Matthew 20:12

KJV

Saying, These last have wrought [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

KJV (with Strong's)

{G3754} Saying {G3004}, These {G3778} last {G2078} have wrought {G4160} but one {G3391} hour {G5610}, and {G2532} thou hast made {G4160} them {G846} equal {G2470} unto us {G2254}, which {G3588} have borne {G941} the burden {G922} and {G2532} heat {G2742} of the day {G2250}.

Complete Jewish Bible

`These latecomers have worked only one hour, while we have borne the brunt of the day's work in the hot sun, yet you have put them on an equal footing with us!'

Berean Standard Bible

‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’

American Standard Version

saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 20:12 captures the indignant complaint of the laborers hired at the beginning of the day in Jesus' Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. Having toiled through the full "burden and heat of the day," they express resentment that the vineyard owner has paid those who worked only one hour the same full day's wage, thereby making them "equal" to those who endured the most arduous labor. This verse highlights the human tendency to compare efforts and expect proportional rewards, setting the stage for Jesus' teaching on God's sovereign generosity and the nature of grace in the Kingdom of Heaven.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial moment within the [Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard](/matthew/20-1-16 "Matthew 20:1-16 - The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard"). Jesus tells this parable immediately following Peter's question about the disciples' reward for leaving everything to follow Him ([Matthew 19:27](/matthew/19-27 "Matthew 19:27 - Peter's Question About Reward")). The parable serves as a direct response, illustrating that the Kingdom of Heaven operates on principles different from human meritocracy. The owner's initial agreement with the first laborers establishes a baseline expectation, which is then challenged by his subsequent generosity to later workers, leading directly to the complaint in [Matthew 20:12](/matthew/20-12 "Matthew 20:12 - The Laborers' Complaint"). The parable culminates in the profound statement, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last" ([Matthew 20:16](/matthew/20-16 "Matthew 20:16 - The Last Shall Be First")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, daily labor was common, and a denarius was a typical daily wage for a laborer, sufficient to support a family. Work in vineyards, especially during harvest, was physically demanding, often under the scorching sun. Laborers would gather in the marketplace early in the morning, waiting to be hired. The practice of hiring at various times throughout the day (e.g., third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours, as mentioned in [Matthew 20:3-6](/matthew/20-3-6 "Matthew 20:3-6 - Hiring Laborers Throughout the Day")) was realistic, reflecting the fluctuating needs of agricultural work. The "heat of the day" specifically refers to the intense midday sun, which could be oppressive and dangerous, making the early laborers' complaint about their endurance understandable from a human perspective.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 20:12 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel and broader biblical theology. It powerfully illustrates the theme of **God's Sovereign Generosity and Grace**, challenging human notions of fairness and earned reward. The laborers' complaint highlights the pervasive human tendency towards **Comparison and Envy**, particularly when perceived injustice arises from others receiving unmerited favor. This verse also sets the stage for the theme of **"The First Shall Be Last,"** as the "first" laborers, despite their diligent work, demonstrate a spirit of entitlement that contrasts sharply with the owner's grace, ultimately positioning them as "last" in terms of spiritual understanding and humility, echoing Jesus' earlier teaching in [Matthew 19:30](/matthew/19-30 "Matthew 19:30 - Many Who Are First Will Be Last").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **last (Greek, _éschatos'_):** This term, meaning "farthest" or "final," refers to those laborers who were hired at the eleventh hour, just one hour before the workday concluded. Their designation as "last" is crucial, as it sets up the contrast with the "first" laborers and foreshadows the parable's concluding statement about the reversal of status in God's kingdom.
* **equal (Greek, _ísos'_):** Derived from the idea of "seeming" or "similar," this word highlights the core of the first laborers' grievance: they perceived that the owner had made the latecomers "similar in amount and kind" of reward to themselves, despite the vast disparity in their labor. Their complaint is not that the others received a denarius, but that *they* received the *same* denarius, implying a devaluation of their own greater effort.
* **burden (Greek, _báros'_):** This word signifies "weight" or "load," and figuratively, "hardship." Coupled with "heat of the day," it vividly describes the arduous and oppressive conditions endured by the early workers. Their claim to have "borne the burden" emphasizes the physical strain and difficulty of their labor, which they believed entitled them to a greater recompense than those who worked only a short time.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Saying, These last have wrought but one hour":** The complaint begins with the early laborers identifying the group that has caused their indignation – those hired last, who worked for a mere sixty minutes. This opening immediately establishes the perceived disparity in effort.
* **"and thou hast made them equal unto us":** This is the heart of their protest. The early laborers directly accuse the vineyard owner of injustice, asserting that he has treated the latecomers the same as them, despite their vastly different contributions. Their focus is on the *equality* of the wage, which they view as an affront to their greater toil.
* **"which have borne the burden and heat of the day":** This clause serves as the justification for their complaint. They appeal to their own suffering and endurance, emphasizing the long hours and harsh conditions they endured, implying that such dedication should naturally warrant a superior reward. It underscores their works-based understanding of compensation.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its message. **Irony** is evident in the complaint itself: those who were "first" in labor and privilege demonstrate a spirit of entitlement and envy, which ultimately positions them as "last" in terms of the parable's spiritual lesson. The phrase "**borne the burden and heat of the day**" serves as **Hyperbole** or vivid imagery, emphasizing the perceived suffering and arduousness of their work to underscore their sense of injustice. The entire passage is part of a **Parable**, a narrative teaching tool Jesus frequently used, where an earthly story (laborers in a vineyard) illustrates a heavenly truth (God's grace and the nature of His kingdom).

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 20:12 profoundly illustrates the tension between human notions of merit and God's divine economy of grace. The laborers' complaint exposes a deeply ingrained human tendency to measure worth and reward based on effort, duration, or perceived suffering. This works-based mentality stands in stark contrast to the vineyard owner's (representing God's) radical generosity, which gives freely and equally to all who respond to his call, regardless of their "performance." The theological implication is clear: salvation and entry into God's kingdom are not earned through human labor or merit, but are a gift of unmerited favor, challenging any sense of entitlement or comparison among believers.

* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")
* [Romans 9:15-16](/romans/9-15-16 "Romans 9:15-16 - God's Sovereign Choice")
* [Luke 15:28-30](/luke/15-28-30 "Luke 15:28-30 - The Older Brother's Resentment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 20:12 serves as a powerful mirror, inviting us to examine our own hearts regarding our service to God and our expectations of reward. Do we serve out of a pure love for Christ, or do we subtly keep score, comparing our efforts and sacrifices with those of others? The laborers' complaint warns against the insidious nature of envy and entitlement, which can poison our joy and gratitude for God's unmerited favor. True spiritual maturity involves embracing God's radical generosity, recognizing that every blessing, including salvation, is a gift, not a wage earned. This understanding should cultivate profound humility, eliminate comparison, and foster a spirit of joyful service, knowing that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His justice is always perfect, even when it defies our human logic.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life or service do you find yourself comparing your efforts or rewards with others?**
* **How does the concept of God's unmerited grace challenge your natural inclination towards a works-based mentality?**
* **What specific actions can you take to cultivate a heart of gratitude and humility, rather than entitlement or envy, in your spiritual walk?**

### FAQ
**Why did the early laborers complain if they received the wage they agreed upon?**

Answer: The laborers' complaint, as articulated in [Matthew 20:12](/matthew/20-12 "Matthew 20:12 - The Laborers' Complaint"), stemmed not from being defrauded of their agreed-upon wage, but from a perceived injustice when others received the same wage for significantly less work. While they received what was contractually owed, their expectation was that their greater effort and endurance ("borne the burden and heat of the day") should naturally translate into a greater reward than those who worked only one hour. Their grievance highlights a human tendency to compare and to feel entitled to more based on perceived merit, rather than simply being content with the agreed-upon terms.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 20:12, though a complaint, ultimately points to the radical nature of God's grace, which finds its ultimate expression in Christ. The "equality" that offended the early laborers is precisely the glorious truth of the gospel: through Christ, all who come to Him, whether "first" (like the Jews, who had the Law and the prophets) or "last" (like the Gentiles or latecomers to faith), are made equally righteous and heirs of eternal life. Jesus, through His perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection, bore the ultimate "burden and heat of the day" – the full weight of sin and God's wrath – so that salvation might be a free gift, not a earned wage. His sacrifice means that our standing before God is not based on our works or the duration of our spiritual labor, but solely on His finished work on the cross, making all who believe "equal" in His unmerited favor. This truth is beautifully articulated in passages like [Romans 3:23-24](/romans/3-23-24 "Romans 3:23-24 - Justification by Grace") and [Colossians 1:21-22](/colossians/1-21-22 "Colossians 1:21-22 - Reconciliation Through Christ"), where we see that regardless of our past, we are reconciled and presented holy before God through Christ alone.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 11:5

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Romans 11:6

And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

2 Corinthians 11:23

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

2 Corinthians 11:28

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Luke 14:10

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Luke 14:11

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 12:55

And when [ye see] the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.