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

¹ For the kingdom of the heavens is like unto a man, the husband of a house, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. ² And when he had agreed with the labourers for a denarius 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 whatever is right I will give you. And they went. 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 said unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

⁷ They say unto him, Because no one has hired us. He said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is right, that shall ye receive. ⁸ So when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the labourers and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

⁹ And when those came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a denarius. ¹⁰ But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more but they likewise received each one a denarius. ¹¹ And when they had received it, they murmured against the husband of the house, ¹² saying, These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us who 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 denarius? ¹⁴ Take that which is thine and go, for I desire to give unto this last one, 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 first shall be last, and the last first; for many are called, but few are chosen.