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Jesus told the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in Matthew 20 while teaching the crowds in the region of Judea during His earthly ministry. He used it to illustrate the Kingdom of God, where even the last will be rewarded equally with the first. This highlights God's generosity and justice.
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denariusfor the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘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.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Matthew 20:1-16
Explanation of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, also known as the Parable of the Generous Employer or the Workers of the Last Hour, tells the story of a landowner who hires workers at different times of the day but pays everyone the same wage. This causes discontent among those who worked longer hours.
The central teaching of the parable is about God's grace and generosity, which is not based on merit but on His unconditional love. The parable teaches that everyone has equal value in God's eyes, regardless of when they accept His grace. Jesus also urges us to avoid envy and to appreciate generosity and compassion.
What Does “The Last Will Be First, and the First Will Be Last” Mean?
When Jesus said, "The last will be first, and the first will be last," He was teaching that in the Kingdom of Heaven, the order of priorities is different from that of the world. God values humility, service, and faithfulness, not social status or length of service.
This saying of Jesus means that whether someone has followed the Gospel for a long time or is a recent convert, they are equally loved and important to God, without exception.
This phrase is a lesson about the importance of putting God first and serving others with love and humility, without seeking personal glory. Those who humble themselves will be exalted, while those who seek earthly glory will be humbled.
See also: Bible Study Lessons Organized by Theme