Matthew 20 5

Matthew 20:5 kjv

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

Matthew 20:5 nkjv

Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

Matthew 20:5 niv

So they went. "He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.

Matthew 20:5 esv

So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.

Matthew 20:5 nlt

So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o'clock he did the same thing.

Matthew 20 verses

Matthew 20 5 Meaning

This verse continues the narrative of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, signifying the landowner's persistent and expansive efforts to hire laborers throughout the day. It highlights his initiative in seeking out individuals for work in his vineyard, representing God's continuous and widespread invitation to enter and serve within His Kingdom, irrespective of the timing in one's life.

Matthew 20 5 Context

This verse is an integral part of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matt 20:1-16), which directly follows Peter's question regarding the disciples' reward for leaving everything to follow Jesus (Matt 19:27-29). The parable clarifies the nature of God's Kingdom, particularly challenging the human concept of merit-based reward. Jesus uses this story to illustrate the principle "the last will be first, and the first last," which concludes the preceding chapter (Matt 19:30) and is repeated at the end of the parable (Matt 20:16).

Culturally, the scene reflects first-century Galilean practice where landowners hired day laborers from the marketplace, a common solution for unemployment or seasonal work. The Jewish day began at sunrise (approximately 6 AM). The "hours" mentioned (third, sixth, ninth, eleventh) correspond to 9 AM, 12 PM (noon), 3 PM, and 5 PM respectively, indicating continuous activity throughout the working day. The landowner's repeated visits emphasize his proactiveness in filling his vineyard with workers.

Matthew 20 5 Word analysis

• And he went out (καὶ ἐξελθὼν / kai exelthōn): "καὶ" (kai), meaning "and," simply connects this action to the previous hiring. "ἐξελθὼν" (exelthōn), the aorist participle of "ἐξέρχομαι" (exerchomai), means "having gone out." This highlights the initiative of the landowner; he actively leaves his home to seek workers, signifying God's proactive outreach to call people into His service and Kingdom, rather than waiting for them to seek Him.
• again (πάλιν / palin): This adverb emphasizes the repetition of the landowner's action. He has already gone out once (verse 1) and will continue to do so. Spiritually, it underscores God's persistent and consistent call to salvation and service across various times, dispensations, and seasons of life.
• about (περὶ / peri): This preposition indicates "around" or "approximately," rather than precise timing. It reflects the practical reality of timekeeping in that era and implies a consistent pattern of recruitment rather than an ad hoc search. It shows the structured nature of the landowner's seeking.
• the sixth hour (ἕκτην ὥραν / hektēn hōran): This refers to 12 PM (noon) in Jewish timekeeping (six hours after 6 AM sunrise). It signifies a later stage of the day's labor, or symbolically, individuals called into God's Kingdom in the "midst" or latter half of their lives.
• and the ninth hour (καὶ ἐνάτην ὥραν / kai enatēn hōran): This refers to 3 PM, signifying an even later stage, near the end of the working day. It extends the landowner's gracious invitation to those called seemingly "late" in life or later in God's historical redemptive plan. It emphasizes the breadth of God's open invitation.
• and did (ἐποίησεν / epoiesen): From "ποιέω" (poieō), meaning "to do, make, or perform." This aorist verb indicates a completed, effective action. The landowner did not merely intend but actually carried out the hiring. It implies the definite and accomplished nature of God's calling.
• likewise (ὡσαύτως / hōsautōs): This crucial adverb means "similarly" or "in the same way." It implies that the landowner's process of finding idle workers and sending them into the vineyard, likely with the same agreement of "whatever is right," remained consistent for these later hires. This highlights the consistency of God's terms for entering the Kingdom and participating in His work, regardless of when one answers His call.

• "And he went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour": This phrase emphasizes the persistent and increasing availability of the invitation. The landowner isn't merely fulfilling a labor quota but actively and repeatedly extending opportunity. This signifies God's boundless grace and unwavering desire to welcome individuals into His work at various stages, challenging any human-centric notion that one must be "early" or "long-serving" to receive His favor.
• "and did likewise": This short, powerful phrase underscores the uniformity and impartiality of the landowner's action and implied agreement. Despite the difference in the timing of the call, the essential terms for entering the vineyard and engaging in labor remained the same for all. It prepares the reader for the eventual equal payment, highlighting that God's grace and ultimate reward are not based on the quantity or duration of human effort but on His sovereign generosity and faithfulness.

Matthew 20 5 Bonus section

The parable serves as a vital counterpoint to a self-serving mentality, common in human nature and even among religious people, that might quantify divine favor or salvation based on effort, duration, or early commitment. The householder's actions reveal a character that values inclusion and grace over strict economic calculation of worth. The workers waiting "idle in the marketplace" (implied here from previous verses, and explicitly stated in verse 6 for the eleventh hour workers) are not necessarily lazy but are those without opportunity, awaiting an invitation. This illustrates the human spiritual condition before God's call – often capable but unengaged until divine initiative creates the opportunity.

Matthew 20 5 Commentary

Matthew 20:5 is a critical verse within the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, demonstrating the landowner's (God's) unceasing initiative and the continuous, broad nature of His call. The repeated act of "going out" throughout the day signifies God's persistent pursuit of humanity, extending His invitation for service in the Kingdom to individuals at different life stages or historical periods. By specifically mentioning the "sixth" and "ninth" hours, Jesus underscores that God's gracious offer is available even to those who may respond later in life or when their active "working time" appears limited. The phrase "did likewise" is key, indicating that the landowner applied the same conditions for hire to these later workers as he did to the first. This consistency in the call, irrespective of timing, sets the foundation for the parable's climactic teaching about God's sovereign and surprising generosity, challenging human expectations of merit and equitable reward based on labor duration.