Matthew 20:2

And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And {G1161} when he had agreed {G4856} with {G3326} the labourers {G2040} for {G1537} a penny {G1220} a day {G2250}, he sent {G649} them {G846} into {G1519} his {G846} vineyard {G290}.

After agreeing with the workers on a wage of one denarius, [the standard daily wage,] he sent them off to his vineyard.

He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Commentary

Context

This verse introduces the central agreement in Jesus's Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Coming immediately after Peter’s question about the disciples' reward for following Jesus (Matthew 19:27), this parable serves to illustrate fundamental principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, particularly concerning divine grace, generosity, and God's sovereignty over rewards. It challenges human notions of fairness based on merit or duration of service.

Key Themes

  • The Agreed Wage: The initial agreement for "a penny a day" establishes a clear, standard, and fair daily wage for the time. This sets up the expectation of a contract, which the parable later transcends. It highlights the master's initial fairness and the laborers' acceptance of the terms.
  • Call to Labor: The master's act of sending the laborers into his "vineyard" signifies a divine invitation to participate in God's work or the Kingdom of Heaven. It implies a readiness to serve and trust in the master's provision.
  • Foundation for Grace: While focusing on the agreement, this verse lays the groundwork for the parable's ultimate message: that God's generosity often extends beyond strict contractual obligations, demonstrating His boundless grace to all who respond to His call, regardless of when they begin their service.

Linguistic Insights

The term "penny" used in the KJV translates the Greek word denarion (δηνάριον). This was a Roman silver coin, equivalent to a day's wages for a common laborer in the 1st century Roman Empire. Therefore, the agreement for "a penny a day" meant a standard, fair, and expected amount for a full day's work. This detail grounds the parable in the economic realities of Jesus's audience, making the subsequent events of the story even more striking as they deviate from conventional human expectations of earned compensation.

Practical Application

Matthew 20:2 reminds us of the initial call to service and the understanding of a fair agreement. For believers, it highlights:

  • Faithfulness in Our Calling: We are called to be diligent and faithful in the tasks God has given us, trusting in His ultimate provision and reward. The initial agreement signifies a commitment to the work.
  • Trusting God's Economy: While we may have expectations based on our human understanding of fairness, this verse, in its broader context, prepares us to accept that God's ways and His distribution of grace and reward are often different from ours, operating on principles of divine sovereignty and generosity rather than strict merit (as seen in Isaiah 55:8).
  • The Value of the Agreement: It underscores the importance of a clear understanding of what God asks of us and what He promises in return, before fully appreciating the surplus of His grace.
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Cross-References

  • Matthew 22:19 (2 votes)

    Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

  • 1 Kings 3:6 (2 votes)

    And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as [it is] this day.

  • 1 Kings 3:11 (2 votes)

    And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

  • 1 Samuel 16:11 (2 votes)

    And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all [thy] children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

  • 1 Samuel 16:12 (2 votes)

    And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and] withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:3 (2 votes)

    For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

  • 1 Kings 18:12 (2 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [as soon as] I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and [so] when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.