Bible Commentaries
Matthew 20

Verse 2

Matthew 20:2

penny -- a denarias, a common day’s wage.

Verse 3

Matthew 20:3

marketplace -- the employment office (they brought their tools to work), a day-worker was the lowest level of employment. They were not as well off as slaves.

Verse 5

Matthew 20:5

sixth and ninth hour -- The day was divided into 12 parts, and in summer the day hours were longer than in winter.

Verse 8

Matthew 20:8

steward ... The workers were paid each day for that day’s work. See Leviticus 19:13

Verse 12

Matthew 20:12

cf. Matthew 19:27

Verse 15

Matthew 20:15

eye evil -- A Jewish expression for a jealous or grudging spirit. Deuteronomy 15:9

Verse 16

Matthew 20:16

last first -- first last ... Parallel use in Matthew 19:30 where the closing expression of chapter 19 opens the parable in chapter 20.

Verse 26

Matthew 20:26

Serving Others - Matthew 20:26; Matthew 23:11 Mark 10:43

Luke 22:26-27 Philippians 2:4 1 Corinthians 10:24