Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 20:10
But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
They supposed that they should have received more – They had worked longer – they had been in the heat; they supposed that it was his intention to pay them, not according to contract, but according to the time of the labor.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
10. But when the first came, theysupposed that they should have received moreThis is thatcalculating, mercenary spirit which had peeped outthough perhapsvery slightlyin Peter’s question (Mt19:27), and which this parable was designed once for all to putdown among the servants of Christ.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But when the first came,…. Who were early hired into the vineyard; and design either the first saints that were in the world; or the Jews that first believed in Christ, either really or nominally; or such, who were called by grace in their early days:
they supposed, or “hoped”, as the Syriac version renders it,
that they should have received more; than a penny, a greater reward: not that they could expect it on the foot of their agreement, or on account of their work; but because they observed, that they that came last into the vineyard, had as much as they agreed for; and therefore hoped, from the goodness of their Lord to them, that they should receive more:
and they likewise received every man a penny; the selfsame privileges of the Gospel, and a title to the selfsame reward of free grace, the selfsame glory and happiness.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Every man a penny ( ). Literally, “themselves also a denarius apiece” (distributive use of ). Bruce asks if this householder was a humorist when he began to pay off the last first and paid each one a denarius according to agreement. False hopes had been raised in those who came first who got only what they had agreed to receive.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Every man a penny [ ] . Lit., the sum amounting in each case to a penny; or a penny apiece. Ana is distributive. Wyc., each one by himself a penny.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
(10) But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more.Up to this time we may think of the disciples as having listened with an eager interest, yet only half-perceiving, if at all, the drift of the parable, looking, it may be, for some payment to the first-called labourers proportionate to the duration of their service. Now, unless they were altogether blind, they must have seen their own thoughts reflected in the parable. They too, as their question showed, had been expecting to receive more. Eternal life was not enough for them, without some special prerogative and precedence over others. The fact that the first labourers were paid their wages gives a touch of gentleness to what would otherwise have seemed the severity of the parable. The presence of a self-righteous, self-seeking spirit mars the full blessedness of content; but if the work has been done, it does not deprive men altogether of their reward. The labourers who murmured are, in this respect, in the same position as the elder son in the parable of the Prodigal, who was told, in answer to his complaints, that all that his father had was his (Luk. 15:31).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more, and they likewise received every man a denarius.”
When the men who had worked all day saw this their eyes would glisten. Clearly they would be paid much more than a denarius. And they came forward confidently to receive their due. But they too only received a denarius.
The intermediate workers are not mentioned in the final payout, and the assumption is that they too were paid a denarius. But their importance in the parable is in the indication that the estate owner continued to call on people to work in His vineyard all through the day, and called on them to trust Him to deal rightly with them in the end.
We must remember that this is a parable. It is not saying that all who commence work at the very beginning will be dissatisfied at the end, or that none of the others will be dissatisfied. It is using extremes to bring out a lesson. We may in fact happily assume that some would in real life be content with their denarius.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Ver. 10. They supposed that they, &c. ] Good works are mercatura regni coelestis, saith Bellarmine. But God is no such merchant. Cerium gratis non accipiam, I will not have heaven for nothing, saith Vega. Thou shalt never have it therefore; I will give thee that gift.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10. ] The precedent cited by Greswell for this method of payment, from Josephus, Antt. xx. 9. 7, does not apply. It is there said that in the rebuilding of the temple, , : the referring to the , not to ., and the fact related being that if any one worked only one hour in the day, he was immediately paid for that hour . Indeed the manifest effect of such a rule as Greswell supposes, would have been to stop the building, not to hasten it, for if a man could get his day’s pay for an hour’s work, why work more?
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 20:10 . : the intermediates passed over, as non-essential to the didactic purpose, we arrive at the first, the men hired on a regular bargain in the morning. : they had noticed the paying of the last first, and had curiously watched to see or hear what they got, and they come with great expectations: twelve hours’ work, therefore twelve times the sum given to the one-hour men. : surprising! only a penny! What a strange, eccentric master! He had seen expectation in their faces, and anticipated with amusement their chagrin. The money was paid by the overseer, but he was standing by enjoying the scene.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
supposed = reckoned according to law. See note on Luk 3:23.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10.] The precedent cited by Greswell for this method of payment, from Josephus, Antt. xx. 9. 7, does not apply. It is there said that in the rebuilding of the temple, , : the referring to the , not to ., and the fact related being that if any one worked only one hour in the day, he was immediately paid for that hour. Indeed the manifest effect of such a rule as Greswell supposes, would have been to stop the building, not to hasten it, for if a man could get his days pay for an hours work, why work more?
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 20:10. , the first) The intermediate labourers did not murmur; for they saw themselves also made equal to the first. He who is liable to be envied himself, is less likely to envy others.-, more) sc. denarii, i.e. twelve denarii for twelve hours.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Reciprocal: Mat 19:27 – what
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
0:10
They supposed expresses the basis on which most of the erroneous doctrines of men are formed. There is no scripture for the theories hence they rely on their own judgment and it is usually along the line of what they were wanting to begin with. These “early” laborers did not complain when the wage rate was stated, and neither was the paymaster cutting it short at the end of the day. But they were measuring themselves by others in the laboring group which is an unwise principle to act upon according to Paul in 2Co 10:12.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 20:10-12. When the first came, they supposed that they should have received more The first, here seems to mean the Jews, who always supposed that they should, in every thing, be preferred before the Gentiles, and were provoked to jealousy by the admission of the Gentiles into the gospel church, and to the free enjoyment of the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant, which they considered as being confined to their nation. As the elder brother, in the parable of the prodigal, repined at the reception of the younger brother, and complained of his fathers generosity to him; so these labourers first called in, found fault with their master, not because they had not enough, but because others were made equal to them. Thou, say they, hast made them equal to us So indeed St. Peter says, Act 15:9, God hath put no difference between us (Jews) and them, (Gentiles,)
purifying their hearts by faith. And not only are believing Gentiles admitted to equal privileges with believing Jews in the Christian Church on earth, but those who become equally holy here, whenever they were called, will be equally happy hereafter. Who have borne the burden, &c. Who have long toiled under the grievous yoke of the ceremonial law, obeyed its numerous precepts, and performed the various difficult duties and services required by it: fifty expressed by bearing the burden and heat of the day.