More Laborers in the Sixth and Ninth Hour - Matthew 20:5

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”, and in chapter twenty and verse five of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus said the householder, “went out about the sixth and ninth hour” where we read:

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

The verse reads, “Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, ...”. Matthew began with the word, “again” or “anew, further and moreover” “he went out” or “the householder left and departed” “about the sixth and ninth hour” which means “about twelve o'clock to three o'clock in the afternoon”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “master of the house” went out again, and this time it was from twelve noon to three o'clock in the afternoon.

The verse continues, “... and did likewise.” Matthew added the words, “and did” or “and made ready, prepared, produced and rendered” “likewise” which means “like and in similar manner”. Matthew wrote how Jesus said the “master of the house” once again found “idle” men, asked them why they were not working, found out no one hired them, and sent them out to his field with an agreement they would receive what is right at the day's end.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see other groups of men who were not working, and these group were found by the “householder” at noon and three o'clock in the afternoon of the day. These groups were sent into the “master's vineyard” with an agreement they would be paid what is “right” at the day's end. On faith, they also departed and began to work in His field. God also desires to bring people into His “harvest”, and some of them are sent into His field early in their lives. Others begin a relationship with God through His Son Jesus later. This is true and certain, that God will remunerate everyone who receives His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” when the end of their lives has completed.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus said the householder went out, “about the eleventh hour”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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