---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "the kingdom of heaven. See App-114 . This parable occurs only in Matthew, and is called forth by Peter"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/matthew/20"
---

**the kingdom of heaven.** See App-114 . This parable occurs only in Matthew, and is called forth by Peter's question in [Matthew 19:27](../../../kjv/matthew/19/27) .
**heaven** = the heavens. See note on [Matthew 6:9](../../../kjv/matthew/6/9) , [Matthew 6:10](../../../kjv/matthew/6/10) .
**a man that is an householder** = a man a house holder. A Hebraism = master of a house.
**early in the morning** = together with the dawn.
**to hire.** Greek. *misthoomai.* Occurs only here, and [Matthew 20:7](../../../kjv/matthew/20/7) .
**into** = for. Greek. *eis.* App-104 .
**vineyard.** See [Isaiah 5:1-7](../../../kjv/isaiah/5/1-7) . [Psalms 80:8](../../../kjv/psalms/80/8) , [Psalms 80:9](../../../kjv/psalms/80/9) . Israel was in question, not the Church. See [Matthew 19:28](../../../kjv/matthew/19/28) .

**with.** Greek. *meta.*
**the labourers:** i.e. the twelve Apostles (the first called).
**for.** Greek. *ek.* App-104 ; *ek =* out of, or from [the bargain] a penny a day.
**penny.** Greek. *denarion* ( App-51 .) = a day's wage at that time ([Luke 10:35](../../../kjv/luke/10/35) = two days'). Came to be used for any coin, as in English we "turn an honest penny". The initial of *denarius* came to be our "d" for pence.

**the third hour** = 9am. The hour named in connection with Pentecost ([Acts 2:15](../../../kjv/acts/2/15) ).
**others.** Not there at the first hour. Other labourers were then engaged ([Acts 4:36](../../../kjv/acts/4/36) ; [Acts 6:1](../../../kjv/acts/6/1) , [Acts 6:5](../../../kjv/acts/6/5) ; [Acts 8:4](../../../kjv/acts/8/4) , [Acts 8:12](../../../kjv/acts/8/12) ; [Acts 9:10](../../../kjv/acts/9/10) , [Acts 9:25](../../../kjv/acts/9/25) , [Acts 9:27](../../../kjv/acts/9/27) , [Acts 9:30](../../../kjv/acts/9/30) ).

**right** = just.
**give** = pay.

**the sixth . . . hour.** The hour of the vision when Peter was sent to the Gentiles at Caesarea ([Acts 10:9](../../../kjv/acts/10/9) ). ninth hour. The hour when the angel appeared to Cornelius ([Acts 10:3](../../../kjv/acts/10/3) ), and others became labourers ([Acts 21:16](../../../kjv/acts/21/16) ).

**the eleventh hour.** The Art. is emphatic, as with the "third". See note on "even" ([Matthew 20:8](../../../kjv/matthew/20/8) ). It was immediately before the end.

**no man** = no one.
**us.** These were the heralds of the gospel of the kingdom, immediately before the close of the dispensation of the Acts. See [Acts 17:34](../../../kjv/acts/17/34) ; [Acts 18:2](../../../kjv/acts/18/2) , [Acts 18:8](../../../kjv/acts/18/8) , [Acts 18:10](../../../kjv/acts/18/10) , [Acts 18:18](../../../kjv/acts/18/18) , [Acts 18:24](../../../kjv/acts/18/24) ; [Acts 19:6-8](../../../kjv/acts/19/6-8) , [Acts 19:20](../../../kjv/acts/19/20) ; [Acts 20:1](../../../kjv/acts/20/1) , [Acts 20:4](../../../kjv/acts/20/4) , [Acts 20:17](../../../kjv/acts/20/17) ; [Acts 21:8](../../../kjv/acts/21/8) , [Acts 21:16](../../../kjv/acts/21/16) . But, as the Nation refused the call to repent ([Acts 28:25](../../../kjv/acts/28/25) , [Acts 28:26](../../../kjv/acts/28/26) ), "the eleventh hour" is still future, awaiting the proclamation foretold in [Matthew 24:14](../../../kjv/matthew/24/14) .

**even.** Even Bengel held that this refers to "the last judgment". And it is clearly the time of reckoning and of the reward spoken of in [Matthew 19:29](../../../kjv/matthew/19/29) , when all will be justly rewarded.

**every man** = each.

**supposed** = reckoned according to law. See note on [Luke 3:23](../../../kjv/luke/3/23) .

**against.** Greek. *kata.* App-104 .
**Goodman** = the master of the house.

**These** = That these. Greek. *hoti,* putting their words between quotation marks. See note on [Luke 23:43](../../../kjv/luke/23/43) .
**have wrought but one hour** = made one hour. A Hebraism. Compare [Ruth 2:19](../../../kjv/ruth/2/19) , "Where wroughtest thou to-day? "(Hebrew. *'anah 'asitha).* So, in the sense of making or spending time ([Acts 15:33](../../../kjv/acts/15/33) ; [Acts 18:23](../../../kjv/acts/18/23) . [2 Corinthians 11:25](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/11/25) ); used for continuing, as suggested in Authorized Version margin. But it is the same word rendered "made" in the next clause.
**made them** = done to them.
**heat** = scorching heat.

**one.** Representing the whole body, as Peter was the "one" in [Matthew 19:27](../../../kjv/matthew/19/27) .
**Friend.** Greek. *Hetairos =* Comrade, more distant than *philos* (= beloved). Occurs only in Matthew (here; [Matthew 11:16](../../../kjv/matthew/11/16) ; [Matthew 22:12](../../../kjv/matthew/22/12) ; [Matthew 26:50](../../../kjv/matthew/26/50) ).
**wrong** = injustice.

**Take** = Take up.
**that thine is** = thine own.
**I will give** = for I will ( App-102 .) to give.
**will** = wish, or desire. App-102 .
**even as unto thee** = as to thee also.

**with** = in. Greek. *en* . App-104 .
**mine own.** Plural = mine own [affairs].
**thine eye evil.** A Hebraism. Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 15:9](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/15/9) ). App-117 .
**evil** = grudging. Greek. *poneria* . App-128 .:3. Emphatic
**good** = generous.

**So, &c.** See note on [Matthew 19:30](../../../kjv/matthew/19/30) , which precedes the parable, as this concludes it.

**Jesus.** App-98 .

**Behold.** Figure of speech *Asterismos.* App-6 .
**the Son of man.** See App-98 .
**betrayed, &c.** = delivered up, as in [Matthew 20:19](../../../kjv/matthew/20/19) . These are the additional features of this third announcement (see note on [Matthew 16:21](../../../kjv/matthew/16/21) ); the second and fourth being [Matthew 17:22](../../../kjv/matthew/17/22) and [Matthew 20:28](../../../kjv/matthew/20/28) .
**condemn.** Greek. *katakrino.* App-122 .

**deliver Him** = deliver Him up, as in [Matthew 20:18](../../../kjv/matthew/20/18) .
**the third day.** See App-148 .

**came.** With her sons. [Mark 10:35](../../../kjv/mark/10/35) "came [with their mother]".
**the mother.** *Salome.* Compare [Matthew 27:56](../../../kjv/matthew/27/56) with [Mark 15:40](../../../kjv/mark/15/40) .
**Zebedee's.** See note on [Matthew 4:21](../../../kjv/matthew/4/21) .
**children** = sons. App-108 . The two sons (James and John) acted with their mother (prompting her). Compare "Ye" ([Matthew 20:22](../../../kjv/matthew/20/22) , and [Mark 10:35](../../../kjv/mark/10/35) ). Mark's account is supplementary.
**sons.** Implies what Mark says. All three came together. worshipping = prostrating herself. Greek. *proskuneo.* App-137 .
**desiring** = asking.
**of** = from. Greek. *para.* App-104 .

**Grant** = Bid, as in [Matthew 4:3](../../../kjv/matthew/4/3) ; or [Matthew 23:3](../../../kjv/matthew/23/3) ("bid").
**the left** = [Thy] left.

**Ye.** Ye two. know not = have no idea. Greek. *oida.* App-132 .
**ask** = ask for. App-134 .
**the cup.** Which would be at His right hand. A symbol of participation. [Jeremiah 25:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/15) ; [Jeremiah 49:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/12) .[Ezekiel 23:33](../../../kjv/ezekiel/23/33) .
**shall drink of** = am about to drink of.
**baptized.** App-115 .
**baptism.** App-115 .

**shall** = shall indeed. James ([Acts 12:2](../../../kjv/acts/12/2) ), and John martyred, according to tradition.
**but it shall be given to them for whom, &c.** Omit all these italics, and read "but [to those] for whom". Compare [Mark 10:40](../../../kjv/mark/10/40) .
**prepared:** or, destined. of = by. Greek. *hupo.*
**Father.** App-98 .

**moved with indignation** = took great umbrage.
**against** = about, or with respect to. Greek. *peri.*

**exercise dominion** = lord it over.
**they that are great** = the great ones.
**exercise authority upon.** The Prep, *kata* (= down. App-104 .) in the verb implies a bad sense and = oppress them. Compare [Luke 22:25](../../../kjv/luke/22/25) ; where the verb is not the same. See note there.

**But** = However.
**among.** Greek. *en.*
**minister** = servant (in relation to *activity)* .

**chief** = first.
**servant** = bond-servant (in relation to servitude).

The fourth announcement of His sufferings. See note on [Matthew 16:21](../../../kjv/matthew/16/21) .
**to be ministered unto** = to be served.
**to minister** = to serve.
**life** = soul.
**ransom** = redemption price. Reference to Pentateuch ([Numbers 35:31](../../../kjv/numbers/35/31) ). App-117 .1.
**for** = in the stead of. Greek. *anti.* App-104 .

**departed** = not approaching, as in [Luke 18:35](../../../kjv/luke/18/35) ; or arriving and leaving, as in [Mark 10:46](../../../kjv/mark/10/46) .
**great multitude.** The population was about 100,000, doubtless with many blind about the gates.

**two blind men.** There are no "discrepancies" between this account and those of [Mark 10:46](../../../kjv/mark/10/46) and [Luke 18:35](../../../kjv/luke/18/35) . They describe three miracles on four blind men: one on approaching Jericho; one on leaving; two after He had left. See App-152 .
**Sitting.** Not "begging", as in [Luke 18:35](../../../kjv/luke/18/35) .
**by** = beside. Greek. *par* a. App-104 . The others were at each gate.
**passed by** = is passing by.
**mercy** = pity.
**Lord.** App-98 .
**Son of David.** Therefore Israelites, having a claim on Him as such. The fifth of nine occurrences of this title in Matthew. See note on [Matthew 1:1](../../../kjv/matthew/1/1) , and App-98 .

**rebuked . . . peace** = charged them to be silent.
**cried** = kept crying.
**the more.** Greek. *meizon.* (Adverb) Occurs only here.
**Son of David.** The sixth of nine occurrences in Matthew. See note on [Matthew 1:1](../../../kjv/matthew/1/1) .

**called them.** In the other cases He commanded them to be "called" ([Mark 10:49](../../../kjv/mark/10/49) ), and "led" ([Luke 18:40](../../../kjv/luke/18/40) ). App-152 .
**shall** = should.
**unto** = for.

**received** = regained.
**they followed.** As in [Mark 10:52](../../../kjv/mark/10/52) , and [Luke 18:43](../../../kjv/luke/18/43) .

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