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THE GOSPEL
ACCORDING TO
MATTHEW
Commentary by DAVID BROWN
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CHAPTER 20
@Mt
20:1-16. PARABLE OF THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD.
This parable, recorded only by Matthew, is closely
connected with the end of the nineteenth chapter, being
spoken with reference to Peter's question as to how it
should fare with those who, like himself, had left all for
Christ. It is designed to show that while they
would be richly rewarded, a certain equity would still be
observed towards later converts and workmen in His
service.
1. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is
an householder, &c.--The figure of a vineyard, to
represent the rearing of souls for heaven, the culture
required and provided for that purpose, and the care and
pains which God takes in that whole matter, is familiar to
every reader of the Bible. (@Ps
80:8-16 Isa 5:1-7 Jer 2:21 Lu 20:9-16 Joh 15:1-8). At
vintage time, as WEBSTER and WILKINSON remark, labor was
scarce, and masters were obliged to be early in the market
to secure it. Perhaps the pressing nature of the work of
the Gospel, and the comparative paucity of laborers, may
be incidentally suggested, @Mt
9:37,38. The "laborers," as in @Mt
9:38, are first, the official servants of the
Church, but after them and along with them all the
servants of Christ, whom He has laid under the weightiest
obligation to work in His service.
2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a
penny--a usual day's hire.
he sent them into his
vineyard.
3. And he went out about the third hour--about nine
o'clock, or after a fourth of the working day had expired:
the day of twelve hours was reckoned from six to six.
and saw others standing
idle in the market place--unemployed.
4. And said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard;
and whatsoever is right--just, equitable, in
proportion to their time.
I will give you. And
they went their way.
5. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour--about
noon, and about three o'clock in the afternoon.
and did likewise--hiring
and sending into his vineyard fresh laborers each time.
6. And about the eleventh hour--but one hour before
the close of the working day; a most unusual hour both for
offering and engaging
and found others
standing idle, and saith, Why stand ye here all the day
idle?--Of course they had not been there, or not been
disposed to offer themselves at the proper time; but as
they were now willing, and the day was not over, and
"yet there was room," they also are engaged, and
on similar terms with all the rest.
8. So when even was come--that is, the reckoning
time between masters and laborers (see @De
24:15); pointing to the day of final account.
the lord of the vineyard
saith unto his steward--answering to Christ Himself,
represented "as a Son over His own house" (@Heb
3:6; see @Mt
11:27 Joh 3:35 5:27).
Call the labourers and
give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the
first--Remarkable direction this--last hired, first
paid.
9. And when they came that were hired about the
eleventh hour, they received every man a penny--a full
day's wages.
10. But when the first came, they supposed that they
should have received more--This is that calculating,
mercenary spirit which had peeped out--though perhaps very
slightly--in Peter's question (@Mt
19:27), and which this parable was designed once for
all to put down among the servants of Christ.
11. And when they had received it, they murmured
against the goodman of the house--rather, "the
householder," the word being the same as in @Mt
20:1.
12. Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and
thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the
burden and heat--the burning heat.
of the day--who have
wrought not only longer but during a more trying period of
the day.
13. But he answered one of them--doubtless the
spokesman of the complaining party.
and said, Friend, I do
thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
&c.
15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine
own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?--that is,
"You appeal to justice, and by that your mouth
is shut; for the sum you agreed for is paid you. Your case
being disposed of, with the terms I make with other
laborers you have nothing to do; and to grudge the
benevolence shown to others, when by your own admission
you have been honorably dealt with, is both unworthy envy
of your neighbor, and discontent with the goodness that
engaged and rewarded you in his service at all."
16. So the last shall be first, and the first last--that
is, "Take heed lest by indulging the spirit of these
murmurers at the penny given to the last hired, ye miss
your own penny, though first in the vineyard; while the
consciousness of having come in so late may inspire these
last with such a humble frame, and such admiration of the
grace that has hired and rewarded them at all, as will put
them into the foremost place in the end."
for many be called, but
few chosen--This is another of our Lord's terse and
pregnant sayings, more than once uttered in different
connections. (See @Mt
19:30 22:14). The "calling" of which the New
Testament almost invariably speaks is what divines call effectual
calling, carrying with it a supernatural operation on the
will to secure its consent. But that cannot be the meaning
of it here; the "called" being emphatically
distinguished from the "chosen." It can only
mean here the "invited." And so the sense is,
Many receive the invitations of the Gospel whom God has
never "chosen to salvation through sanctification of
the Spirit and belief of the truth" (@2Th
2:13). But what, it may be asked, has this to do with
the subject of our parable? Probably this--to teach us
that men who have wrought in Christ's service all their
days may, by the spirit which they manifest at the last,
make it too evident that, as between God and their own
souls, they never were chosen workmen at all.
@Mt
20:17-28. THIRD EXPLICIT ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS
APPROACHING SUFFERINGS, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION--THE
AMBITIOUS REQUEST OF JAMES AND JOHN, AND THE REPLY. ( = @Mr
10:32-45 Lu 18:31-34).
For the exposition, see on Mr
10:32-45.
@Mt
20:29-34. TWO BLIND MEN HEALED. ( = @Mr
10:46-52 Lu 18:35-43).
For the exposition, see on Lu
18:35-43.
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