(145) The Workers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. [2]When he had agreed with the laborers to pay them a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
[3]“About the third hour he went out and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, [4]and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever is right.’ And they went.
[5]“About the sixth and ninth hour he went out and did the same thing. [6]And about the eleventh hour he went out again and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ [7]‘Because no one hired us,’ they replied.
“So he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’
[8]“Now when evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
[9]“When those who were hired about the eleventh hour came, each man received a denarius. [10]So when those who were hired first came, they supposed that they would receive more; but they also received a denarius each. [11]When they received it, they began to grumble against the goodman of the house,[12]saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
[13]“But he answered one of them, saying, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree to work for me for a denarius? [14]Take what is yours and go your way. I will give this last man the same thing I gave you. [15]Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with what is mine? Are you envious because I am good?’[1]
[16]“So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
(145) The Workers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1-16, 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. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
(1) KJV, "Is thine eye evil, because I am good?"