Matthew 20 1

Matthew 20:1 kjv

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.

Matthew 20:1 nkjv

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

Matthew 20:1 niv

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

Matthew 20:1 esv

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

Matthew 20:1 nlt

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

Matthew 20 verses

Matthew 20 1 Meaning

Matthew 20:1 introduces the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, which Jesus tells to illustrate the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. It states that God's kingdom operates on principles distinct from human expectations of merit or reward. The verse sets the scene with a householder going out early to hire workers for his vineyard, beginning the narrative that demonstrates divine generosity and the overturning of conventional hierarchies, where those called later receive the same reward as those who worked longer.

Matthew 20 1 Context

Matthew 20:1 begins the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. This parable directly illustrates the challenging statement Jesus made in Matthew 19:30, "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." The preceding context (Matthew 19) discusses eternal life, the rich young man's struggle to follow Jesus, and Peter's question about what the disciples, who have left everything, will receive. The disciples' query about their "reward" (Mt 19:27) and Jesus's response about those who will be "first" and "last" immediately sets the stage for this parable, which functions as an extended explanation of divine reversal of human status and merit-based thinking in the Kingdom of Heaven. Culturally, daily hiring of laborers was a common practice in first-century Palestine for agricultural work, and a vineyard was a familiar scene, making the parable easily understandable to Jesus' audience.

Matthew 20 1 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding one (Mt 19:30). It signals that what follows is an explanation or a reason for the previous statement. This highlights the parable's role as a vivid illustration of the "first will be last" principle.
• the kingdom of heaven (ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν - hē basileia tōn ouranōn): This distinct phrase, primarily found in Matthew, refers to God's reign and kingly rule, both present (as inaugurated by Jesus) and future (in its full consummation). It is synonymous with "kingdom of God" found in other Gospels, indicating Matthew's Jewish audience might have preferred avoiding direct mention of God's name. It describes the divine economy and principles under which God operates.
• is like (ὁμοία ἐστὶν - homoia estin): This is a standard parabolic introduction, signifying a comparison rather than a literal equation. The Kingdom is not identically the householder, but its principles or characteristics are represented by or analogous to the events in the story.
• unto a man, a householder (ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ - anthrōpō oikodespotē): "Man" (anthrōpō) here refers to a specific individual. "Householder" (oikodespotē) denotes the master of the house, owner of the estate, or family head. In the context of the parable, this figure clearly represents God, demonstrating His initiative, authority, and ultimate right to distribute His gifts as He wills. The title "householder" implies careful management and provision for a household.
• which went out (ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν - hostis exēlthen): Indicates active and intentional seeking. The householder personally took the initiative to find laborers, illustrating God's proactive calling of people into His service.
• early in the morning (ἅμα πρωΐ - hama prōi): Literally "with morning" or "at dawn." This was the customary time to hire day laborers for a full day's work. It implies diligence and readiness, setting the standard for a typical day's labor.
• to hire (μισθώσασθαι - misthōsasthai): To contract for wages; to pay for service. This implies a clear agreement for work in exchange for remuneration, which becomes a key point of contention later in the parable. It highlights the transactional nature of their initial agreement.
• labourers (ἐργάτας - ergatas): Workers, those who perform tasks or labor, often manual. In the parable, these are individuals willing and able to work in the vineyard. They represent all those whom God calls to serve in His kingdom.
• into his vineyard (εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ - eis ton ampelōna autou): The vineyard is a recurring biblical motif. It symbolizes the sphere of God's work, often His people (Israel in the Old Testament, e.g., Isa 5:1-7), or more broadly, the kingdom or field of ministry. It implies a place of significant labor and expected fruitfulness. The possessive "his" emphasizes the householder's (God's) ownership and authority over the domain.

Matthew 20 1 Bonus section

The term "kingdom of heaven" unique to Matthew might have been a reverence for God's name, or it might highlight the kingdom's divine origin and supernatural character as opposed to earthly kingdoms. The householder in this parable isn't just an employer but a benevolent master, reflecting attributes of God such as active engagement in His creation and His willingness to provide for His people. The daily hiring of laborers underscores the urgency and immediate need for work, mirroring the continuous call for people to come into the kingdom. The parable as a whole can be seen as Jesus correcting the disciples' "works-righteousness" mentality which arose from Peter's question about "what we will have," pushing back against any thought that spiritual service guarantees proportional, quantifiable earthly reward or status.

Matthew 20 1 Commentary

Matthew 20:1 is the exposition for a foundational parable concerning the nature of God's kingdom. It highlights that entry into God's service and the subsequent reward are not strictly dictated by human concepts of equitable compensation for duration of work, but by divine sovereignty and grace. The householder, representing God, takes the initiative ("went out") to call laborers ("early in the morning") to work in "his vineyard," which signifies the sphere of God's redemptive activity in the world. This initial agreement for labor sets up the dramatic revelation in the latter part of the parable, where God's ultimate generosity confounds human expectations and redefines true "justice" within His kingdom. This challenges human tendencies towards meritocracy and entitlement, asserting that God's ways are higher than man's ways, focusing on His generous invitation and purpose for each individual.