And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The owner’s instruction to pay the last laborers first isn't just about a surprising reward; it’s a deliberate move to highlight God's unconditional generosity and to confront our human tendency to measure worth based on perceived merit rather than divine grace. This order ensures the initial workers witness the unexpected equality of blessing, challenging their assumptions about who "deserves" what.
And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks the climax of Jesus' parable about the kingdom of heaven, comparing it to a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard throughout the day. After detailing how workers were hired at different hours, from early morning to late afternoon, the story now shifts to the end of the workday when wages are due. The landowner instructs his steward to pay everyone the same amount, starting with those hired last and ending with those hired first, which sets the stage for the grumbling and the landowner's surprising response.
The day's work is done, and the time for payment has arrived. But who gets paid first? This isn't just about a vineyard, it's about our ultimate accounting.
The End of the Day
The parable shifts to the end of the workday. In ancient Israel, the law decreed that laborers were to be paid their wages by sunset (Deuteronomy 24:15). This wasn't just a suggestion; it was a matter of justice. When the 'evening' comes in this story, it signals the time for settlement, for reckoning.
A Divine Parallel
This 'evening' doesn't just represent the end of a literal workday. It also points to the end of our own lives, or even the ultimate 'evening' of the world at the final judgment. It's the moment when all accounts are settled, and everyone receives what is due.
This is the time when the master of the vineyard, God Himself, calls for payment to be distributed. It's a solemn moment, mirroring the divine accounting where our service, our faithfulness, and our lives are brought to light.
The owner gives a surprising instruction to his steward: pay them starting with the last hired, all the way to the first. Why this upside-down order?
The Master's Prerogative
The instruction to pay the laborers in reverse order – from last to first – is intentional. It's not about efficiency or a mistake; it's designed to highlight the owner's authority and generosity.
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Setting the Stage for Surprise
By paying the latecomers first, the owner creates a scenario where those who worked the longest might expect more. This arrangement deliberately sets up the conflict and the core message of the parable: God's grace and reward are not always distributed according to human expectations of fairness or duration of service.
This order allows the owner to demonstrate his absolute freedom to act according to his own good pleasure. He owes no one more than what was agreed upon, but he is free to be extraordinarily generous to whomever he chooses. The steward, as the master's representative, simply carries out this unique directive.
This parable isn't just a story; it's a radical redefinition of how God's kingdom operates. It challenges our ideas about fairness, earning, and divine favor.
Kingdom Economics vs. World Economics
In the world's economy, payment is strictly based on hours worked and agreement. The longer you work, the more you expect. But the kingdom of heaven operates on different principles. The owner's decision to pay everyone the same amount, regardless of their time in the vineyard, shows that God's grace isn't a wage earned by sheer duration or effort.
The Problem of Envy
The laborers who worked from the early morning are upset because they receive the same wage as those who worked only one hour. Their reaction reveals a deep-seated human tendency towards envy – a 'wicked eye' that is displeased by the good fortune of others. This parable confronts us with our own potential for such a spirit.
A Call to Gratitude, Not Grumbling
Ultimately, the parable calls us to shift from a mindset of 'earning' and 'deserving' to one of gratitude for God's abundant, unmerited generosity. It teaches that God is free to call and bless whom He wills, and our focus should be on His goodness, not on comparing our rewards with others'.
Understand the original words
epitropō · Greek Noun
Refers to the manager or steward appointed by the owner, representing authority in the administration of the owner's affairs and the distribution of justice/reward.
ergatas · Greek Noun
Those who perform physical labor. In a theological sense, this refers to those whom God calls into His service to fulfill His purposes in the world.
misthon · Greek Noun
Payment for services rendered. Biblically, it represents the compensation or blessing bestowed by the Lord upon those who serve Him, often highlighting grace rather than strict legal merit.
This passage sets the ancient precedent for paying laborers their wages by the end of the day, emphasizing the importance of timely compensation which this parable upholds.
1 Corinthians 4:5This verse speaks of a future judgment where the Lord will reveal the motives of hearts and bring hidden things to light, mirroring the unfolding of God's justice and mercy in the parable's payment.
Luke 15:11-32The Parable of the Prodigal Son, like this one, highlights God's graciousness and willingness to lavish love and acceptance on those who return to Him, regardless of their past or how long they've served.
Romans 9:14-16This passage grapples with God's sovereign right to show mercy and choose whom He will, directly addressing the heart of the murmuring laborers' complaint in Matthew 20 about fairness and divine prerogative.
Philippians 3:13-14Paul's encouragement to 'forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead' echoes the parable's call to move beyond past grievances or perceived advantages and focus on the heavenly reward.
barnesMatthew 20:8: "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."
When even was come - That is, when the twelfth hour had come; the day was ended, and the time of payment was come. The steward - A steward is one who transacts business in the place of another. He was one who had the administration of affairs in the absence of the householder, who provided for the family, and who was entrus…
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…
The owner’s instruction to pay the last laborers first isn't just about a surprising reward; it’s a deliberate move to highlight God's unconditional generosity and to confront our human tendency to measure worth based on perceived merit rather than divine grace. This order ensures the initial workers witness the unexpected equality of blessing, challenging their assumptions about who "deserves" what.
This verse marks the climax of Jesus' parable about the kingdom of heaven, comparing it to a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard throughout the day. After detailing how workers were hired at different hours, from early morning to late afternoon, the story now shifts to the end of the workday when wages are due. The landowner instructs his steward to pay everyone the same amount, starting with those hired last and ending with those hired first, which sets the stage for the grumbling and the landowner's surprising response.
This verse marks the climax of Jesus' parable about the kingdom of heaven, comparing it to a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard throughout the day. After detailing how workers were hired at different hours, from early morning to late afternoon, the story now shifts to the end of the workday when wages are due. The landowner instructs his steward to pay everyone the same amount, starting with those hired last and ending with those hired first, which sets the stage for the grumbling and the landowner's surprising response.
"And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’" — The owner’s instruction to pay the last laborers first isn't just about a surprising reward; it’s a deliberate move to highlight God's unconditional generosity and to confront our human tendency to…
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Last reviewed October 2026