Matthew 20:14

Commentary on Matthew 20:14 (KJV)

The verse "‹Take [that] thine [is], and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.›" comes from the mouth of the master in Jesus's Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. It is a direct and firm response to the complaint of the laborers who were hired early in the day, feeling unjustly treated because those hired later received the same wage.

Context

This parable, found in Matthew 20:1-16, illustrates principles of God's Kingdom. A landowner hires laborers for his vineyard at various times throughout the day—early morning, third hour, sixth hour, ninth hour, and eleventh hour. At the end of the day, he pays them all a denarius, starting with those hired last. The laborers who worked all day expected more, but the master reminds them that he fulfilled his agreement (a denarius) and has the right to be generous with his own money as he sees fit. This passage addresses the human tendency towards envy and the divine prerogative of grace.

Key Themes

• Divine Sovereignty and Generosity: The master, representing God, asserts his absolute right to manage his affairs and dispense his blessings as he pleases. His generosity is not bound by human expectations of fairness or merit, but by his own will and nature. This highlights God's unchallengeable authority and his abundant grace.
• Grace Over Works: The parable challenges a works-based mentality. While the first laborers received what they earned (their agreed-upon wage), the last received far more than their labor warranted, demonstrating unmerited favor. This points to salvation and divine blessings as gifts of grace, not rewards for effort or duration of service.
• Warning Against Envy and Entitlement: The complaint of the early laborers reveals a spirit of envy and entitlement. They were not wronged, as they received their agreed wage, but they resented the master's goodness to others. The verse serves as a rebuke to such attitudes, reminding believers to rejoice in God's goodness to all, rather than comparing their blessings.
• God's Ways Are Higher: The master's actions demonstrate that God's justice and generosity operate on a different plane than human systems of merit. As it says in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translation of this verse is quite direct and forceful. The phrase "‹Take [that] thine [is], and go thy way›" (Greek: Labe to son, kai hypage) conveys a clear command and dismissal. It underscores the master's insistence on his right to act according to his own will, without needing to justify his generosity to those who have no claim on it beyond their agreed-upon wage. The emphasis is on "thine [is]," meaning "what belongs to you" or "what was agreed upon."

Practical Application

This verse calls believers to a deeper understanding of God's grace.

• Trust God's Justice: We must trust that God is just and good in all His dealings, even when His actions don't align with our human expectations of "fairness." His generosity is His prerogative.
• Guard Against Envy: It serves as a powerful reminder to avoid envy and resentment when God blesses others, especially those who may seem less deserving or who come to faith later in life. Our focus should be on our own relationship with God and the grace we have received, not on comparing ourselves to others.
• Embrace Grace: Ultimately, the parable encourages us to embrace the radical nature of God's grace, which gives abundantly not based on our merit or length of service, but on His boundless love. This grace is available to all who respond to His call, regardless of when they enter the "vineyard."