1The parable of the labourers who were hired at different hours to work in the vineyard. 17Jesus foretelleth his own passion and resurrection: 20answereth the request of the mother of Zebedee's children, and quencheth the indignation of the other disciples thereat. 29He giveth sight to two blind men.
1FOR1 the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is 2an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
1 From this it appears that this parable is brought forward by Christ for the confirmation of the proverb in the last verse of the previous chapter, as is to be seen also in the sixteenth verse following.
2 Gr. a man who is master of a family.
2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a 3pennya a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 Gr. denarius. See thereof, Mat. 18:28; Rev. 6:6.
a a day’s wage (16 of the farthings in Mat. 10.29); $0.20
3And he went out about the 4third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 The Jews divided the day into twelve hours, as is to be seen, John 11:9, so that the hour from eleven to twelve was the last of the day and of labor, and the third agreed with our ninth before noon.
4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7They 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.
8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his 5steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
5 Gr. epitropos, that is, he who had the administration or care of his goods, or he who had the charge of the receipts and expenses of his revenues.
9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man 6a penny.
6 From this it appears that the reward hereafter shall not be given according to merit; otherwise these last must have received less than the first.
10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11And when they had received it, they 7murmured against the goodmanb of the house,
7 From this it does not follow that at the last day there shall be any murmuring amongst the faithful, seeing all parts of parables may not be applied; but the same is set here to show that then there shall be no cause of murmuring, forasmuch as the reward shall be given of God’s goodness and according to grace, as appears out of verse 15.
b master of the house*
12Saying, These last have 8wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
8 Or, spent in labor.
13But he answered one of them, and said, 9Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
9 Gr. companion.
14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15Isc it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye 10evil, because I am good?
c Rom. 9:21.
10 That is, grudging, envious.
16Sod the last shall be 11first, and the first 12last: fore many be called, but few chosen.
d Mat. 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30.
11 That is, as the first.
12 That is, as the last. Herewith Christ teaches that no man has cause to murmur, because of the reward which shall be given him hereafter, albeit that anyone has labored more or served God longer, seeing the same shall be given of grace and according to the eternal election, as Christ testifies in the following words, when He says: for many be called, but few chosen. Others think that by the first are understood those who would be justified and saved by their own works, such as the young man was, spoken of in the previous chapter; and by the last those, who by the power of God’s gracious election, embrace the calling unto salvation by a true faith.
e Mat. 22:14.
17¶Andf Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
f Mark 10:32; Luke 18:31; 24:7.
18Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19Andg shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
g Mat. 27:2; Luke 23:1; John 18:28, 31; Acts 3:13.
20¶Thenh came to him the 13mother of Zebedee's children with her 14sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
h Mark 10:35.
13 Namely, Salome, as appears by comparing Mat. 27:56 with Mark 15:40.
14 Namely, John and James, Mat. 10:2; Mark 10:35.
21And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons 15may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
15 That is, that they may be the greatest or chiefest next to Thee. A similitude taken from kings who sit upon their thrones and use to place those who are next to them on both sides next to themselves. See 1 Kings 2:19; Psalm 45:9 and 110:1.
22But Jesus answered and said, Yei16know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the 17cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism thatj I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
i Rom. 8:26.
16 For, they did not yet understand the occasion of Christ’s kingdom and whereunto they were called, not to rule in the world, but to serve and to suffer.
17 By the cup, as also by baptism, Christ understands grievous sufferings, whereby men are, as it were, drenched with a bitter drink, and, as it were, overwhelmed with water, Psalm 75:8; Isa. 51:17; Mat. 26:42; Luke 12:50.
j Luke 12:50.
23And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, 18is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is 19prepared ofk my Father.
18 Or, it is not with Me, namely, in this My low estate, and for such reasons as you imagine; otherwise Christ shall also hereafter give unto those who overcome to sit upon His throne, Rev. 3:21. Or, to give but to those for whom it is prepared. See Mark 10:40.
19 That is, ordained from everlasting. See Mat. 25:34.
k Mat. 25:34.
24And when the 20ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
20 Namely, apostles.
25But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Yel know that the princes of the 21Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
l Mark 10:42; Luke 22:25.
21 Other, nations.
26Butm it shall not be so among 22you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
m 1 Peter 5:3.
22 Namely, My apostles and all others, who shall be called to the ministry of the church, to whom such a worldly manner of ruling is here forbidden. For, otherwise there shall and may also be kings and rulers among Christians, Psalm 2:10; Isa. 49:23.
27Andn whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
n Mat. 23:11; Mark 9:35; 10:43.
28Eveno as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give hisp23life a 24ransom 25for many.
o Luke 22:27; John 13:14; Philip. 2:7.
p Eph. 1:7; 1 Tim. 2:6; 1 Peter 1:19.
23 That is, soul. Or, himself both body and soul.
24 Or, release money, that which is given for the release of those who are imprisoned.
25 That is, instead of many, namely, the elect children of God, thereby to redeem them from eternal death, John 10:15, 11:52; 17:9.
29Andq as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
q Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35.
30¶And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
31And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
32And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
33They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
34So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.