Thematic Bible: Laborers hired


Thematic Bible



FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a man, the master of a family, who went out at break of day, to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers at a denarius a day, he sent them into the vineyard. And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place unemployed. read more.
And he said to them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is equitable, I will give it you. So they went. Again going out, about the sixth and ninth hour, he did after the same manner. But about the eleventh hour, going out, he found others standing unemployed, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatever is equitable, ye shall receive. Now when the evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his overseer, Call the labourers, and give them their wages, beginning from the last to the first. And when they came, who began about the eleventh hour, they received each a denarius. But when the first came, they expected that they should receive more; and they also received every man a denarius. But when they received it, they murmured against the master of the family: saying, These last have wrought only a single hour, and thou hast put them on an equality with us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answering, said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no injustice; did I not agree with thee for a denarius? Take then thine own, and begone: I chuse to give to this last even as to thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Thus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called, but the elect are few.