The Landowner's Harvest

By Mary Vee
Matthew 20:1-6

Photo by Mary Vee taken in Northern Italy

In this last parable explaining the kingdom of heaven, Jesus tells this story:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to the place where workers for hired stood. 

"He offered work to those willing to reap harvest in his vineyard then said, 'I will pay you one denarius for a day's work.'

"The price being a good wage attracted many workers. Those who agreed, he sent to his vineyard.

"The workers did well, but by the third hour the landowner saw all the fruit yet to be picked and decided to hire more workers. He went to the marketplace where other men stood waiting to be hired. 'Go work in my field and I will pay you whatever is right.' They agreed and went to his field.

"At the sixth hour the landowner checked his fields. Even with all the workers, the remaining fruit could not possibly be harvested in time. He returned to the market place then and again at the ninth hour, offering work for whatever was a right pay. Workers agreed and went to his fields.

"When the eleventh hour came, the landowner returned to the marketplace and found men standing around. 'Why have you been standing here doing nothing?'

"The men said, 'Because no one has hired us.'

"'Go, work in my field and I will pay you what is right.'

"When evening came the foreman called the workers in from the fields. The landowner said, 'Pay the men starting with the ones hired last then continue on to those hired first.'

"The foreman paid the last ones hired one denarius each. When it came time for the first ones hired to be paid, they assumed they would receive more money since they had worked longer. But each man also received one denarius for his work.

"Those who had worked the full day grumbled to the landowner, 'The men who harvested in your fields only one hour were paid one denarius. You made them equal to us who have worked all day in this scorching heat.'

"Once they finished complaining, the landlord said, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. You agreed to work one day for me for one denarius pay, right? Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or perhaps you are envious because I am generous.'

"And so, the last will be first, and the first will be last."



One meaning for this parable is, while there are those who believe in God since their youth, dedicating their lives to serving Him, then there are those who realize their need to believe only seconds before they die, they will both receive the same reward of eternal life.

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.