Matthew 20 4

Matthew 20:4 kjv

And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Matthew 20:4 nkjv

and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went.

Matthew 20:4 niv

He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.'

Matthew 20:4 esv

and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.'

Matthew 20:4 nlt

So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.

Matthew 20 verses

Matthew 20 4 Meaning

In Matthew 20:4, the householder, representing God, extends an invitation to more workers he finds in the marketplace, stating, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you." This verse details the hiring of the second group of laborers (those called at the third hour), following the initial agreement with the first group. Unlike the explicit wage given to the first workers, these workers are called to trust the householder's promise of just compensation. "Whatever is right" emphasizes the householder's inherent justice and goodness, requiring faith from the workers that their labor will be valued fairly according to his wisdom. So, they agree and immediately go to work.

Matthew 20 4 Context

Matthew 20:4 is part of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matt 20:1-16), which immediately follows Jesus' discourse on discipleship, sacrifice, and reward (Matt 19:27-30). Peter's question in Matt 19:27—"What then will we have?" after leaving everything to follow Jesus—sets the stage for the parable's primary teaching. Jesus has already assured His disciples of a significant future reward, but this parable clarifies the nature of God's rewards, emphasizing His sovereignty, grace, and challenging human-centric ideas of merit and "fairness."

Historically and culturally, daily laborers were common in ancient Israel. The marketplace served as a hiring hall. Workers would typically agree on a specific wage (often a denarius for a day's labor, as stated in Matt 20:2 for the first group) before beginning work. The surprise in the parable comes from the householder's unexpected generosity to those hired later, subverting the typical expectations of a day's wage based on hours worked. The parable indirectly challenges the prevailing Jewish understanding that salvation or favor was earned through strict adherence to the Law or through a "first-come, first-served" system of righteousness. Instead, it highlights God's unmerited favor and right to be generous.

Matthew 20 4 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting this new action with the previous one. It emphasizes continuity in the master's activity of seeking and hiring laborers.
• to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Referring to the group of idle workers whom the householder just saw standing in the marketplace. It indicates a direct address.
• he said (εἶπεν - eipen): Past tense of "to say," indicating the master's direct communication. This act of calling is a pivotal point, initiating their involvement.
• You also (καὶ ὑμεῖς - kai hymeis): The Greek includes the emphatic "you" (ὑμεῖς) with "also" (καὶ), highlighting that this group, like the first, is invited. It underscores the inclusivity of the master's call.
• go (ὑπάγετε - hypagete): An imperative verb, "go," signifying a command or directive from the householder. It demands immediate obedience and action from the workers.
• into the vineyard (εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα - eis ton ampelōna): The vineyard (ampelōn) is a prominent biblical metaphor for God's chosen people (Isa 5:7), His work or Kingdom (Matt 21:33-46), or a field of spiritual labor (John 15:1-8). To "go into the vineyard" means to participate in God's redemptive work.
• and (καὶ - kai): Connects the command to go with the promise of payment.
• whatever is right (ὃ ἐὰν ᾖ δίκαιον - ho ean ē dikaion): This is the crucial phrase.
  • ho: "that which," or "what."
  • ean ē: "if it should be," or "may be." It carries a sense of potential or condition.
  • dikaion: "just," "right," "equitable," "righteous." It derives from dikē, referring to custom, right, judgment, justice. Unlike the specific "denarius" offered to the first group, here the compensation is left to the householder's justice. This points to an understanding of fairness defined by the master, not necessarily by the amount of labor. It signifies trusting in the master's character and goodness to deal fairly. This implies grace and sovereignty in His determination of reward.
• I will give (δώσω - dōsō): Future tense of "to give." It is an explicit promise from the householder. This is a divine guarantee of recompense.
• you (ὑμῖν - hymin): The direct object, specifying who will receive the payment.
• So they went (Οἱ δὲ ἀπῆλθον - Hoi de apēlthon): This phrase indicates the workers' immediate obedience and action. It reflects their faith and trust in the householder's word, as they agreed to work without a fixed wage, relying on his promise of justice.

Matthew 20 4 Bonus section

The repeated calls to "go into the vineyard" at different hours of the day illustrate God's ongoing and diverse calls to people throughout history and at various stages of their lives. Some are called early in life, others later, yet all are invited to participate in the work of His Kingdom. The open-ended promise "whatever is right" not only highlights God's integrity but also subtly sets the stage for the parable's shocking conclusion, where the dikaion (what is right) is redefined by the householder's (God's) prerogative of mercy and grace, confounding human expectations of fairness based on a strictly compensatory model. This aspect powerfully undercuts a works-based righteousness and promotes a faith-based trust in divine benevolence. The parable is less about economic fairness and more about challenging envy and embracing the Lord's unconstrained generosity in bestowing His blessings.

Matthew 20 4 Commentary

Matthew 20:4 serves as a pivotal moment in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, introducing a shift in the nature of the agreement between the employer and laborers. Unlike the explicit contract with the first group (a denarius for a day's work), the master here makes an open-ended promise: "whatever is right I will give you." This seemingly ambiguous term, "whatever is right" (δίκαιον), is central to the parable's message. It moves away from a precise wage-for-labor calculation and shifts the focus to the character and justice of the householder himself, who represents God. The workers' acceptance signifies an act of faith, trusting that their labor will not go unrewarded, but that the exact measure of their compensation will be determined by the employer's gracious wisdom rather than human merit or strictly economic calculus. This arrangement anticipates the surprising outcome of the parable, where God's generosity surpasses human expectations of earned reward, challenging notions of entitlement and highlighting divine sovereignty in distributing blessings. It teaches that one should work faithfully in the Lord's service, trusting His just and generous nature, regardless of when one enters the "vineyard" or what specific compensation one expects based on perceived merit.

Examples:

• Joining a new ministry and serving wholeheartedly, trusting that God will provide and reward as He deems fit, even without a specific promise of earthly recognition or outcome.
• Engaging in missionary work in challenging conditions, not fixated on earthly benefits but on the call to labor in God's harvest, trusting in His ultimate justice and provision.