Matthew 20:8-16

8“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last [to be hired] and ending with the first [to be hired].’

9Those who had been hired at the eleventh hour (5:00 p.m.) came and received a denarius each [a day’s wage].

10Now when the first [to be hired] came, they thought they would get more; but each of them also received a denarius.

11When they received it, they protested and grumbled at the owner of the estate,

12saying, ‘These men who came last worked [only] one hour, and yet you have made them equal [in wages] to us who have carried [most of] the burden and [worked in] the scorching heat of the day.’

13But the owner of the estate replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14Take what belongs to you and go, but I choose to give to this last man [hired] the same as I give to you.

15Am I not lawfully permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’

16So those who are last [in this world] shall be first [in the world to come], and those who are first, last.”