For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
¶ Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
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Commentary for Matthew 20:7
Matthew 20:7 is part of the parable of the workers in the vineyard, which Jesus tells to illustrate the kingdom of heaven. In this parable, a landowner goes out several times throughout the day to hire workers for his vineyard. In verse 7, he encounters men standing idle in the marketplace and asks why they have not been hired. They reply that no one has hired them, so the landowner tells them to go and work in his vineyard, promising to pay them what is right.
The historical context of this verse is set within the agricultural society of first-century Palestine, where day laborers were common. These laborers would gather in public places, waiting for landowners to hire them for daily work. The themes of the verse and the larger parable include God's grace, the generosity of the kingdom of heaven, and the challenge of human notions of fairness and entitlement.
In the parable, the landowner represents God, and the varying hours that the laborers work represent the different times in life when people come to faith or service in God's kingdom. The promise to pay "whatsoever is right" underscores the concept that God's generosity and justice are not always aligned with human expectations. The landowner's actions reflect the divine generosity that operates beyond human standards of fairness, offering grace and reward to all, regardless of the timing or duration of their service. This teaches a lesson about the kingdom of heaven, where the last can be first and the first last, and where mercy and grace triumph over strict retributive justice.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: G3004 There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: λέγω Transliteration: légō Pronunciation: leg'-o Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
Strong's Number: G846 There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: αὐτός Transliteration: autós Pronunciation: ow-tos' Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
Strong's Number: G3754 There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ὅτι Transliteration: hóti Pronunciation: hot'-ee Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
Strong's Number: G3762 There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: οὐδείς Transliteration: oudeís Pronunciation: oo-den' Description: from οὐδέ and εἷς; not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing:--any (man), aught, man, neither any (thing), never (man), no (man), none (+ of these things), not (any, at all, -thing), nought.
Strong's Number: G3409 There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: μισθόω Transliteration: misthóō Pronunciation: mis-tho'-o Description: from μισθός; to let out for wages, i.e. (middle voice) to hire:--hire.
Strong's Number: G2248 There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ἡμᾶς Transliteration: hēmâs Pronunciation: hay-mas' Description: accusative case plural of ἐγώ; us:--our, us, we.
Strong's Number: G5217 There are 77 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ὑπάγω Transliteration: hypágō Pronunciation: hoop-ag'-o Description: from ὑπό and ἄγω; to lead (oneself) under, i.e. withdraw or retire (as if sinking out of sight), literally or figuratively:--depart, get hence, go (a-)way.
Strong's Number: G5210 There are 228 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ὑμεῖς Transliteration: hymeîs Pronunciation: hoo-mice' Description: irregular plural of σύ; you (as subjective of verb):--ye (yourselves), you.
Strong's Number: G2532 There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: καί Transliteration: kaí Pronunciation: kahee Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Strong's Number: G1519 There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: εἰς Transliteration: eis Pronunciation: ice Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
Strong's Number: G290 There are 122 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ἀμπελών Transliteration: ampelṓn Pronunciation: am-pel-ohn' Description: from ἄμπελος; a vineyard:--vineyard.
Strong's Number: G3739 There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ὅς Transliteration: hós Pronunciation: ho Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ.
Strong's Number: G1437 There are 254 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ἐάν Transliteration: eán Pronunciation: eh-an' Description: from εἰ and ἄν; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty:--before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever). See μή.
Strong's Number: G5600 There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ὦ Transliteration: ō Pronunciation: ay Description: the subjunctive of εἰμί; (may, might, can, could, would, should, must, etc.; also with εἰ and its comparative, as well as with other particles) be:--+ appear, are, (may, might, should) be, X have, is, + pass the flower of her age, should stand, were.
Strong's Number: G1342 There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: δίκαιος Transliteration: díkaios Pronunciation: dik'-ah-yos Description: from δίκη; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):--just, meet, right(-eous).
Strong's Number: G2983 There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: λαμβάνω Transliteration: lambánō Pronunciation: lam-ban'-o Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas δέχομαι is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while αἱρέομαι is more violent, to seize or remove)):--accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).