“They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’
Parallel translations
- KJV They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
- BSB ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’
- NKJV They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’
- NASB They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
- NLT “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The idle men explain that no one had hired them, and the landowner sends them into his vineyard. He welcomes even latecomers into his work.
Overview
These last workers were not lazy but simply uncalled until now; the master remedies this by sending them in. He makes no wage agreement, again leaving the matter to his generosity. The scene anticipates the surprising equality of reward that will reveal the Kingdom's basis in grace rather than length of service.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Heb 6:10For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.
- Eph 2:11–12Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision”, (in the flesh, made by hands);
- Acts 17:30–31The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,
- Rom 16:25—
- Luke 14:21–23“That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’
- Eph 6:8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
- Eccl 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.
- Rom 10:14–17How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?
- Acts 4:16saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it.
- Matt 22:9–10Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.’
- Eph 3:5–6which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
- John 9:4I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.
- Col 1:26the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 20:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.