciples to pray for “daily bread,” this had significance because most people had enough money just to buy bread for each day. If a person did not work, likely that person had nothing to eat. The surprise of the parable begins to unfold with the land owner’s direction to his foreman to begin with those who started working last. Verse 9 increases the surprise with those who worked only an hour receiving a full day’s wage. What a bounty and blessing! Obviously they did not deserve what they received. The wage came from the kindness of the land owner.
The parable takes another twist in verse 10. Those hired at the start of the day were already calculating their wages. If the first workers got one denarius for one hour, then those who started and worked all day should receive 12 denarii. Fair is fair. What a deal! But, their thinking was wrong and they got what they were hired for: only one denarius. Their surprise leads to jealousy and disappointment is evident in the word grumbled in verse 11. This verb is in the imperfect tense indicating ongoing activity. A grumble is a complaint done behind the back of someone, mumbling in secret in a negative way. Their complaint was directed to the master, the “you” of verse 12. Their problem was that everyone was treated equally.
In verse 13, the master farmer spoke to one of the grumblers, possibly the ring leader or spokesperson. There always seems to be a person who instigates the grumbling. The master addresses this trouble maker with “Friend,” a kind relational term with no malice intended. His action is justice because he carried out his legal agreement with those hired first. He offers the spokesman the opportunity to recognize the truth of his statement. Verses 14-15 show the control and sovereignty of the master. It is his prerogative to pay what he wanted. The prize is the denarius at the end of the day. Some receive their payment through a full day’s work and others with only an hour. The emerging problem was the jealousy of those hired first. The bottom line is that this landowner was good, kind, and generous (agathos). Verse 16 repeats 19:30, forming an inclusio and hinting at the key point of the parable.
This parable has several possible messages, each emerging from the various characters. The landowner obviously represents God, since this is a story of his kingdom. God is sovereign and free to give grace to whom he desires. This parable is not about special election, that some receive God’s grace and others do not. Rather, everyone is given the invitation, and all who accept it receive the same reward. God does not have to answer people’s complaints about people who are saved from terrible sins. Salvation is offered to all who will accept the invitation.
Another message emerges from the people who were hired at various times of the day. The kingdom is not about merit and what we can do to gain eternal life. People who receive Christ even at the end of their lives will get the same reward as those in the beginning. The kingdom is all about grace. We may be surprised at who is in the kingdom. This parable challenges the apostles’ idea voiced by Peter in 19:27 that wondered if they would receive anything for their efforts in following Jesus. Of course they will, but they must recognize that eternal life is a matter of grace and not effort or legalistic obedience to the law, like the rich young man thought (19:18-20). The effort of following Jesus (sometimes labeled “works”) is important and shows one’s faith and commitment, but it must come as a response of the invitation of grace. There is no place for jealousy or doubt. Just being part of the kingdom is great enough in itself.
The relationship of Jews and Gentiles could be another possible message behind this parable. Israel is sometimes interpreted as the vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). The laborers who worked all day could be a reference to Israel, who had received God’s promises long ago. The Gentiles came into the kingdom much later. The offer of participating in God’s kingdom is given to both. Both become members of this kingdom through God’s gracious invitation.
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