Matthew 20:5

Matthew 20:5 is a concise verse within the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, found in the Gospel of Matthew. It continues the narrative of a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard throughout the day, illustrating profound principles of God's grace and sovereignty.

Context

This verse follows the initial hiring of laborers at the "first hour" (around 6 AM) for an agreed wage. Here, the landowner "again went out" to find more workers at different points in the day. The "sixth hour" corresponds to noon (12 PM), and the "ninth hour" to 3 PM, according to Jewish reckoning of time. The phrase "did likewise" indicates that he hired these new groups of workers on the same terms as the earlier ones, implying a fair, though unspecified, wage would be given at the end of the day. This detail sets the stage for the surprising payment at the end of the day, where all receive the same wage regardless of their hours worked, a central element of the parable's teaching about God's generous nature.

Key Themes

• Divine Initiative and Generosity: The landowner actively seeks out laborers throughout the day, demonstrating a proactive and abundant generosity that goes beyond human expectations of fairness based purely on merit. God's call to salvation and service is extended at various times in life.
• God's Sovereignty in Grace: The parable challenges human notions of entitlement. The landowner, representing God, has the right to dispense his blessings as he sees fit, not strictly according to human performance or duration of service. This theme is crucial for understanding God's unmerited favor and the nature of salvation.
• The Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus often used parables to describe the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. This parable suggests that entry into and reward within the Kingdom are not strictly based on the length or intensity of one's labor, but on the grace of the King.

Linguistic Insights

The terms "sixth hour" and "ninth hour" are references to the ancient Jewish method of timekeeping, where the day began at sunrise (around 6 AM). Thus, the sixth hour was midday (12 PM), and the ninth hour was mid-afternoon (3 PM). This detail emphasizes the staggered entry of various groups of laborers into the vineyard, making the landowner's ultimate payment decision all the more striking. The simple phrase "did likewise" conveys that the landowner extended the same invitation and implied promise of fair compensation to these later workers, just as he had to the first group, highlighting consistent grace.

Practical Application

Matthew 20:5, within the broader parable, offers profound encouragement and a challenge for believers today:

• Encouragement for Latecomers: It reassures those who come to faith in Christ later in life that their salvation and place in God's Kingdom are just as secure and valuable as those who served from childhood. God's grace is not diminished by the timing of one's acceptance of His call.
• Warning Against Envy and Entitlement: The parable later reveals the grumbling of the early laborers (Matthew 20:11-12), highlighting the human tendency to compare and feel entitled. This verse reminds us that salvation is a gift, and blessings from God are a matter of His grace, not our earned merit. Our service should spring from gratitude.
• Focus on God's Grace: Our motivation for serving God should stem from gratitude for His unmerited favor, not from a desire to earn or compare ourselves to others. The ultimate takeaway, summarized in Matthew 20:16, is that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His grace is sovereign.