Matthew 20:1
in Matthew 20“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Matthew 20
Commentary
5 notes on this verseFor the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man,.... That is, the Gospel dispensation, or times of the Messiah, may fitly be represented by a man that is an householder, or master of a family, as Christ is; See Gill on Mat 10:25 He is master of the whole family of God, in heaven, and in earth, of all the children of God, and household of faith; his house they are, he is Father and master, son and firstborn, priest and prophet there.
This site's exposition
early in the morning to hire labourers
on Matthew 20:1-2
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder opens the parable directly on 19:30's saying, the last shall be first, and the first last, which 20:16 will repeat almost word for word as its own conclusion. A penny, the Roman denarius, was the standard day's wage for a laborer across the empire, and the bench notes the householder agrees this sum plainly with the earliest hired, a contract both parties accept without complaint before the day begins. Early in the morning marks the first hour, roughly six o'clock, setting the parable's clock running for the contrasts that follow.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The kingdom of heaven is like - That is, the manner of God's proceeding in his kingdom resembles that of a householder. In the morning - At six, called by the Roman and Jews, the first hour.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For the kingdom of heaven ... - The word “for” shows that this chapter should have been connected with the preceding. The parable was spoken expressly to illustrate the sentiment in the last verse of that chapter: “Many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” The kingdom of heaven means here the church, including, perhaps, its state here and hereafter. See the notes at Mat 3:
on Matthew 20:1-16
There are undeniable difficulties in the parable contained in these verses. The key to the right explanation of them must be sought in the passage which concludes the last chapter. There we find the apostle Peter asking our Lord a remarkable question: “We have forsaken all and followed thee! What shall we have therefore?” There we find Jesus giving a remarkable answer. He makes a special promise to Peter and his fellow disciples: they should one day sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ὁμοία | homoia | Like | G3664 → | 45 times |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλεία | basileia | kingdom | G932 → | 162 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὐρανῶν | ouranon | heavens | G3772 → | 272 times |
| ἀνθρώπῳ | anthropo | to a man | G444 → | 549 times |
| οἰκοδεσπότῃ | oikodespote | a master of a house | G3617 → | 12 times |
| ὅστις | hostis | who | G3748 → | 144 times |
| ἐξῆλθεν | exelthen | went out | G1831 → | 216 times |
| ἅμα | hama | in [the] | G260 → | |
| πρωῒ | proi | morning | G4404 → | 11 times |
| μισθώσασθαι | misthosasthai | to hire | G3409 → | |
| ἐργάτας | ergatas | workmen | G2040 → | 16 times |
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀμπελῶνα | ampelona | vineyard | G290 → | 23 times |
| αὐτοῦ. | autou | of him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ὉμοίαLike
homoiaG3664 →45 times
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
βασιλείαkingdom
basileiaG932 →162 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
οὐρανῶνheavens
ouranonG3772 →272 times
ἀνθρώπῳto a man
anthropoG444 →549 times
οἰκοδεσπότῃa master of a house
oikodespoteG3617 →12 times
ὅστιςwho
hostisG3748 →144 times
ἐξῆλθενwent out
exelthenG1831 →216 times
ἅμαin [the]
hamaG260 →
πρωῒmorning
proiG4404 →11 times
μισθώσασθαιto hire
misthosasthaiG3409 →
ἐργάταςworkmen
ergatasG2040 →16 times
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀμπελῶναvineyard
ampelonaG290 →23 times
αὐτοῦ.of him.
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:9
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7
But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Philippians 2:16
as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- 1 Corinthians 3:8
He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
- Galatians 6:9
Through
Hebrews 13:21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
it leads to
- Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:17
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Philippians 2:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
About Matthew

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
