Laborers in the Vineyard
1
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2
After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3
And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4
and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.'
5
So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.
6
And g about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
7
They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'
8
And h when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his i foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.'
9
And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.
10
Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.
11
And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,
12
saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and j the scorching heat.'
13
But he replied to one of them, k 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14
Take l what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.
15
m Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or n do you begrudge my generosity?'
16
So o the last will be first, and the first last."
-
Cross References
1 Corinthians 15:8
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
-
Cross References
Leviticus 19:13
You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
Deuteronomy 24:15
You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin.
-
Cross References
Luke 8:3
And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Matthew 24:45
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
-
Cross References
Luke 12:55
And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat,' and it happens.
James 1:11
For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
-
Cross References
Matthew 22:12
And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.
Matthew 26:50
Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
-
Cross References
Matthew 25:25
So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.
-
Cross References
Romans 9:15 - 24
For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
-
Cross References
Matthew 6:23
But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Deuteronomy 15:9
Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin.
Proverbs 23:6
Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies.
-
Cross References
Matthew 19:30
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.