Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. And said unto them; Go you also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why stand you here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man has hired us. He said unto them, Go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall you receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny”, and in chapter twenty and verse ten of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus told what happened when “the first came” where we read:
But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more;
and they likewise received every man a penny.
The verse reads, “But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more;”. Matthew began with the words, “but when” or “moreover and at the time and moment” “the first came” which means “the first laborers who were hired arrived and appeared”, “they supposed” or “the first workers hired thought, deemed and believed” “that they should have received more” which means “that the ones hired first should carry away, claim and procure a greater amount than the last laborers hired”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “first laborers hired” appeared before the master of the house and thought they would receive a greater wage than the ones last hired.
The verse continues, “and they likewise received every man a penny.” Matthew added the words, “and they likewise received” or “and the first laborers hired in similar manner carried away, claimed and procured” “every man” which means “each, the whole, all and everyone of the first laborers” “a penny” or “a denarius which was a day's wage and means containing ten”. Matthew wrote how the “master of the house” gave each of the first laborers a “denarius” or a day's wage as well.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the “householder” paid the “first laborers” the same amount as the “last” ones hired. We might image the surprise of these first workers when they received the same amount, however, this is a wonderful example of how God gives to every person who comes to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Whether they come early in their lives or later, God welcomes and blesses everyone who receives Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. May everyone who reads these words accept God's gracious giving through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Next time Matthew shares what Jesus said the first laborers said, “when they had received it”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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