Matthew 20:1

Matthew 20:1 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

Context of Matthew 20:1

“For the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard. 2When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour (9:00 a.m.) and saw others standing idle in the market place;

Matthew 20:1 word by word

Ὁμοία γάρ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωῒ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• the kingdomὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• likeὅμοιοςhomoios · likeG3664
• unto a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• an householderοἰκοδεσπότηςoikodespotēs · householderG3617
• whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• went outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• earlyἅμαhama · togetherG260
• in the morningπρωΐprōi · earlyG4404
• to hireμισθόωmisthoō · to hireG3409
• labourersἐργάτηςergatēs · workerG2040
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• vineyardἀμπελώνampelōn · vineyardG290

Cross-references for Matthew 20:1

• Matthew 3:2“Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
• Matthew 13:24Jesus gave them another parable [to consider], saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
• Matthew 22:2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
• Matthew 25:1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
• Matthew 9:37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few.
• Matthew 21:33“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to tenant farmers and went on a journey [to another country].
• Isaiah 5:1Now let me sing for my greatly Beloved [Lord] A song of my Beloved about His vineyard (His chosen people). My greatly Beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile slope (the promised land, Canaan).
• John 15:1“ I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
• Matthew 23:37“ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who murders the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I wanted to gather your children together [around Me], as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
• Jeremiah 25:3“For these twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you over and over again, but you have not listened.
• Mark 13:34It is like a man away on a journey, who when he left home put his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and also ordered the doorkeeper to be continually alert.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].
• Hebrews 13:21equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
• 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding),

Commentaries on Matthew 20:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man - a householder - The very commencement of this chapter shows it to be connected with the preceding. The manner of God's proceeding under the Gospel dispensation resembles a householder, who went out at day break, , together with the morning; as the light began to go out of its chambers in the east, so he went out of his bed-room to employ laborers, that they might cultivate his vineyard. This was what was…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1For the kingdom of heaven … - The word “for” shows that this chapter should have been connected with the preceding. The parable was spoken expressly to illustrate the sentiment in the last verse of that chapter: “Many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” The kingdom of heaven means here the church, including, perhaps, its state here and hereafter. See the notes at Matthew 3:2. It has reference to rewards, and the meaning may be thus…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The parable of the labourers in the vineyard. (1-16) Jesus again foretells his sufferings. (17-19) The ambition of James and John. (20-28) Jesus gives sight to two blind men near Jericho. (29-34) Verses 1-16 The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the Jews were first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews. The…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-16This parable is like the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11–32). In both, God shows grace to two groups, but one complains about unfair treatment.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-16This parable, recorded only by Matthew, is closely connected with the end of the nineteenth chapter, being spoken with reference to Peter's question as to how it should fare with those who, like himself, had left all for Christ. It is designed to show that while they would be richly rewarded, a certain equity would still be observed towards later converts and workmen in His service. 1. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 20:1

• Contracts
• Employee
• Gospel
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Labor
• Reward
• Servant
• Vineyard
• Wages
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Choose
• Condemn
• Drink
• Hireling
• Idle
• Prepare
• Ransom
• Wages
• Wrong

Commentaries on Matthew 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings