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New Living Translation
Matthew 20:1
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- DailyParallel Translations
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
For the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a man that is an housholder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
"The kingdom of heaven is like a person who owned some land. One morning, he went out very early to hire some people to work in his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.
For the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a certaine, housholder, which went out at the dawning of the day to hire labourers into his vineyarde.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
As Jesus was telling what the kingdom of heaven would be like, he said: Early one morning a man went out to hire some workers for his vineyard.
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who went out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard.
For the kingdom of the heavens is like a householder who went out with the early morn to hire workmen for his vineyard.
"God's kingdom is like a man who owned some land. One morning, the man went out very early to hire some people to work in his vineyard.
FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a man, who is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
"The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a man who went out early in the morning to hire some men to work in his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man—the master of the house—who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
For the kingdom of Heaven is like a man, a housemaster, who went out when it was early to hire workers into his vineyard.
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
For the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who went out early in the morning to get workers into his vine-garden.
"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a man, a house-lord, who went forth in the early morn to hire labourers for his vinery.
For the kingdom of heaven is like a man, the lord of a house, who went out, at dawn of day, to hire laborers for his vineyard.
For the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a man, that is an householder, whiche went out earlye in the mornyng to hire labourers into his vineyarde.
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
For the kingdom of heaven is like an housholder, who went out early in the morning, to hire labourers into his vineyard.
"For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like an employer who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard,
The kyngdom of heuenes is lijc to an housbonde man, that wente out first bi the morewe, to hire werk men in to his vyneyerd.
For the kingdom of heaven is like a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire workers into his vineyard.
For the kingdom of heaven is like to a man [that is] a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
"For the holy nation of heaven is like the owner of a grape-field. He went out early in the morning to hire workmen to work in his grape-field.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
For the kingdom of the heavens, is like, a man, a householder, - who went forth with the morning, to hire labourers into his vineyard;
The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
For the kyngdome of heven ys lyke vnto an houssholder which went out erly in the morninge to hyre labourers into hys vyneyarde.
`For the reign of the heavens is like to a man, a householder, who went forth with the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard,
The kyngdome of heauen is like vnto an housholder, which wete out early in the mornynge, to hyre labourers in to his vyniarde.
For the kingdom of the Messiah is like a family, the master whereof went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard.
"God's kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work.
"The Boss's ranch in heaven is like a ranch owner who went to the feed store early in the morning to hire some day workers to help with brandin' that day.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the kingdom: This parable was intended to illustrate the equity of God's dealings, even when "the first are placed last, and the last first." Matthew 3:2, Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:45, Matthew 13:47, Matthew 22:2, Matthew 25:1, Matthew 25:14
a man: Matthew 9:37, Matthew 9:38, Matthew 21:33-43, Song of Solomon 8:11, Song of Solomon 8:12, Isaiah 5:1, Isaiah 5:2, John 15:1
early: Matthew 23:37, Song of Solomon 8:11, Song of Solomon 8:12, Jeremiah 25:3, Jeremiah 25:4
labourers: Mark 13:34, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Hebrews 13:21, 2 Peter 1:5-10
Reciprocal: Job 7:1 - like the days Job 14:6 - as an hireling Matthew 22:1 - General Luke 10:2 - the labourers Romans 4:4 - General Romans 10:21 - All day long 1 Corinthians 3:9 - ye are God's 2 Timothy 2:6 - husbandman
Cross-References
and the territory of Canaan extended from Sidon in the north to Gerar and Gaza in the south, and east as far as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha.
So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned.
Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.
The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur.
So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means "well of the Living One who sees me"). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.
The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day.
When God called me to leave my father's home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.'"
Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him.
Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man,.... That is, the Gospel dispensation, or times of the Messiah, may fitly be represented by a man
that is an householder, or master of a family, as Christ is;
See Gill "Mt 10:25" He is master of the whole family of God, in heaven, and in earth, of all the children of God, and household of faith; his house they are, he is Father and master, son and firstborn, priest and prophet there.
Which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard: by "the vineyard" may be meant the church, which, like a vineyard, is separated by electing, redeeming, and calling grace, and by the order and ordinances of the Gospel, from the rest of the world; is set with various vines, with trees of righteousness, with pleasant plants, both fruitful and profitable; and which are dear and valuable to Christ; and about which much care is used to preserve, keep, and improve them. This may be called "his", Christ's, being what he has chosen for himself, his Father has given him, and he is heir of; which he has purchased with his blood, and which he plants, waters, takes care of, and enjoys. The "labourers" design either the ministers of the Gospel, who labour in the word and doctrine, who are, or at least ought to be, labourers in Christ's vineyard, and not loiterers; whose work in study, meditation, and prayer, in the ministration of the word and ordinances, and in performing other services they are called unto, is very laborious; and made more so, through the wickedness of some, and weakness of others: the employment of these labourers in the vineyard is various; the business of some is to plant; they are chiefly made use of in conversion: the work of others is to water; these are instruments in edification, and means of the growth of grace: others have a good hand at pruning, giving reproofs and corrections, in a suitable manner, with success, to the checking of sin, and bringing forth more fruit: others are useful in propping and supporting the vines, comforting and strengthening weak believers; and others in protecting and defending the outworks of the church, the doctrines and ordinances of it: or else private Christians in general may be intended, who all are, or should be labourers, both in the exercise of grace; for there is the work of faith, and the labour of love, to God, Christ, and his people, in which they should be continually employed; and in the discharge of duty, with regard to themselves; and in the care of their own vineyard, with respect to their families, which are their charge, and also to the church of Christ, of which they are members. These labourers are said to be "hired" by the householder, or owner of the vineyard, Christ, not strictly and properly speaking; nor does it mean that he had no prior right to their obedience, or that there is any merit in their labour, or that that is the condition of their salvation; but it signifies the influence of his grace, in making them willing to serve him cheerfully, and labour in his vineyard freely; to encourage them in which, he makes them many gracious, and exceeding great and precious promises, and particularly that of eternal life: for which purpose, it is said, that he "went out", either from his Father as mediator, being sent by him; or from heaven into this world, by the assumption of human nature; or by his Spirit, and the influence of his grace, in the calls of his people, to their several services, in his church; and that "early in the morning": some of them being very early called to labour there; meaning either in the morning of the world, as Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, and others; or in the morning of the Jewish church state, as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and the like; or in the morning of the Gospel dispensation, as the apostles of Christ, which seems most likely; or in the morning of youth, as Timothy and others. Several things, in this first part of the parable, might be illustrated from the Jewish writings. They have a parable indeed, which, in the several parts of it, greatly resembles this, and begins thus m;
"to what is R. Bon like? to a king that hath a vineyard,
×ש×ר ×¢××× ×¤××¢×××, "and hires labourers into it", c.''
Out of which some other things will be remarked, in the following parts of this parable: of a son's being sent, and going out to hire labourers into the vineyard, take the following instance n:
"it happened to R. Jochanan ben Matthia, that said to his son,
×¦× ×ש×ר, "go out, and hire labourers" for us: "he went out", and agreed with them for their food.''
The time of hiring labourers, here mentioned, exactly agrees with the Jewish accounts o.
"Says R. Juda ben Bethira, when the face of all the east is light unto Hebron, all the people go out, every man to his work and when it is so light, it is good "to hire labourers we say".''
Upon which the gloss says,
"every man goes out to his work, not for labourers, but the "householder", who ×ש××× ××תר, "rises earlier to find labourers to hire".''
Perhaps it may not be worth while to observe, how large a spot of ground, set with vines, was, by them, called a vineyard: it is frequently said by them p,
"that a vineyard planted by less than four cubits, is no vineyard; but R. Simeon, and the wise men, say it is a vineyard.''
m Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 21. 3. Vid. Midrash Kohelet, fol. 72. 4. & Talmud Hicros. Beracot, fol 5. 3. n Misua Bava Metzia, c. 7. sect. 1. o T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 28. 2. p T. Hieros. Sheviith, fol. 33. 2. T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 37. 2. & 33. 1.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
For the kingdom of heaven ... - The word âforâ shows that this chapter should have been connected with the preceding. The parable was spoken expressly to illustrate the sentiment in the last verse of that chapter: âMany that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.â The kingdom of heaven means here the church, including, perhaps, its state here and hereafter. See the notes at Matthew 3:2. It has reference to rewards, and the meaning may be thus expressed: âRewards shall be bestowed in my kingdom, or on my followers, in the same manner as they were by a certain householder - in such a way that the last shall be equal to the first, and the first last.â
A householder - A master of a family. One at the head of family affairs.
His vineyard - No inconsiderable part of Judea was employed in the culture of the grape. Vineyards are often used, therefore, to represent a fertile or well-cultivated place, and hence the church, denoting the care and culture that God has bestowed on it. See the notes at Isaiah 5:7. Compare Jeremiah 12:10. For the manner of their construction, see the notes at Matthew 21:33.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER XX.
The similitude of the householder hiring labourers into his
vineyard, to show that the Gentiles should be preferred to the
Jews, according to what was hinted at the close of the last
chapter, 1-16.
On the way going up to Jerusalem he predicts his sufferings and
death, 17-19.
The mother of Zebedee's children requests dignities for her
sons, 20, 21.
Christ, by his answer, shows that sufferings, not worldly
honours, are to be the lot of his most faithful followers, and
that seats in glory can be given only to those who are prepared
for them, 22, 23.
From this our Lord takes occasion to teach the necessity of
humility, and to show that those who wished to be chief must be
servants of all, 24-28.
On his coming to Jericho, he restores sight to two blind men,
who, being restored, follow him, 29-34.
NOTES ON CHAP. XX.
Verse Matthew 20:1. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man - a householder — The very commencement of this chapter shows it to be connected with the preceding. The manner of God's proceeding under the Gospel dispensation resembles a householder, who went out at day break, αμα ÏÏÏι, together with the morning; as the light began to go out of its chambers in the east, so he went out of his bed-room to employ labourers, that they might cultivate his vineyard. This was what was called, among the Jews and Romans, the first hour; answering to six o'clock in the morning.
To hire labourers — Some workmen, ÏÏν εÏγαÏÏν - for he had not got all that was necessary, because we find him going out at other hours to hire more.
