1.
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.
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 .
heaven = the heavens. See note on Matthew 6:9 , 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 .
into = for. Greek. eis. App-104 .
vineyard. See Isaiah 5:1-7 . Psalms 80:8 , Psalms 80:9 . Israel was in question, not the Church. See Matthew 19:28 .
2.
And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
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 = 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.
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.
right = just.
give = pay.
5.
Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
the sixth . . . hour. The hour of the vision when Peter was sent to the Gentiles at Caesarea (Acts 10:9 ). ninth hour. The hour when the angel appeared to Cornelius (Acts 10:3 ), and others became labourers (Acts 21:16 ).
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?
the eleventh hour. The Art. is emphatic, as with the "third". See note on "even" (Matthew 20:8 ). It was immediately before the end.
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.
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 ; Acts 18:2 , Acts 18:8 , Acts 18:10 , Acts 18:18 , Acts 18:24 ; Acts 19:6-8 , Acts 19:20 ; Acts 20:1 , Acts 20:4 , Acts 20:17 ; Acts 21:8 , Acts 21:16 . But, as the Nation refused the call to repent (Acts 28:25 , Acts 28:26 ), "the eleventh hour" is still future, awaiting the proclamation foretold in Matthew 24:14 .
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.
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 , when all will be justly rewarded.
9.
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
every man = each.
10.
But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
supposed = reckoned according to law. See note on Luke 3:23 .
11.
And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
against. Greek. kata. App-104 .
Goodman = the master 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.
These = That these. Greek. hoti, putting their words between quotation marks. See note on Luke 23:43 .
have wrought but one hour = made one hour. A Hebraism. Compare Ruth 2:19 , "Where wroughtest thou to-day? "(Hebrew. 'anah 'asitha). So, in the sense of making or spending time (Acts 15:33 ; Acts 18:23 . 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.
13.
But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
one. Representing the whole body, as Peter was the "one" in Matthew 19:27 .
Friend. Greek. Hetairos = Comrade, more distant than philos (= beloved). Occurs only in Matthew (here; Matthew 11:16 ; Matthew 22:12 ; Matthew 26:50 ).
wrong = injustice.
14.
Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
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.
15.
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
with = in. Greek. en . App-104 .
mine own. Plural = mine own [affairs].
thine eye evil. A Hebraism. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 15:9 ). App-117 .
evil = grudging. Greek. poneria . App-128 .:3. Emphatic
good = generous.
16.
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
So, &c. See note on Matthew 19:30 , which precedes the parable, as this concludes it.
17.
And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
Jesus. App-98 .
18.
Behold, 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,
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
the Son of man. See App-98 .
betrayed, &c. = delivered up, as in Matthew 20:19 . These are the additional features of this third announcement (see note on Matthew 16:21 ); the second and fourth being Matthew 17:22 and Matthew 20:28 .
condemn. Greek. katakrino. App-122 .
19.
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
deliver Him = deliver Him up, as in Matthew 20:18 .
the third day. See App-148 .
20.
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
came. With her sons. Mark 10:35 "came [with their mother]".
the mother. Salome. Compare Matthew 27:56 with Mark 15:40 .
Zebedee's. See note on Matthew 4:21 .
children = sons. App-108 . The two sons (James and John) acted with their mother (prompting her). Compare "Ye" (Matthew 20:22 , and 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 .
21.
And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
Grant = Bid, as in Matthew 4:3 ; or Matthew 23:3 ("bid").
the left = [Thy] left.
22.
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
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 ; Jeremiah 49:12 .Ezekiel 23:33 .
shall drink of = am about to drink of.
baptized. App-115 .
baptism. App-115 .
23.
And 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, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
shall = shall indeed. James (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 .
prepared: or, destined. of = by. Greek. hupo.
Father. App-98 .
24.
And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
moved with indignation = took great umbrage.
against = about, or with respect to. Greek. peri.
25.
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
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 ; where the verb is not the same. See note there.
26.
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
But = However.
among. Greek. en.
minister = servant (in relation to activity) .
27.
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
chief = first.
servant = bond-servant (in relation to servitude).
28.
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
The fourth announcement of His sufferings. See note on 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 ). App-117 .1.
for = in the stead of. Greek. anti. App-104 .
29.
And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
departed = not approaching, as in Luke 18:35 ; or arriving and leaving, as in Mark 10:46 .
great multitude. The population was about 100,000, doubtless with many blind about the gates.
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.
two blind men. There are no "discrepancies" between this account and those of Mark 10:46 and 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 .
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 , and App-98 .
31.
And 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.
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 .
32.
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
called them. In the other cases He commanded them to be "called" (Mark 10:49 ), and "led" (Luke 18:40 ). App-152 .
shall = should.
unto = for.
33.
They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
34.
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
received = regained.
they followed. As in Mark 10:52 , and Luke 18:43 .