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 a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3When it was about nine o’clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work.

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, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
• Matthew 13:24He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field.
• Matthew 22:2“The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.
• Matthew 25:1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
• Matthew 9:37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
• Matthew 21:33“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey.
• Isaiah 5:1I will sing to my love – a song to my lover about his vineyard. My love had a vineyard on a fertile hill.
• John 15:1“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.
• Matthew 23:37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!
• Jeremiah 25:3“For the last twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was ruling in Judah until now, the Lord has been speaking to me. I told you over and over again what he said. But you would not listen.
• Mark 13:34It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
• Hebrews 13:21equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
• 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge;

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