Matthew 20:1-16 - The Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard

¹ "For the kingdom of heaven is similar to a farmer who went out early one morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² When he had agreed with the workers [on wages] for the usual farm laborer's pay for a day's work, he [then] sent them to work in his vineyard. [Note: The coin mentioned here would amount to $60-$84 in 1994, based on $5-$7 an hour for a twelve hour day. This coin also forms the basis for calculating all other monetary references in the New Testament]. ³ He went out about nine o'clock in the morning and saw other unemployed laborers standing [around] in the open shopping market. ⁴ He said to them, 'You men also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So, they went to work. ⁵ [Then] he went out again about noon and again at three o'clock in the afternoon and made the same offer. ⁶ [Finally] he went out [once more] at about five o'clock in the afternoon and found [still] other men standing around. He said, 'Why have you been standing around all day and not working?'

⁷ They replied, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You men also may go to work in my vineyard.' ⁸ And when evening came the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers [in] and pay them their wages, beginning with the last [one hired, then] to the first.'

⁹ So, when those hired about five o'clock in the afternoon came in, each one received the usual pay for one full day's work. [See note on verse 2]. ¹⁰ Then when those who were hired first came [to get paid], they expected to receive more money [than those hired later], but each one received the usual pay for one full day's work also. ¹¹ And when they received it, they complained to the farmer, ¹² saying, 'These men [you hired] last have worked only one hour and you gave them wages equal to ours when we carried the heaviest load of the day's work and [put up with] the scorching heat [all day long].'

¹³ But he answered one of them, saying, 'Friend, I have not done anything wrong to you. Did you not agree with me to accept the usual pay for one full day's work? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go on your way. I want to give this last person [hired] the same wages I gave you. ¹⁵ Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my own money? Or, is it that your eye is envious because I choose to be so generous?'

¹⁶ So, the [person who seems to be] last will be first [i.e., in importance and blessings], but the [person who seems to be] first will [end up] being last."