After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The landowner makes a specific agreement for a set wage with the first laborers, highlighting that his dealings with them are governed by a legal contract, not just his personal generosity. This distinction sets up the contrast for those hired later, whose payment is based entirely on his grace.
After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is telling a parable to illustrate the nature of the kingdom of heaven, directly following His teaching that "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last." The parable begins with a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard at different times throughout the day, but the crux of the story emerges when he pays them all the same wage, causing resentment among those who worked the longest. This sets up a divine lesson about God's grace and how He chooses to distribute His blessings, challenging human notions of fairness and entitlement.
When Jesus tells this parable, the first workers are sent out with a clear agreement. What does this specific amount reveal about the economy of the time and the nature of work?
The 'denarius' mentioned in this verse was a standard Roman silver coin, representing a full day's wage for a laborer.
A Realistic Exchange
The first laborers weren't just sent to work; they entered into a formal agreement. What does this 'legal compact' signify in the larger context of God's relationship with people?
The Greek word used for 'agreed' (symphonē sas) signifies a formal contract or pact. This isn't just a casual understanding; it's a binding agreement.
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A Legal Foundation
Understand the original words
dēnarion · Greek Noun
A Roman silver coin, typically the standard daily wage for a common laborer or soldier in the first century. It represents a standard of fairness or covenantal agreement.
This parable was spoken by Jesus in the final week of his earthly ministry, as tensions with religious leaders reached a peak. It challenges the established order and their sense of entitlement, offering a glimpse into the generous, unexpected nature of God's kingdom.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples in Galilee and Judea.
c. 27-30 AD
Growing Opposition to Jesus
As Jesus' popularity grows, he faces increasing scrutiny and opposition from religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem during Passover, further provoking the religious authorities.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Final Week in Jerusalem
Jesus spends his last week teaching in the Temple, confronting the religious leaders, and foretelling his death and resurrection.
This passage shows Joseph, the youngest, being sent by his father to check on his brothers, mirroring the landowner sending out laborers at different hours. It touches on themes of family dynamics and responsibility, which can be paralleled to the landowner's oversight of his workers.
Psalm 104:23This verse speaks of God establishing the times and seasons, including the order of the day, which relates to the landowner's specific timing of hiring workers throughout the day.
Ecclesiastes 11:6This verse encourages diligence, stating 'In the morning sow your seed, and at evening let not your hands be idle.' This directly parallels the parable's message about working throughout the day and the landowner's expectation of labor until evening.
Luke 10:7Jesus instructs his disciples that 'the laborer deserves his wages,' which is the underlying principle of the agreement made by the landowner with the first laborers. This highlights the expectation of fair compensation for work done.
1 Corinthians 3:8This verse states that 'the one who plants and the one who waters are both alike, and will each receive his wages according to his labor.' This echoes the core of the parable, where the landowner's fairness in wages challenges the idea that only the amount of labor dictates the reward.
calvinMatthew 20:1-16: "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."
- For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder, who went out at break of day to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2. And having made an agreement with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3. And having gone out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the market-place. 4. And he said to them, Go…
henryMatthew 20:1-16: "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."
20:1-16 The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the Jews were first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews. The parable may also be applied more generally, and shows, 1. That God is debtor t…
The landowner makes a specific agreement for a set wage with the first laborers, highlighting that his dealings with them are governed by a legal contract, not just his personal generosity. This distinction sets up the contrast for those hired later, whose payment is based entirely on his grace.
Jesus is telling a parable to illustrate the nature of the kingdom of heaven, directly following His teaching that "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last." The parable begins with a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard at different times throughout the day, but the crux of the story emerges when he pays them all the same wage, causing resentment among those who worked the longest. This sets up a divine lesson about God's grace and how He chooses to distribute His blessings, challenging human notions of fairness and entitlement.
Jesus is telling a parable to illustrate the nature of the kingdom of heaven, directly following His teaching that "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last." The parable begins with a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard at different times throughout the day, but the crux of the story emerges when he pays them all the same wage, causing resentment among those who worked the longest. This sets up a divine lesson about God's grace and how He chooses to distribute His blessings, challenging human notions of fairness and entitlement.
"After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard." — The landowner makes a specific agreement for a set wage with the first laborers, highlighting that his dealings with them are governed by a legal contract, not just his personal generosity. This dist…
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Last reviewed October 2026