Matthew 20:9
Matthew 20:9 in Multiple Translations
The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.
And when those men came who had gone to work at the eleventh hour, they were given every man a penny.
When those who were hired at 5 p.m. came in, they each received one denarius.
And they which were hired about ye eleuenth houre, came and receiued euery man a penie.
And they of about the eleventh hour having come, did receive each a denary.
“When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
The manager paid the standard daily wage to each of the men who did not start working until five o’clock in the afternoon.
So he paid the men that started their job at 5 o’clock, and he gave each of them a full day’s pay. Then he kept on paying the other men, and he gave each man a full day’s pay.
Berean Amplified Bible — Matthew 20:9
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Matthew 20:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Matthew 20:9
Study Notes — Matthew 20:9
- Context
- Cross References
- Matthew 20:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Matthew 20:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 20:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 20:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 20:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 20:9
- Barnes' Notes on Matthew 20:9
- Sermons on Matthew 20:9
Context — The Parable of the Workers
9The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.
10So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius. 11On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 20:6–7 | About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ he asked. ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’ |
| 2 | Luke 23:40–43 | But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” |
| 3 | Matthew 20:2 | He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. |
| 4 | Ephesians 2:8–10 | For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. |
| 5 | Romans 4:3–6 | For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: |
| 6 | Ephesians 1:6–8 | to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. |
| 7 | Romans 5:20–21 | The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
| 8 | 1 Timothy 1:14–16 | And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. |
Matthew 20:9 Summary
This verse shows that the workers who were hired last to work in the vineyard received the same pay as those who worked all day. This might seem unfair to us, but it illustrates God's generous and merciful nature, as seen in Matthew 20:15. Just like the landowner in the parable, God gives us what we need, not based on what we deserve, but based on His love and grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). We can trust that God is always working for our good, even when things don't seem fair to us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the workers hired about the eleventh hour receive the same pay as those who worked all day?
This is because the landowner wanted to show his generosity and mercy, as seen in Matthew 20:15, where he says 'Or are you envious because I am generous?' This parable illustrates God's sovereign right to give salvation and rewards as He chooses, as stated in Romans 9:15.
Is this verse teaching that everyone will receive the same reward in heaven?
While this verse does show that the workers received the same pay, it is not necessarily teaching that everyone will receive the same reward in heaven. As 1 Corinthians 3:8 says, 'each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.'
What can we learn from the fact that the workers hired last were paid first?
This reversal of expectations highlights the landowner's mercy and grace, as seen in Ephesians 2:8-9, where it says 'For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.'
How does this verse relate to the concept of fairness and justice?
This verse challenges our conventional understanding of fairness and justice, as it shows that God's ways are not always our ways, as stated in Isaiah 55:8-9. The landowner's actions demonstrate that His justice is rooted in mercy and love.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am striving for fairness and justice, but may need to surrender to God's sovereignty?
- How can I reflect the landowner's generosity and mercy in my interactions with others?
- What are some ways that I can trust in God's goodness and provision, even when circumstances seem unfair?
- In what ways can I demonstrate gratitude for the gift of salvation, which is given freely by God's grace?
Gill's Exposition on Matthew 20:9
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 20:9
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 20:9
Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 20:9
Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 20:9
Barnes' Notes on Matthew 20:9
Sermons on Matthew 20:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Law Leads Us to Christ by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker discusses two parables from the book of Matthew. The first parable is about a king who invites people to his son's wedding feast, but they refuse to com |
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Epistle 266 by George Fox | George Fox preaches about the importance of believers in the heavenly light seeking out the lost and driven away, distinguishing themselves from false prophets and teachers by putt |
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Don't Stand Idle (Compilation) by Compilations | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not standing idle in the marketplace and instead going into the vineyard to work. He reminds the audience that God is fait |
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Concerning Thoughts by St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite | St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite delves into the importance of understanding and addressing the different types of thoughts that affect the soul. He categorizes thoughts into good, vain |
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(The Life of Jesus) His Crucifixion by Earle Maxwell | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of receiving a late-night phone call from a distressed woman whose husband was in the intensive care ward. This experience |
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Philippians 2:5-11 by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches about the humility and obedience of Christ, emphasizing how Jesus, being in the form of God, willingly emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant, h |
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Jesus' First Three Hours on the Cross Matthew 27:32-44 by David Servant | David Servant preaches on the crucifixion of Jesus, highlighting the intense suffering He endured, His refusal to lessen the pain as He bore the weight of our sins, and His ultimat |







