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 landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. 3“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.

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 of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
• Matthew 13:24Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.
• Matthew 22:2“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.
• Matthew 25:1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
• Matthew 9:37He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
• Matthew 21:33“Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.
• Isaiah 5:1Now I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill.
• John 15:1“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.
• Matthew 23:37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.
• Jeremiah 25:3“For the past twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, until now—the Lord has been giving me his messages. I have faithfully passed them on to you, but you have not listened.
• Mark 13:34“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
• Hebrews 13:21may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
• 2 Peter 1:5In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with 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