Note 2 at Mt. 20:8: This parable begins with Jesus' statement that the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that is an householder (owner of an estate) who went out early in the morning to hire workers to work in his vineyard for the day. An agreed upon price was set at a penny (Gk.-"denarion"-- see ref. g at Mt. 20:2, p. 332), the normal paid daily wage for a laborer. Later, around 9 a.m., the landowner encouraged others standing idle in the marketplace to work in the vineyard, not for a set wage but for "whatsoever is right" (Mt. 20:4). The landowner employed more laborers at noon, and at 3 p.m. and even some at 5 p.m. when there was only one hour left to work. According to Jewish law, wages must be paid each evening before the setting of the sun (Dt. 24:14-15; Lev. 19:13).

When it came time for the steward to pay the laborers, he began with those working the shortest amount of time and paid each man a penny (a full day's wage). Those working the entire day murmured, for they supposed they would have received more. They had agreed, however, to work for a penny, the stipulated wage agreed upon (Mt. 20:13). The landowner stated, "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" (Mt. 20:15). An "evil eye" was a Jewish expression for envy, jealousy, or a grudging spirit (Dt. 15:9).

The conclusion of this parable, "So the last shall be first, and the first last" (Mt. 20:16), expresses that there was a truth in the Savior's mind when He both began and concluded this piece of instruction. As this parable stands, it is preceded and followed by the very same words (see note 1 at Mt. 20:1, p. 332).

The context of this parable supports the teaching that it is impossible to earn the generosity of the Master. This is a lesson on grace. Regardless of whether or not our performance is better than someone else's, we all need God's grace because we have all come short of God's standard (Rom. 3:23). Therefore, there will be no division in Christ's body (1 Cor. 12:12,25) because we are all made righteous in the sight of God through what Jesus did for us.

The landowner gave freely, making all equal. So Jesus has made us all joint-heirs with Him through His sacrifice (Rom. 8:17). Jesus is saying that the benefits of the kingdom are the same for all who have become subject to its King, regardless of what they have done. Therefore, those who are last (or least) in the sense that they have not served the Lord as long or as well as others, will truly become "first" when they share equally of the Lord's goodness with those who "have borne the burden and heat of the day" (Mt. 20:12).