God’s Word Translation
Matthew 20:13
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?
Matthew 20:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
- New International Version (NIV)“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
- English Standard Version (ESV)But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
- New King James Version (NKJV)But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
Context of Matthew 20:13
11Although they took it, they began to protest to the owner. 12They 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.’ “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. 15Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Or do you resent my generosity towards others?’
Read all of Matthew 20Matthew 20:13 word by word
ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς ἑνὶ αὐτῶν εἶπεν· ἑταῖρε, οὐκ ἀδικῶ σε· οὐχὶ δηναρίου συνεφώνησάς μοι;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- he answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- of themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Friendἑταῖροςhetairos · friendG2083
- I doἀδικέωadikeō · to harmG91
- theeσύsu · youG4771
- noοὐou · noG3756
- didstσυμφωνέωsumphōneō · to agree withG4856
- notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
- with meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- for a pennyδηνάριονdēnarion · denariusG1220
Cross-references for Matthew 20:13
- Matthew 22:12He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without proper wedding clothes?’ “The man had nothing to say.
- Matthew 26:50Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then some men came forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.
- Genesis 18:25It would be unthinkable for you to do such a thing, to treat the innocent and the guilty alike and to kill the innocent with the guilty. That would be unthinkable! Won’t the judge of the whole earth do what is fair?”
- Job 34:8who travels with troublemakers and associates with evil people?
- Job 35:2“Do you think this is right when you say, ‘My case is more just than God’s,’
- Job 40:8“Would you undo my justice? Would you condemn me so that you can be righteous?
- Romans 9:14What can we say—that God is unfair? That’s unthinkable!
Commentaries on Matthew 20:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Friend, I do thee no wrong - The salvation of the Gentiles can in itself become no impediment to the Jews; there is the same Jesus both for the Jew and for the Greek. Eternal life is offered to both through the blood of the cross; and there is room enough in heaven for all.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Friend, I do thee no wrong - I have fully complied with the contract. We had an agreement: I have paid all that I promised. If I choose to give a penny to another man if he labors little or not at all if I should choose to give all my property away to others, it would not affect this contract with you: it is fully met; and with my own with that on which you have no further claim I may do as I please. So, if Christians are just, and pay their lawful debts…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. 1313. But he answered one of them--doubtless the spokesman of the complaining party. and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? &c.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 20:13
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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