The Parable of the Labourers Hired, also known as the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, is a teaching of Jesus found in the Gospel of Matthew 20:1-16. This parable is a profound illustration of the kingdom of heaven and the nature of divine grace, challenging human notions of fairness and justice.

Context and Setting

The parable is set within the broader context of Jesus' teachings on the kingdom of heaven. It follows the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler and Peter's subsequent question about what the disciples will receive for leaving everything to follow Christ (Matthew 19:16-30). Jesus responds with this parable to illustrate the principles of God's kingdom, emphasizing that divine reward is not based on human merit but on God's sovereign grace.

Narrative of the Parable

In the parable, a landowner goes out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. He agrees to pay them a denarius for the day, a typical day's wage at the time. As the day progresses, the landowner returns to the marketplace at the third, sixth, ninth, and even the eleventh hour to hire more workers, promising to pay them "whatever is right" (Matthew 20:4).

At the end of the day, the landowner instructs his foreman to pay the workers, beginning with those hired last. Surprisingly, each worker receives the same wage of one denarius, regardless of the hours worked. This causes discontent among those hired first, who expected to receive more. The landowner responds, "Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?" (Matthew 20:13-15).

Theological Themes

1. Divine Grace and Sovereignty: The parable underscores the sovereignty of God in dispensing grace. The landowner's actions reflect God's freedom to bestow grace as He wills, independent of human calculations of fairness. This challenges the human tendency to equate effort with reward, highlighting that God's kingdom operates on principles of grace rather than merit.

2. Equality in the Kingdom: The equal payment to all workers symbolizes the equal standing of all believers in the kingdom of heaven. Regardless of when one comes to faith, the reward of eternal life is the same. This serves as a reminder that salvation is a gift from God, not a wage earned by human effort.

3. Reversal of Human Expectations: The parable concludes with the statement, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last" (Matthew 20:16). This reversal of expectations is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings, emphasizing that God's ways are not bound by human conventions. It calls believers to humility and trust in God's justice and generosity.

4. Challenge to Self-Righteousness: The grumbling of the early workers reflects a self-righteous attitude, assuming greater entitlement based on their labor. The parable challenges believers to examine their hearts for envy and pride, encouraging a posture of gratitude for God's grace.

Application for Believers

The Parable of the Labourers Hired invites believers to embrace the radical nature of God's grace, recognizing that His generosity transcends human understanding. It calls for a heart of humility, gratitude, and acceptance of God's sovereign will. Believers are encouraged to rejoice in the salvation of others and to trust in God's perfect justice and mercy, knowing that His ways are higher than our ways.Matthew 20:1-16
For the kingdom of heaven is like to a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Third Day in Pasion-Week - the Last Series of Parables: to the ...
... Closely connected with the two preceding Parables, and, indeed, with the whole tenor
of Christ's sayings at ... in the Parable about the Labourers sought by ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the third day.htm

The vineyard Labourers.
... As all the labourers get the wages of a day, so all ... star in glory, so shall it be
when Christ comes to ... it is in other cases like the parables themselves, and ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/ix the vineyard labourers.htm

The Two Sons.
The Parables of Our Lord. ... and the smallest,"the large proprietors and the floating
sea of labourers. ... When he was called to suffer for Christ, he had rudely ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/x the two sons.htm

1 Corinthians xiv, 20
... say, for instance, that of the labourers in the ... carelessly, this is clearly making
Christ encourage wickedness ... of knowledge: namely, that the parables of our ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xxxiv 1 corinthians xiv.htm

Matthew xx. 1, and C.
... Justification of all who are called into Christ's Vineyard; whether ... This is what
he hires his Labourers for. ... we look into any other of those Parables, by which ...
/.../sermon xviii matthew xx 1.htm

The Epistle of St. James
... main composed of humbler-class members, labourers or tenants ... suppose that he had
in mind Christ's interpretation of ... sums up the teaching of parables like those ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the epistle of st james.htm

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Mustard Seed? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus