Matthew 20 2

Matthew 20:2 kjv

And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:2 nkjv

Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:2 niv

He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:2 esv

After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:2 nlt

He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.

Matthew 20 verses

Matthew 20 2 Meaning

Matthew 20:2 introduces the initial phase of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. It states that the landowner secured an agreement with the first group of laborers for a denarius, a common day's wage, for a full day's work in his vineyard. This verse establishes the baseline expectation of fair compensation according to the standards of the time, setting up a contrast with later events in the parable concerning different payment structures and the landowner's generosity.

Matthew 20 2 Context

This verse is the second in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matt 20:1-16). It immediately follows the statement that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner hiring laborers for his vineyard at the dawn. Historically, this parable reflects the agricultural practices of 1st-century Judea, where landowners would hire temporary laborers, often standing idle in the marketplace, to meet urgent farming needs, especially during harvest season. A denarius was the standard daily wage for a common laborer or a Roman soldier, representing sufficient income for a worker and his family to survive for that day. Culturally, it signifies a fixed, agreed-upon contract that both parties understood and considered fair. The preceding chapter concludes with Jesus stating that "many who are first will be last, and the last first" (Matt 19:30), which serves as the overarching theme for this parable, challenging conventional notions of merit and reward within the context of God's Kingdom.

Matthew 20 2 Word analysis

• And when he had agreed:

  • Greek: συμφωνήσας (symphōnēsas) – from συμφωνέω (symphōneō), meaning "to sound together," "to be in harmony," "to agree," or "to make an agreement."
  • Significance: This word implies a formal, clear, and mutual verbal contract. It indicates that the terms were understood and accepted by both parties, establishing a specific obligation and expectation from the outset. This contractual element is crucial as it forms the basis of the first group's grievance later in the parable, contrasting with the landowner's actions towards later hires, which were not based on prior agreement but on his prerogative.

• with the labourers:

  • Greek: ἐργάταις (ergatais) – dative plural of ἐργάτης (ergatēs), meaning "worker," "toiler," "laborer."
  • Significance: These were day laborers, individuals seeking temporary employment for a daily wage, often gathered in the marketplace. Their socio-economic position was typically precarious, making a clear wage agreement important for their livelihood. They represent those who embark on a "works" basis, seeking specific remuneration.

• for a penny a day,

  • Greek: ἐκ δηναρίου τὴν ἡμέραν (ek dēnariou tēn hēmeran) – "for a denarius the day."
  • "penny": (δηναρίου - dēnariou) refers to the Roman silver denarius, the standard daily wage for a laboring man in the Roman world.
  • Significance: This detail is crucial. It sets a baseline of fairness and industry standard. A denarius was considered a just wage for a day's labor. The initial workers received what was commonly accepted as fair pay, emphasizing that the landowner met his contractual obligation precisely. This anchors the parable in everyday economic reality, making the landowner's later actions even more striking. It highlights a common human understanding of "just desserts."

• he sent them:

  • Greek: ἀπέστειλεν (apesteilen) – from ἀποστέλλω (apostellō), meaning "to send away," "to send out."
  • Significance: The landowner exercised his authority and put them to work. This act initiates their labor, indicating that work commenced under the terms of the agreement.

• into his vineyard:

  • Greek: εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ (eis ton ampelōna autou) – "into his vineyard."
  • Significance: The vineyard is a common biblical metaphor for Israel (Isa 5:1-7, Ps 80:8), and in the New Testament, it often represents God's kingdom or the sphere of service for Him. It is a place that requires diligent work and where spiritual fruit is expected. It signifies a specific, God-assigned place of labor and responsibility. It also highlights the landowner's absolute ownership and control over his domain, giving him the ultimate right to determine terms.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day": This phrase highlights the formal contractual basis for the initial employment. It underlines the expectation of mutual obligation: work for specific pay. This stands in stark contrast to how later groups of laborers are hired and paid, forming the ethical tension of the parable regarding what is "fair" by human standards versus divine generosity.
  • "he sent them into his vineyard": This signifies the master's authority and initiative. The workers enter his domain, under his terms, to perform tasks essential to his enterprise. This imagery suggests entry into service or participation in the Kingdom's work, under divine direction.

Matthew 20 2 Bonus section

The choice of a "penny" (denarius) is highly significant. It was the common standard daily wage, confirming the landowner was not seeking to exploit his workers but was entering into a standard, ethical business arrangement for the period. This initial agreement reflects a world governed by transactions and earned compensation, where worth is measured by effort and time. This framework is intentionally established by Jesus to highlight the "unconventional" economy of God's Kingdom, which operates not purely on human merit-based systems, but on grace, divine prerogative, and extravagant generosity. The later "grumbling" by the initial workers underscores the human tendency to evaluate worth and reward based on comparisons and perceived fairness derived from such clear agreements, rather than rejoicing in receiving precisely what was agreed upon and God's abundant generosity to others. This verse subtly introduces the tension between earned reward and freely given grace, a cornerstone of Christian theology.

Matthew 20 2 Commentary

Matthew 20:2 lays the essential groundwork for Jesus' profound parable, contrasting human notions of justice and earned reward with God's radical grace and sovereignty. The landowner's agreement to pay a denarius, a just and customary daily wage, establishes a clear, contractual baseline. From a human perspective, this first group of laborers had a legally binding and equitable agreement. They committed to a full day's work, and the landowner committed to a fair payment. This seemingly simple verse is vital because it anchors the narrative in the contemporary economic realities and common understandings of fairness, which the parable will subsequently challenge. It is the human standard of justice ("a penny a day for a full day's work") against which the landowner's later actions, driven by divine prerogative and overflowing generosity rather than strict merit, will be measured and ultimately celebrated as characteristic of the Kingdom of Heaven. It prompts us to consider our own assumptions about entitlement versus grace.

Examples:

• Business Contract: A construction company agrees to pay workers X amount for a 8-hour shift, mirroring this verse's contract.
• Fair Wages: This establishes the 'going rate' for labor, against which any deviation will be noticed and judged (as the first workers judge).