Matthew
20:1-19
Lesson 39
20:1-19
Lesson 39
Matthew 20:1-19
Equality in the kingdom 1 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. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny 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 whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 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 saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which 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 penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, 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 last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. 17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. |
Margin notes:
"Hire labourers." (20:1) - Unemployed workers would gather in public places hoping to be seen and hired for the day. The workday started at 6:00 A.M. and ended at 6:00 P.M. "He went out about the third hour." (20:3) - "He went out (again) about 9:00 A.M." "About the sixth and ninth hour." (20:5) - "About 12 noon and 3:00 P.M." "About the eleventh hour." (20:6) - "About 5:00 P.M." "When even was come." (20:8) - "When evening had come." "Give them their hire." (20:8) - "Give them their wages." "The goodman of the house." (20:11) - "The owner of the House." "Wought but one hour." (20:12) - "Worked but one hour." "Take that thine is." (20:14) - "Take what is yours." "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?" (20:15) - "Don't I have the right to do what I want with what is mine?" Likewise, doesn't God have the right to His creation (Romans 9:20-21)? "Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" (20:15) - "Are you envious because I'm generous?" "The last shall be first, and the first last." (20:16) - Jesus is reinforcing His point from verse 19:30. We will hear it again in Mark 10:31 and Luke 13:30. "For many be called, but few chosen." (20:16) - Jesus will reinforce this in verse 22:14. "Took the twelve disciples apart." (20:17) - "Took the twelve disciples aside." "We go up to Jerusalem." (20:18) - In Jerusalem, Jesus will be greeted by the crowd with great fanfare (21:8-11; Mark 11:8-10; Luke 19:36-38; John 12:12-19). Still, He will be crucified in five days. "The Son of man shall be betrayed." (20:18) - This is the third time (16:21; 17:22-23) Jesus tells His disciples that He will be put to death and resurrected (20:19). Because they were expecting the Messiah to be a great military/political leader, the disciples had trouble understanding Jesus' real mission and the reason for His death and resurrection. "Mocked, and to scourge, and to crucify him." (20:19) - All Jesus' prophesies came true. He was mocked in Matthew 26:67-68, scourged in Matthew 27:26, and crucified in Matthew 27:35. |