Matthew 20:12

Matthew 20:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’

Context of Matthew 20:12

10When those who had been hired first came, they expected to receive more. But each of them received a day’s wages. 11Although they took it, they began to protest to the owner. They said, ‘These last workers have worked only one hour. Yet, you’ve treated us all the same, even though we worked hard all day under a blazing sun.’ 13“The owner said to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me on a day’s wages? 14Take your money and go! I want to give this last worker as much as I gave you.

Matthew 20:12 word by word

λέγοντες οὗτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι μίαν ὥραν ἐποίησαν, καὶ ἴσους ἡμῖν αὐτοὺς ἐποίησας, τοῖς βαστάσασιν τὸ βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν καύσωνα.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• Theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
• have wroughtποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• hourὥραhōra · hourG5610
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• equalἴσοςisos · equalG2470
• unto usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• which have borneβαστάζωbastazō · to carryG941
• the burdenβάροςbaros · burdenG922
• heatκαύσωνkausōn · heatG2742
• of the dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250

Cross-references for Matthew 20:12

• Luke 14:10So when you’re invited, take the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, ‘Friend, move to a more honorable place.’ Then all the other guests will see how you are honored.
• Romans 3:22Everyone who believes has God’s approval through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no difference between people.
• Ephesians 3:6This mystery is the Good News that people who are not Jewish have the same inheritance as Jewish people do. They belong to the same body and share the same promise that God made in Christ Jesus.
• Isaiah 58:2They look for me every day and want to know my ways. They act as if they were a nation that has done what is right and as if they haven’t disregarded God’s judgment ⌞on them⌟. They ask me for just decrees. They want God to be near them.
• Zechariah 7:3They asked the priests from the house of the Lord of Armies as well as the prophets, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done for so many years?”
• Malachi 1:13“You say, ‘Oh what a nuisance it is,’ and you sniff at it in disgust,” says the Lord of Armies. “You bring stolen, lame, and sick animals. When you bring such offerings, should I accept them from you?” asks the Lord.
• Malachi 3:14“You have said, ‘It’s pointless to serve God. What do we gain if we meet his standards or if we walk around feeling sorry for what we’ve done?
• Luke 15:29But he answered his father, ‘All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your commands. Yet, you’ve never given me so much as a little goat for a celebration with my friends.
• Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood up and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people! I’m not a robber or a dishonest person. I haven’t committed adultery. I’m not even like this tax collector.
• Romans 3:27So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith.
• Romans 9:30So what can we say? We can say that non-Jewish people who were not trying to gain God’s approval won his approval, an approval based on faith.
• Romans 10:1Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of the Jewish people is that they would be saved.
• Romans 11:5So, as there were then, there are now a few left that God has chosen by his kindness.
• 1 Corinthians 4:11To this moment, we are hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, roughly treated, and homeless.
• 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they Christ’s servants? It’s insane to say it, but I’m a far better one. I’ve done much more work, been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely, and have faced death more often.

Commentaries on Matthew 20:12

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The burden and heat of the day - The burden means the heavy labor, the severe toil. We have continued at that toil in the heat of the day. The others had worked only a little while, and that in the cool of the evening, and when it was fax more pleasant and much less fatiguing.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. 1212. Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat--the burning heat. of the day--who have wrought not only longer but during a more trying period of the day.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 20:12

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

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