BIBLE IN TEN

Matthew 20:17

Friday, 5 June 2026
 
Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, Matthew 20:17
 
“And ascending, the ‘Jesus to Jerusalem’, He took twelve disciples apart alone, and in the road, He said to them,” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the final thought concerning the parable of the workers in the vineyard was given. With that complete, a new direction takes place, beginning with, “And ascending, the ‘Jesus to Jerusalem’.”
 
Regardless of the elevation where one is, the Bible always describes the journey to Jerusalem as an ascent. In fact, there are many locations with a higher elevation in the land itself. The highest among them is Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, which sits at 7,336 feet above sea level.
 
After that, many peaks are higher than Jerusalem, a few of them are Mount Ha’Ari, Mount Ramon, Mount ‘Arif, Mount ‘Ofa’im, Mount Hilla, Mount Zafrir, and Mount Hillel. These and other points exceed the elevation of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which sits at 2,430 feet. Despite this, the trek there is considered an ascent.
 
Of this trek, Charles Ellicott says, “The narrative is not continuous, and in the interval between Matthew 20:16-17 we may probably place our Lord’s ‘abode beyond Jordan’ (John 10:40), the raising of Lazarus, and the short sojourn in the city called Ephraim (John 11:54). This would seem to have been followed by a return to Persea, and then the journey to Jerusalem begins.”
 
If this is correct, it can be found in what is known as a harmonization of the gospels, which several reliable sources have taken the time to put together, showing the exact chronology of events throughout the four gospels. Of this ascent, the narrative continues, saying, “He took twelve disciples apart alone.”
 
At this time, there were probably many people with them on the trek, but Jesus wanted to specifically provide information to the twelve that the others were not yet to be privy to. Therefore, Matthew continues, “and in the road, He said to them.”
 
The verse excitedly ends as if a breath is needed before continuing to the precious words of Jesus to His twelve selected apostles.
 
Life application: It is important to confirm information in commentaries, not taking them at face value until verified and considered in relation to what the Bible says. In John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, he records the following concerning this verse –
 
“Which was situated (f) in the highest part of the land of Israel: the land of Israel, is said to be higher than any other land whatever; and the temple at Jerusalem, higher than any part of the land of Israel; wherefore Christ's going to Jerusalem, is expressed by going up to it.”
 
His footnote says his information was derived from “T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 87. 1.” When John Gill recorded this, in the 1700s, he was using what information was available to him. Unfortunately, the Babylonian Talmud presented him with erroneous information, which has since been passed on to the minds of those who have read it.
 
At many times, the ascent to Jerusalem is not a physical ascent at all. However, it is always a theological ascent as one moves closer to the point where man meets with the God of Israel. That is why it can be said that a person on Mount Hermon, high above Jerusalem in elevation, will ascend as he makes the trek to Jerusalem.
 
Remember this as you read the Bible. John Gill certainly didn’t intentionally provide wrong information, but for some reason, the compilers of the Babylonian Talmud did. They probably knew what was said was incorrect, but they recorded it anyway.
 
Understanding that this biblical elevation of Jerusalem is stated as it is, it then becomes more pertinent when considering Paul’s words in Galatians –
 
“For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:24-26
 
At one point, the city of Jerusalem was considered the pinnacle of elevation because it was where God was dealing with men, interacting with them through temple rites and rituals. That ended with the completed work of Christ. The veil was torn, and access to God through Jesus Christ was made available.
 
The temple in Jerusalem, which ministers the law of Moses, is not, nor will it ever again be, the pinnacle of God’s interactions with man. It is a place of bondage leading to death. It is a place of enmity with God. Wherever Jesus Christ is, that is the place where the spiritual ascent is now realized. That is because He fulfilled the law, set it aside, and introduced the New Covenant in His blood.
 
To miss this point has led to incredibly bad theology in relation to end times events (eschatology) within the church. People openly applaud the coming construction of the temple in Jerusalem, which will reintroduce sacrifices based on the Law of Moses. It is the very thing Christ came to abolish, and yet Christians actively support this diabolical event. This should not be.
 
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus alone, mourning over Israel’s failure to see the One they have missed for so long. Pray for them. Many will die before their time of realization comes about. Pray to God that eyes will be opened before that tragic day which lies ahead comes upon them.
 
Lord God, we lift up the lost in the world, knowing that a day of judgment lies ahead for all unless the word gets to them before it arrives. May You work mightily through missionaries, social media, and the simple but effective words of believers around the world to just open their mouths and speak about Your goodness as seen in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:16

Thursday, 4 June 2026
 
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20:16
 
“Thus, they will be the last, first, and the first, last. Many, then, they are called; few, also, selected.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus finished His parable concerning the workers in the vineyard. His words now sum up the overall thought. They are words that go back to Matthew 19:30, and which closed out that chapter. He says, “Thus, they will be the last, first, and the first, last.”
 
In Matthew 19:30, it said, “Many, also, they will be: first, last, and last, first.” We can see that Jesus specifically built this parable around that thought to explain what prompted that statement in the first place. That was based on Peter’s words. There, it said, “Then answering, Peter, he said to Him, ‘You behold! We, we left all, and we followed You! What hence it will be to us?’”
 
Only by following the progression of the narrative can the explanation for the parable be properly understood. Various views have been proposed as to Jesus’ intent. Some find the laborers to indicate the beginning of the gospel, meaning the selection of Jesus’ disciples at the outset of His ministry. That is then followed by those who labor throughout the church age. Those coming at the end of the age would be those who were hired at the eleventh hour.
 
Others also see it as the church age, but the pay is rewards for the followers, suggesting a connection to 1 Corinthians 3 and 2 Corinthians 5, meaning the judgment seat of Christ. These and other views don’t look back to what precipitated Peter’s question to Jesus.
 
Jesus counseled the rich young ruler who was trying to earn his way to perpetual life. He left sad because he realized he could not do so through law observance. That is when Jesus brought in the difficulty of entering the kingdom with the example of the camel going through the eye of a needle. The apostles were floored, asking who could be saved.
 
Jesus told them that with man, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. This is what brought about Peter’s question to Jesus. As such, the vineyard is what is spoken of throughout the Old Testament and into the New. It is highlighted in Isaiah and summed up in Jesus’ words of Matthew 21:40, 41 –
 
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? 41 They said to Him, ‘He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.’”
 
The vineyard is the economy where God is dealing with man in order to bring about a result. Israel was chosen to bring about that result, but they failed to understand that, despite the law, it was not law observance that would bring them restoration with God. This is what Jesus demonstrated in His words with the young ruler.
 
The laborers who were hired early were those in this vineyard who labored for God, be it Moses, Isaiah, Amos, etc. John the Baptist was the last of these. They were promised a certain wage and went into the field. At the time of Jesus, laborers were called to go into the field, starting with the disciples. As noted in the Matthew 20:8 commentary –
 
“Those who came last are to be paid first. It seems contradictory to the way one would normally think, but it is a demonstration to all concerning grace. Grace is getting what one does not deserve. The housemaster wants all of the laborers to see that he will treat the last with care and respect, despite their being late into the field.”
 
The pay is not the issue. It is the grace of what is received that is being conveyed. Those who worked in the field during the heat of the day were those who labored under the law. Their wages were set based on their state under the law. At the end of the day, the laborers who came last were given grace in what they received.
 
Israel could say, “We labored for all that time under the law, and yet, you are giving those who came later what we had to work for.” That thought is well expressed in Jesus’ words about John –
 
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11
 
Jesus, using a harvest of grain instead of labor in the vineyard, essentially explains the parable in John 4 –
 
“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” John 4:35-38
 
Understanding this, Jesus completes this thought saying, “Many, then, they are called; few, also, selected.”
 
The meaning is that there were people called to work in the field for eons, laboring until the time of the kingdom, Moses, for example. However, they were not selected for that dispensation. They were of the dispensation of law. John, despite being the greatest of all under the law, was not selected for the dispensation of grace. He was called to service but died before it was ushered in.
 
One cannot merit grace. Israel entered into the labor, the time of grace came, and eventually the vineyard was taken from them and given to others to tend to. God is doing something in the world (expressed by the vineyard), many are called to tend to it, but only when Jesus came, fulfilled the law, and allowed grace to be imparted can people be selected to truly receive what God has promised. That is seen in the final word of the verse, a new word, eklektós, selected.
 
HELPS Word Studies says, “Typically, eklektós (‘select, chosen’) describes people who choose to follow the Lord, i.e. become God’s choice by freely receiving faith (pístis) from Him. Accordingly, these two terms are directly connected (see Tit 1:1; Lk 18:7,8).”
 
Entering the kingdom only comes through faith, and it only comes apart from the law, even if those under the law have faith. For those of Israel who are selected for the kingdom Jesus is describing in the parable, it is (just like Gentiles) only for those who have faith since Christ’s fulfillment of the law, coming to Him by faith.
 
Life application: Laboring for something that is already earned is a waste of time. If you are caught up in adherence to the Law of Moses and expect to receive God’s favor, you will be sorely disappointed when you find yourself excluded from what God has offered those who are willing to come to Him by faith alone.
 
Lord God, we are lost sinners. You have done all that is necessary to reconcile us to Yourself. Why would we think we could do better than that? May we never presume to do so, but to trust wholly in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for our reconciliation with You. Amen.

Matthew 20:15

Wednesday, 3 June 2026
 
Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ Matthew 20:15
 
“Or not it permits me, what I will to do in ‘these, mine’? Or the ‘eye, you’ evil, it is, because I – good, I am?” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the housemaster told the grumbler to take what was his and go on his way, noting that he wanted to give the last man the same as those who came first. Before the man could exit, he had a bit more to say, beginning with, “Or not it permits me, what I will to do in ‘these, mine’?”
 
He is the housemaster and the one who decides what goes on in the labor related to his house, including the vineyard where the laborers were hired to work. The possessions were his. The only thing that no longer belonged to him was the wages he promised to pay, a denarius for each laborer who began work in the early hours.
 
As they were guaranteed that sum, they were owed that amount. According to the law, he was to settle accounts by the end of the day, which he did. Everything that was due to those he hired had been paid. That means as the next came forward to receive his wages, it was up to the housemaster to pay him what was right, even though no specified amount was stated.
 
As they came forward, he could have given three-quarters of a denarius, half of a denarius, a quarter of a denarius, or even one-eighth of a denarius for those who came at the last hour.
 
However, if he wanted to give them anything above that, because it was his own money, he was fully within his rights to do so. Understanding this, and having fully detailed the situation, he asks, “Or the ‘eye, you’ evil, it is, because I – good, I am?”
 
The evil eye is something that goes back to Deuteronomy 15:9. It is seen again in Proverbs 28:22. In these instances, there is the sense of greed being conveyed –
 
“Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become sin among you.” Deuteronomy 15:9
 
“A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.” Proverbs 28:22
 
Such references show that the eye is like an open channel leading right to the heart filled with greed. The eye sees, the mind considers, and the heart impels the person to covet, betray, etc. This is even the case with someone who has gotten just what he agreed to, but who sees someone else supposedly getting more than he “deserves” from someone who has good and honorable intentions.
 
Both men are at the end of their day. Both have needs to be met. How can a man live on an eighth of a denarius? Therefore, the housemaster had mercy on his situation and tended to his needs out of a willing heart.
 
Life application: There is a difference between these men who were paid, even those who were paid more than those who started work earlier, and most of those who are on welfare in the world today. What is that difference?
 
These men were out waiting for work to come to them. The problem with welfare is that it rewards people for doing nothing. As people will normally follow the easiest path, they will sit at home and do nothing for as long as the stream of money keeps coming in.
 
Unless there is an incentive for them to get up and get out, they will not do so. Instead, they will become as dependent on their monthly checks as drug addicts are on their daily dose. In fact, the dependence on welfare leads to dependence on alcohol, drugs, etc.
 
Governments have built systems to enslave their own citizens in this manner for one simple reason: power. As long as they keep the money flowing to indolent people, they are assured of their votes. And with their votes come favorable outcomes in elections.
 
With those election wins, there is power to continue and expand the cycle. Thus, from one seemingly good and “helpful” program, a country moves from producers to lazy do-nothings. And the structure of the government leans more and more towards socialism and eventually communism.
 
All the while, the people who are supposedly being helped are caught in slave chains of dependence. Lives are wasted, human potential is taken away, and families are destroyed. This is the power of the liberal agenda. It is a power of corruption and wickedness toward human beings.
 
Lord God, help us to carefully consider who we will support when we cast our votes for our leaders. May we never withhold voting if it is our right to do so. In not voting, we default to the lowest common denominator in our society. May we be responsible citizens of the nations in which we live. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:14

Tuesday, 2 June 2026
 
Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Matthew 20:14
 
“You bear the ‘yours’, and you go! I will, also, this: the last to give as also you.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the housemaster told the grumbler that he was a scammer, asking if he didn’t agree to a denarius. Without waiting for a response, he next says, “You bear the ‘yours’, and you go!”
 
In other words, “You got what we agreed on. That is yours. Take it and hit the road.” Having said that, he continues with, “I will, also, this: the last to give as also you.”
 
If such is his will, it has not harmed anyone else. Rather, it was an act of his own charitable goodness to hand out money as he saw fit. There was no wrongdoing, no intent of malice toward another, and the only wrong involved is that of perception by a person who had received what he agreed to work for.
 
Life application: In the United States, it is common to tip people who work in service industries, especially waitresses. They normally receive less pay for the work they do with others based on the anticipation that when they do a good job, they will be rewarded for it by those they serve.
 
It is true that some cultures or individuals don’t tip, but that disregard for the care of others is their own issue. The poor servers just have to bite their lip and live with it. Besides such people, tipping is how some people are able to pay their bills. However, at some point in the past, some restaurants came to the ridiculous conclusion that it was unfair for one server to make more than the others.
 
Think about it. You have hired Lazy Linda. She does the minimal amount of work, is late serving people their food, and shows up ten minutes late every day. You also have Moaning Myrtle. She never smiles, complains to the customers about the amount of food they order, and has plenty of words about her unhappy family life to share with complete strangers.
 
You also have Piggy Peggy. Her clothes are dirty, she doesn’t smell very good, and if she laughs, it is more a grunt than anything joyful. She delivers the food randomly, and when you get it, it seems something may have been picked off the plate on the trip between the kitchen and your table.
 
And then, there is Amazing Amy. She shows up early, always has a well-pressed, clean uniform, smiles at everybody, never has a bad word to say about anyone or anything, and never stops helping others. Her customers become regulars, they know her birthday, and always wish her a merry Christmas with a nice little gift.
 
Why on earth should Amazing Amy have to split the $1000.00 a day she makes in tips with Lazy, Piggy, and Moaning, who collectively make about 85 cents in tips on a good day? This rewards indolence, negative attitudes, and sloppy work. It also penalizes hard work and outstanding effort.
 
The first laborers hired by the housemaster got exactly what they agreed to. Maybe they worked hard, or maybe they slouched on the job, but the housemaster was faithful to meet his obligation to them. The last people were given a great measure of grace, receiving what today would be considered a nice tip for their minimal labors. But nobody was wronged in the process.
 
Be content with your pay. If you are unhappy with it, or with how your boss treats others for whatever reason, as long as he is not violating any law, remember that there are other options available on the other side of the door.
 
As Christians, we should always strive to do our best at whatever we do. Jesus’ name rests on us. So honor the Lord first. In doing so, everything else will find its proper place.
 
Lord God, may we rejoice when others are successful. If we want what they have, may we be willing to expend ourselves to obtain those things. May we not be envious of what we do not possess. And, Lord, keep us from taking from others what they have rightfully earned. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:13

Monday, 1 June 2026
 
But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Matthew 20:13
 
“The ‘also answering one of them’, he said, ‘Scammer! Not I wrong you! Not for a denarius, you harmonized me?’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the workers who were hired earlier in the day grumbled that the housemaster made those who worked only one hour equal with those who bore the burden of the day. In hearing this, it next says, “The ‘also answering one of them’.”
 
This is the housemaster. He probably directs his words to the one who was the chief grumbler who stirred the others up. As for his words, “he said, ‘Scammer!’”
 
This is a new and rare word, found only three times, all in Matthew. It may be that because Matthew was a tax collector, there were particular words he and other tax collectors used to identify people of a certain sort. The word is hetairos, a comrade, fellow, or friend.
 
However, HELPS Word Studies provides insights into it, saying it is someone “posing to be a comrade but in reality only has his own interests in mind.” They also say it “suggests someone viewed (associated) as a friend, but is actually an imposter acting for self-gain.” As such, the words scammer or shammer make a suitable translation of the thought.
 
The housemaster continues, explaining why he is such a person, saying, “Not I wrong you! Not for a denarius, you harmonized me?”
 
The agreement which they came to was a denarius for the day’s labor. The offer was made, the man accepted it, and a state of harmony was realized when he went off to the vineyard. Had the housemaster paid him first and sent him out the door, there would have been no complaints or grumbling because he would have been none the wiser.
 
However, jealousy crept into him when he saw that others benefited in a manner differently from him.
 
Life application: The previous administration under Joe Biden frittered away billions of dollars of taxpayer money by wiping out loans that were made to college students. The program was set up to help people get through college with the understanding that the loans were to be repaid at a set rate of interest.
 
It doesn’t matter if the rates later seemed unfair to those who took out the loans. It also doesn’t matter if they never got the job they trained for because they chose a field that nobody has a need for, like “Blue-haired social justice manager for underprivileged surfers.”
 
What matters is that they signed a legal document, took the money, got the education, and were required to pay it back. However, with his inability to effectively run the nation and needing to bolster his list of potential voters, Biden arbitrarily canceled these loans.
 
What kind of example does it set when certain people are granted such favor while others have to pay back their loans? Biden did this with the banking industry as well, bailing out those banks that were unprofitable, but which supported left-wing agendas. When a conservative bank failed, no assistance was given.
 
Such behavior permeated the policies of Biden’s presidency, turning what was right and proper upside down. Understanding this, be sure to always evaluate your voting choices on who most closely will uphold biblical values. In doing so, you may not get the best guy in the world running things, but you will avoid real trouble that inevitably arises from hiring someone who is opposed to the moral principles set forth in Scripture.
 
Lord God, may we not grumble or complain when we are treated unfairly by those we interact with. We can’t see all the circumstances of the future that may change, and so we should not later try to upend our agreements. Help us to stick to what we have agreed to and strive to always set a proper example for others. Amen.

Matthew 20:12

Sunday, 31 May 2026
 
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.’ Matthew 20:12
 
“Saying that ‘These, the last, one hour they made, and equal, them, to us, you made those who were bearing the burden of the day and the blaze.’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, it was noted that those who went to the vineyard to work early grumbled after they had received the same pay as those who came later. That continues with the words, “Saying that ‘These, the last, one hour they made.’”
 
This is what it said in verses 6 & 7. The housemaster found these men idle in the market around the eleventh hour. They were hired and went into the field. Despite that minimal workday of just one hour. As for the others, they continue, saying, “and equal, them, to us, you made.”
 
A new word is seen, isos, similar. It conveys the idea of as much as, equal, like, etc. It is believed to be from eidó, seeing that becomes knowing. As such, one can know when things are equal. It is the root of our modern words, such as isometric, isosceles, etc. Each refers to equivalencies.
 
These men perceive that there is equality of pay, even though there was not equality of work involved. As such, they find an unfair disparity exists between those who were hired later and “those who were bearing the burden of the day and the blaze.”
 
Here is another new word, the noun kausón, blaze. It is derived from the verb kausoo, blazing, as in fervent heat. This is what it is like in Israel. With the clear skies, the sun blazes right down on the land. Working outside, even in a moderate task, is hot and can be enervating. By the end of a twelve-hour day, even the toughest person will normally be wiped out.
 
These men had been in the vineyard. Whatever their task was, it would have been filled with heated labor. By mid-morning, it would be very hot. That would continue right until late afternoon. If there is any relief, it will begin just about the time the last workers were coming to assist, when the western ocean breeze begins to sweep across the land, cooling it down.
 
This all depends on where in the land a person is situated, but the evening is when that process would begin if in the right location. Other than that, and depending on the time of year, the heat can be extreme.
 
Life application: Having the same pay for the same job, regardless of output, is not unheard of. If someone hires people to get a job done without regard to the time or personal success in the matter, he will give his instructions at the outset. For example, “We have a lost child. The search will be difficult, and the terrain is unforgiving. If you get hurt, there will be no one coming to help you. Our concern is finding that child.
 
Anyone who is willing to go out there will be given $5000.00. However, you are committed until the child is found. If you take the money, you are in this until the end.”
 
After the first people are hired, more show up throughout the day. Each person who goes out gets the same pay. In fact, the last person who agreed did so learned that when he walked out the door, the child was found. They called it in only moments after the agreement was made. Is it unfair that the last person didn’t even have to start the search? Not at all. The condition was based on outcome alone.
 
If a man has a vineyard and his intent is to have the harvest completed before the Sabbath, he will motivate people to get out and work based on the completion of the harvest, not necessarily on what any individual does.
 
God has a plan. It is being worked out in dispensations. Each dispensation has its own structure and targeted purpose, but all dispensations are working toward a final, greater result. As such, it cannot be unfair if someone is born under the law and someone is born in the age of grace.
 
Further, in any dispensation, there are things that must occur. For example, there needs to be people to initiate the process of the dispensation of grace. Martyrs are expected throughout the dispensation. Also, there must be one last person who is saved before the rapture occurs.
 
We cannot find fault in where we were placed, either in time or location. The needs of the plan and the final outcome of what God has laid out are what matter. When we are having a bad patch, maybe the nation we are in is at war, and many people are suffering from the effects of it, we cannot blame God for our woes.
 
Life, in whatever situation a person finds himself, is a product of the overall plan that God has set forth. It is not about us as it occurs. Let us consider things from God’s perspective. He has promised us a good end. His word says nothing about a guaranteed good time before we get to that end. In fact, it assures us that troubles can be expected –
 
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29
 
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12, 13
 
Lord God Almighty, we are assured of eternal glory because of our faith in Christ Jesus. Until that day, help us to endure whatever trials we may face. We are Yours, and we know that You will always do right for those who belong to You. Even in our times of suffering and affliction, we know You are with us. Thank You for this reassurance. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:11

Saturday, 30 May 2026
 
And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, Matthew 20:11
 
“Having taken, also, they grumbled against the housemaster.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, those who worked from the first came to receive their wages, naturally assuming they would receive more than those who only worked a short time. However, they only received a denarius. It next says, “Having taken, also.”
 
They didn’t refuse the wage, even if it is not what they were expecting. They would have remembered the original offer and their acceptance of it. As such, there was nothing they could do about that matter. But there is something they could do. It says, “they grumbled.”
 
It is a new word, gogguzó, to grumble or murmur. It is “an onomatopoetic term imitating the sound of cooing doves” (HELPS Word Studies). Just as doves drone on and on in whatever they are doing, this word reflects a simmering discontent that is expressed just loud enough for others to hear, but not as a direct challenge to the one they are discontent with.
 
Despite that, it is normally known who the discontent is directed towards. In this case, it was “against the housemaster.”
 
One can imagine what they were saying, “This is poppycock! We were out there all day practically slaving for this guy, and he has paid those guys over there the same as he paid us. What kind of an operation is he running here?”
 
Life application: In the New Testament, outside of the gospels, the word gogguzó is only seen two times, both are in 1 Corinthians 10 –
 
“Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain [gogguzó], as some of them also complained [gogguzó], and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” 1 Corinthians 10:6-11
 
The Greek translation of the Old Testament uses this word in Numbers 14 to describe this attitude of the people. The Lord had been faithful to deliver the people from Egypt, a delivery that they had cried out to the Lord for.
 
Once in the wilderness, He repeatedly showed His faithfulness as He tended to them in their times of need. And yet, they would turn around and grumble against the Lord like a flock of doves, discontent with their situation.
 
Egypt is given as a type of life under sin. Man is under the authority of the devil. Along with good, his existence is fraught with disease, pain, loss, and eventually death. We cry out to God, “Is this all there is, can’t You give me a better hope than this ultimately pointless existence?” In hearing that, God sends Jesus into our lives.
 
Maybe we were in a church. Maybe someone handed us a tract. In some manner, we heard of Jesus, and we received what He did, being brought out from under the authority of the devil and given the assurance of eternal life, apart from this fallen world. And yet, like Israel in the wilderness, we need to continue this life until we reach the Promised Land.
 
Soon, we forget what God did. And so He sends us a tender mercy to help us along our walk. Again, we forget. Someone we love dies, and we strike a bitter heart against God. We lose our job, and we grumble that we have it so bad, saying that God must not care about us at all. We forget that we are on the road to the Promised Land and He has assured us we will arrive.
 
What happened to that original joy? What is it that says, “It’s not fair! I deserve better!” We have been given the highest assurance of all that you will make it to heaven. And yet, we grumble. Imagine how disappointing we must be to God when we put forth such a despicable attitude.
 
May we remember the day of our salvation always, never allowing the trials of this life to interfere with our walk at this time. Whatever you are facing, God is right there with you. Hard times will come, loss can be expected, but God is there with you. His promises will never fail, and the outcome is assured. Remember this. God is right there with you.
 
O God, it is very easy to lose our focus on what lies ahead. We forget where we were and what You did to change our eternal destiny. Instead, we get caught up in the trials that surround us and forget that You are there. Forgive us of our faithlessness. Help us to always remember that You are there with us on the path to glory. Amen.

Matthew 20:10

Friday, 29 May 2026
 
But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. Matthew 20:10
 
“Having come, also, the first, they deemed that more, they will take, and they took, also themselves, each – denarius.” (CG)
 
The previous verse noted that those who were hired at the eleventh hour received a denarius. It next says, “Having come, also, the first, they deemed that more, they will take.”
 
Under normal circumstances, one would assume that pay is based on time and/or the amount of labor that is produced. As such, and forgetting the original agreement, they assumed this would be their case.
 
Those who were out working for just an hour got nice wages for such a little amount of work. As such, how great would their pay be! But it next says, “and they took, also themselves, each – denarius.”
 
This was what was originally agreed on, but it doesn’t match what one might expect when placed beside the labor of those who came later.
 
Life application: Grace is getting what you do not deserve. The workers who came later were given what they did not deserve when compared to the labor of the others.
 
This, however, cannot be equated to salvation. There is no merit at all in a person’s salvation. If labor were to be figured into salvation, it would diminish the significance of the cross. All people must come to God in the same way, with empty hands, receiving by faith what Christ Jesus has done.
 
It is a great problem in the church when merit is introduced into one’s Christian theology concerning salvation. And yet, it is one of the primary canons of the Roman Catholic teachings concerning justification. It is a principle teaching found in any law-observant church. It is implied in any church that requires tithing to be considered in right standing with the congregation.
 
These things put emphasis on some personal merit or another to indicate whether a person has satisfied God in regard to salvation. It is even the doctrine of many standard protestant churches that claim good deeds “stem necessarily” from salvation.
 
Such a thought makes it appear that salvation was by grace through faith and that deeds follow. However, if deeds must follow to prove salvation, then salvation in some respect is dependent on those deeds, even if they come after the fact. Why do deeds have to come after salvation? What deeds prove a person has been saved? Who determines such a standard?
 
These things are not found in the Bible unless they are forced into the text. Be careful to think this issue through. One sad result of such teachings is an inevitable judgmental feeling that will arise toward the lost.
 
If one has somehow merited salvation, then those who are not saved must also come to God through the same path as they did. When they fail to comply with such a demand, they are considered unworthy of being saved.
 
For those who have met the requirement, salvation then becomes a club where only those who have followed whatever misguided path is deemed necessary are included. For example, the Church of Christ says you must be baptized in order to be saved. And more, it must be in their church. Because of this, they are their own little club that excludes everyone else. Only they get Jesus. Everyone else is out.
 
Watch out for such teachings. Jesus alone saves. Come to Him through belief in the gospel, and you will be saved by Him. That’s it! Thank God for His wonderful plan of reconciliation.
 
Lord God, thank You for Your goodness which has been poured out upon us through the giving of Jesus. All praise, glory, and honor belong to You alone. Jesus did it all! Hallelujah for Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 20:9

Thursday, 28 May 2026
 
And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. Matthew 20:9
 
“Having come, also, those about the eleventh hour, they took each – denarius.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the housemaster called his commissioner to call the laborers to give them their wages, from the last to the first. It now says, “Having come, also, those about the eleventh hour.”
 
These are those noted in verses 6 & 7. They had been standing idle all day long. The housemaster hired them with about an hour left in the workday, sending them into his vineyard. Despite their labors not adding up to very much in comparison to those who were hired first, it says, “they took each – denarius.”
 
The meaning is clear. It wasn’t one denarius for all who were hired at the eleventh hour. Rather, it was one denarius for each of those who were hired at the eleventh hour. The number of those hired late in the day isn’t known, be it two or twenty. But each received the same pay.
 
This was the amount agreed upon for those in verses 1 & 2 who were hired to do a full day’s labor, starting in the early morning. Despite that, the housemaster felt this was what was a righteous sum to pay, according to his promise to the men.
 
Life application: Despite the assumptions of the past few verses concerning whether the day laborers were there at the first hour or not, or whether they turned down an unfavorable job earlier in the day or not, those comments were mere speculations about what could have happened, not what did happen.
 
There is nothing said about such things. All that is known is that the men were at the market when the housemaster came. Each time he came, he found more men, hiring them as they were identified by him.
 
As such, the pay that each one received from the eleventh hour was based on his decision to hire those who had ostensibly been there throughout the day, waiting for a job. As this is so, he could have potentially received a full day of labor from them if he had run into them earlier in the morning. As such, his pay to these men is based on what could have been as much as it is on what occurred.
 
Think about that from your perspective. You may have come to Christ as a young child, during high school, while in the military, after retiring from a company, or as an older person in a retirement home.
 
Regardless of when you came to Christ, you received the same salvation that everyone else has received. There is no getting “more” saved than anyone else. Each person who believes is sealed with the Holy Spirit at that time (Ephesians 1:13, 14).
 
Some denominations teach that a person who believes is saved, but they aren’t truly filled with the Spirit until they have a manifestation of the Spirit through signs, such as speaking in tongues. This is not biblical. In fact, it is anti-biblical. Paul sets the parameters for being sealed with the Spirit as just noted.
 
One cannot get “more” of the Spirit. It is a one-time and for-all-time event. From there, we are to work out our salvation. This is not to keep being saved, but to be obedient in our salvation. The life we live in Christ will not make us more saved. Rather, it will be considered at our time of judgment, as detailed in 1 Corinthians 3 and 2 Corinthians 5.
 
Rewards and losses are a completely separate consideration. The Bible teaches eternal salvation. What we do with our salvation is up to us. It is evaluated based on our adherence to Scripture. However, we cannot adhere to Scripture without knowing what the Bible says. So be sure to read it and then apply it to your walk in Christ.
 
Lord God, how grateful we are to You for the salvation You have graciously granted to us. Help us to now be diligent in pursuing a properly directed life to You through adherence to Your word.  May it be so to Your glory. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:8

Wednesday, 27 May 2026
 
“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.’ Matthew 20:8
 
“Evening, also, having become, he says, the ‘lord, the vineyard’ to ‘commissioner, his’, ‘You call the toilers, and you pay them the reward, having commenced from the last unto the first.’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the house master sent laborers into his vineyard even in the eleventh hour of the day. Next, it says, “Evening, also, having become.”
 
As noted previously, this means the day’s length where work can be conducted, which is approximately twelve hours. The shortest day is in the winter and is a bit more than ten hours. The longest is in the summer. It is a tad over fourteen hours.
 
As the evening was coming, it also signifies the start of a new day because biblical days start at evening. This is based on the Genesis 1 account, where it says, “And it was, evening, and it was, morning – Day, X.” Thus, to go past evening would mean work continuing into a new day. Therefore, in the evening, “he says, the ‘lord, the vineyard’ to ‘commissioner, his’.”
 
Here is a new word, epitropos, a commissioner. It is derived from epi, upon, and tropos, a turn and thus a mode or style of doing something, as in “The way [tropos] a hen gathers her chicks.” It signifies one who has been given a commission, meaning full power, to act on behalf of another. This person is entrusted with the authority of the house in a manner similar to Joseph, who was first over Potipher’s house and eventually over Pharaoh’s house –
 
“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.’ 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’” Genesis 41:39-41
 
The housemaster is ensuring that the law is being complied with. In Deuteronomy, it says –
 
“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. 15 Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.” Deuteronomy 24:14, 15
 
As it is the evening, the wages for the day must be paid. The fact that these are day laborers shows that they are exactly who the law was intended to protect. Therefore, the housemaster says, “You call the toilers, and you pay them the reward.”
 
This is what is expected, both by the laborers and by the law itself. The day is over, the laborers have complied with their part of the bargain, and it is time for his words “if it should be righteous” to be enacted.
 
Only the first were guaranteed a denarius for their labors. All others were at his decision concerning what is righteous. Thus, to ensure all see that he pays a righteous amount, he says to his commissioner, “having commenced from the last unto the first.”
 
Those who came last are to be paid first. It seems contradictory to the way one would normally think, but it is a demonstration to all concerning grace. Grace is getting what one does not deserve. The housemaster wants all of the laborers to see that he will treat the last with care and respect, despite their being late into the field.
 
Life application: Remember that what we are reading is a description of the kingdom of the heavens. What the world sees in one light, God sees in another. As such, things seem turned upside down until we understand what is being conveyed.
 
As seen in the parables of the hidden treasure and that of the pearl of great price in Matthew 13, the general consensus over the millennia has been that it was speaking of us selling all we have in order to “buy” the field or “buy” the pearl. That would make the parable about us earning heaven.
 
Rather, the man in both parables is Christ, who saw the people of the world as His treasure and pearl of great price. He sold everything, stepping down from heaven to redeem us to Himself. When we look at what God is doing from our perspective, we will always have a flawed sense of what He is doing.
 
Our failed marriages are then mentally considered to be like God’s kingdom. Our fallen fathers who bumble through life, often making bad decisions, make us think that God must be like them. Instead of looking at things this way, we must look to God as the perfect ideal, and to what He does as what is perfectly right.
 
In doing this, we will always more fully appreciate Him and what He is doing. Have joy in your heart when you think of God. He has a perfect plan that will be perfectly fulfilled in us someday. Don’t let the imperfection of “right now” cause you to live a life lacking joy. It will be behind us soon, and things will be more glorious than we can even imagine.
 
Lord God, we are so thankful to You for what lies ahead. In this world, there are all kinds of troubles, but someday they will be behind us. Thank You for this wonderful hope we possess because of Jesus Christ. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:7

Tuesday, 26 May 2026
 
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.’ Matthew 20:7
 
“They say to him, ‘Because no one, us, he hired.’ He says to them, ‘You go, also you, into the vineyard, and the ‘if it should be righteous’, you will take.’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus said the housemaster went out at the eleventh hour and found laborers still standing around idly. He then asked them why they were standing idle all day. Next, we read, “They say to him, ‘Because no one, us, he hired.’”
 
As noted previously, there could be other reasons, such as having turned down a particular job, having not been where others saw them, etc. Regardless of that, however, by the end of the day, they had not been hired for a job.
 
At least they were persistent not to give up and go home before the final hour of the day. Instead, they remained hopeful of some small tasks to fill the final hour. And lo and behold, “He says to them, ‘You go, also you, into the vineyard.’”
 
This was a pretty sweet deal. They may not make a lot, but the heat of the day is behind, the workers would be finishing up their labors, and whatever they were tasked to do would include that final clean-up rather than the more rugged labors of the day. Whatever they made would be appreciated and just. This was confirmed with the housemaster’s last words to them, “and the ‘if it should be righteous’, you will take.”
 
Life application: These laborers were told they would be given what is just and righteous. The agreement was made, and so whatever they received was to be considered in that light. This is no different than our own situation when working.
 
A set amount of work is detailed, a set amount of hours a week is specified, and a particular amount of money, along with any benefits, is agreed to. In return for being hired with the expectation of the job conforming to those parameters, employees are then expected to perform according to what they said they would do.
 
It is unconscionable for the employer to withhold the wages of someone who worked according to a preset agreement. It is also unconscionable that a person would not show up for work and expect to be paid anyway.
 
But the world is full of cheaters from both ends. They refuse to do what they committed to. Other people will see this and look down on those who don’t meet their obligations. But how many of us fail to meet our obligations in other ways? We treat divorce as if it were just a sad occurrence. Societally, it is no longer looked at as a failure to meet one’s obligation to another.
 
People may steal from a store, as if they have a right to whatever it is they put their hands on. They fail to meet the obligation of paying for what someone else had to produce. Stores cost money to build or rent. Electricity, water, insurance, and many other bills have to be paid. The cost of merchandise must be considered. And yet, people steal from others as if they have a right to what is taken.
This has been blown to epic proportions in liberal cities where even the government fails to protect the rights of store owners. Instead, they treat theft as a right for the poor to participate in.
 
All of these type of things leads to the greatest failure to meet obligations of them all. As people continue to tolerate such activities, they also move further and further from God. They fail to honor Him for what He has done. They become ungrateful, abusive, harmful toward others, etc. Unholiness abounds, and any thought of honoring God is cast out the window.
In fact, those who attempt to honor Him are ignored, mocked, treated as societal offenders, etc. This pattern has repeated itself throughout history, including in the pages of the Bible. We need to be firm in meeting our obligations, resolute in standing up for morality, and firm in never accepting the unholiness of others – be it individuals, organizations, or governments.
 
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is the right thing, but doing right is the right thing to do. Honor God through standing fast and doing what is right at all times.
 
Lord God, help us to be people of integrity, even as the world moves towards ever-increasing wickedness. May we never allow unholiness to creep into our surroundings and cause us to adapt to it. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Matthew 20:6

Monday, 25 May 2026
 
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?’ Matthew 20:6
 
“Around, also, the eleventh hour, having exited, he found others having stood inactive. And he says to them, ‘Why, here, you ‘having stood all the day’ inactive?’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, it said that the housemaster went out at the sixth and ninth hours to hire more people. Jesus next says, “Around, also, the eleventh hour.”
 
There is an emphasis in these words with the inclusion of the article before “eleventh.” In the other instances, there was no article. This emphasizes the fact that it is right at the end of the day, about 5 pm. Twilight would be coming, and the day would be complete.
 
In John 11:9, Jesus says, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?” Though probably not specifically talking about a workday, it would signify the duration of a day where work could be accomplished. As Jesus next says in John 11:9, “If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.” That builds upon what Jesus said in John 9 –
 
“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4, 5
 
Because the housemaster is hiring day laborers, they would be hired out for the full day. As there is still more light, it says the housemaster, “having exited, he found others having stood inactive.”
 
These guys had been standing around the market, ostensibly, for an entire day. It is true that some of them may have gotten up later, had things to do at the house, took the morning off for some reason, etc., but for the most part, the next verse indicates they would be people who have come early for the sole purpose of finding work. Because of this, it next notes, “And he says to them, ‘Why, here, you ‘having stood all the day’ inactive?’”
 
He seems incredulous that they had been lolling around all day doing nothing. What is to be done with such people?
 
Life application: Imagine being a day laborer today. You have a bike to get you to the office, where day laborers go. In the early morning, someone comes in and says he has work digging out stumps. It is a very labor-intensive job. You know, because you did it before. You decide to pass on taking that job.
 
Throughout the day, people keep getting assigned to jobs, but every time someone comes by, you have missed the call. One time, you went to the bathroom. The next time you went outside to stretch your legs, after that, your wife called and said little Johnny is sick. While trying to console her, two other guys are selected. Each time, a job has slipped past you.
 
Toward the end of the day, nobody else has come by to hire anyone. Just as you are getting up to get back on your bike and head home, someone walks in and asks why you have been sitting around all day. Do you take it as an insult? Do you take it as light humor? Do you consider it an indictment concerning your skinny frame?
 
Or does his tone ring of sincerity, really wanting to know why you weren’t selected for work, as if he might be able to help out next time you come for work? The scenario is possible, and it doesn’t just apply to work. Some people are looking for marriage in their lives, and it keeps eluding them.
 
Others may be looking for the opportunity to buy a home, but each time one becomes available, something always comes up to interfere with it coming about. It seems like life is against you in this regard. The thing is, we all have to continue on with life.
 
Are we going to bear a grudge against God? Will we think we are destined for failure? Do people perceive us as incapable? People go through such times questioning their situation. If you are a believer in God, you should remember that at one time you were not saved and now you are.
 
You had the greatest change a person can ever experience. And it was solely by God’s grace that it came about. If you can remember that truth, clinging to it through the trials, you will be able to hold fast to the fact that God was with you, is with you, and will never abandon you. It doesn’t matter what people may think about you, and it is one hundred percent certain that you are not destined for failure.
 
God selected you through the gospel to be his. Whatever trial you are facing, He is there with you as you go through it. So hold fast to Him. If the house is meant to come, it will. If not, you still have an eternal home ahead. If a husband or wife comes along, that is great, but if not, you are a part of the bride of Christ, the church.
 
The temporary lives we live are a blip in the eternal scheme of things. Eyes on Jesus! You are His. Everything else falls behind that as a reason for being joy-filled at all times.
 
“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2
 
Lord God, we have needs in this life that You are faithful to tend to. We also have desires as we walk in this world. Search us out and help us as we strive for what we want. It may be that such things are not meant to come about, but we can still pray for them, knowing that You are tending even to the desires of our hearts according to Your wisdom. Thank You that You are always with us in this walk of life. Amen.