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1For the kingdom of Heaven is like a man,
a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
2And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a
day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3And he went out about the third hour and saw others
standing idle in the marketplace.
4And he said to them, You also go into the vineyard, and
whatever is right I will give you. And they went.
5And he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did
likewise.
6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others
standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here all day idle?
7They said to him, Because no one has hired us. He said to
them, You also go into the vineyard, and you shall receive whatever is right.
8So when evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to
his steward, Call the laborers and pay them their wage, beginning from the last to
the first.
9And when they who were hired about the eleventh hour came,
they each one received a denarius.
10But when the first came, they supposed that they would
received more; and they also each one received a denarius.
11And receiving it they murmured against the master of the
house,
12saying, These last have worked only one hour, and you
have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13But he answered one of them and said, Friend, I do you no
wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14Take yours, and go; I will give to this last one the same
as to you.
15Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with my own?
Is your eye evil because I am good?
16So the last shall be first, and the first last, for many
are called, but few are chosen.
MKJV |
- God is good and He is generous, all laborers received the same wage, likewise,
all believers will enjoy the blessings of heaven.
- This parable deals with expectations and envy of others. It is not wise to
entertain earthly expectations.
- Using earthly logic and focusing on money as ones treasure, the giving of the
wages is not fair, but this parable is portraying a heavenly truth. That
those that do labor for the kingdom, no matter when that may be, shall receive
their fair and just reward.
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