Matthew 20:1-16
1 |
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. |
2 |
Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. |
3 |
And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, |
4 |
and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. |
5 |
Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. |
6 |
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?' |
7 |
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.' |
8 |
So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.' |
9 |
And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. |
10 |
But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. |
11 |
And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, |
12 |
saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' |
13 |
But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? |
14 |
'Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. |
15 |
'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' |
16 |
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen. |