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I. OUR ATTENTION IS CALLED TO AN EXAMINATION OF THE PARABLE.

1. God hires labourers into his vineyard.

2. At different periods has God made Himself known to the children of men.

3. They labour until the evening arrives.

II. ENFORCE THE TRUTHS WHICH CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE THIS PARABLE WAS INTENDED TO TEACH.

1. That the rewards of Christianity being rewards of grace, and not of works, are regulated only by the beneficent will of Him who is debtor to no man; and that such conduct is consistent with strict equity.

2. To expose the hypocrisy of some professors of religion, and remind us of the frailty which attaches even to those whose sincerity cannot be doubted.

3. To remind us of the real dignity of the work, independently of the reward annexed to it.

4. To warn us of the period to our exertions, and the hour of final reckoning —

(1)  Payment;

(2)  Disappointment;

(3)  Gladness.

5. To instruct us in the temper of real Christianity.

(J. Styles, D. D.)

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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.

WEB: "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.