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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.

This verse in Matthew 20

Commentary

5 notes on this verse
For 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

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

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
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 words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 15:58

    Therefore, 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.

  • Through

    Hebrews 13:21

    equip 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

Where this verse is studied

About Matthew

John the Baptist Baptizes Jesus — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
John the Baptist Baptizes Jesus — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

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.