BIBLE IN TEN

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.
 

Matthew 20:4

Saturday, 23 May 2026
 
and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Matthew 20:4
 
“And to them, he said, ‘You go, also you, into the vineyard, and whatever if it should be righteous, I will give you.’ And these, they departed.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus noted that in the third hour, the housemaster went out and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. He continues, saying, “And to them, he said, ‘You go, also you, into the vineyard.’”
 
With a quarter of the day gone, the chances of getting a job are waning. This offer was certainly good news for the men who were dependent on work to make ends meet. It may be preferable to wait a bit more for a good tiling job in someone’s house out of the full sun, but what if such a job didn’t materialize?
 
And more, this guy was willing to be fair, as Jesus says concerning their conversation, “and whatever if it should be righteous, I will give you.”
 
If he is a man of integrity, his word is a surety that he won’t cheat them at the end of the day. That is as much a risk as waiting, because he may be a person looking to cheat those who are getting desperate for any work just to make enough for dinner. But he has promised, and work is needed. Therefore, it says, “And these, they departed.”
 
No easy job like being a donkey valet has arisen. No exciting job, like laying mosaic tiles, has been offered. Working in the vineyard means standing, cutting, weeding, carrying heavy buckets of grapes, or whatever else is demanded by the on-site foreman. And all of it will be in the weather, even if a storm arises, but at least it is a job. And so, off they go.
 
Life application: When we have a job with a steady income, we generally don’t worry a great deal about how we will get through the day, week, or month. Yes, we may have mechanical problems with our car, but that will just mean less fun stuff like movies and going out for dinner for a few weeks.
 
But what happens when we suddenly lose our jobs? We have to mentally reconstruct our entire life’s paradigm. What can we do without? What will we be willing to do if no comparable job arises to fill our void? How will we be able to keep our children in their favorite activity next becomes how will we be able to keep our car? That soon turns into, how can I keep the house?
 
Each part of our existence gets a bit more precarious, starting with the least important, but leading to the most important. Sometimes, these are self-inflicted wounds. But other times, such a loss comes right out of the blue. The company isn’t doing well, and jobs are being cut. Then what will you do?
 
During such times, we have spiritual decisions to make that we may have avoided during times of prosperity. If we believe in God, or if we “think” He might be there, we start to think about Him. Then we start to talk to Him. Then we start to really call out to Him. Eventually, we ask friends who know Him well to pray for us.  Finally, we even begin going to church.
God has allowed the catastrophe to occur. In this allowance, we start to put Him first. This is good. If it is a permanent change, this is very good. However, we may get a job out of the blue. It is better than the one before. Things suddenly take an upturn in our lives. We forget to thank God for the relief. We stop going to church. We reprioritize with even more stuff in our lives.
 
This is just one set of possibilities. Maybe the return to church becomes permanent. We now see everything through a new and permanent God-centered paradigm. We become unshakeable in our faith, even if the new job collapses after a few months.
 
Where does your ultimate hope lie? If it isn’t in God in Christ, it is a futile hope indeed. But even that hope must have a sure context to ground you –
 
“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:17-19
 
If we have the hope of the resurrection deeply grounded in us. Everything, good and bad, that comes our way is just a blip on the road to eternal glory. What is it that motivates you above all else?
 
Lord God, may we find our hope in You alone. Everything else is temporary and ultimately tragic because it cannot last. But our hope in You is based on what is eternal. Thank You for the sure hope we possess in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:3

Friday, 22 May 2026
 
And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, Matthew 20:3
 
“And having exited about the third hour, he saw others having stood in the market, inactive.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus continued the parable of the workers in the vineyard, noting that the housemaster agreed to hire laborers for a denarius and then sent them into the vineyard. He continues now, saying, “And having exited about the third hour.”
 
The Pulpit Commentary does a great job of describing the timing of the day –
 
“It seems that at this time the Jews divided the day, reckoned between sunrise and sunset, into twelve equal parts, the length of these divisions varying according to the season. The day in Palestine at longest consisted of fourteen European hours twelve minutes, and at shortest of nine hours forty-eight minutes, so that the difference between the longest and shortest division of the so called Jewish "hour" was twenty-two minutes. It is usual to consider the Hebrew day as lasting from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., the sixth hour corresponding to our noon, the first hour being 7 o'clock and the third 9 a.m. This estimate, though not absolutely correct, is near enough to the fact to serve all expository purposes. The four periods mentioned in the parable are quarters of the working day, in which a proportional part of the day's wages might be earned.”
 
By this time, a quarter of the working day has expired. It might be that in checking the progress in the vineyard, he sees that there is a need for more laborers. Or it may be that at the early hour, these men had not yet arrived at the gathering place. Or it may be that the laborers were there and declined his original offer for one of various reasons. Whatever the case may be, Jesus next says of the housemaster, “he saw others having stood in the market, inactive.”
 
The agora, market, was already seen in Matthew 11:16. It is from ageiro, to gather. It is a place where people gather. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were dragged to the agora before the rulers by those looking for a judgment against them. In Acts 17, Paul witnessed to people in the agora in Athens.
 
One can see that the market was a place where the community gathered for various reasons, including judicial matters, at least in some places. In the case of the housemaster, he was still looking for ready hands to assist in the vineyard. Arriving there, he found some just lolling around twiddling their fingers.
 
Life application: Above, various possibilities were given concerning why the men were in the agora at this hour. Some of them may not have wanted to work in vineyards, instead hoping to get a job laying tile. Others may have been off getting a breakfast burrito when the housemaster showed up.
 
By this third hour, they may be regretting not being more aggressive in getting a job for the day. With each waning hour, the chance of getting hired would go down. Likewise, one would normally get less money for less work. The words, therefore, speak of seizing the opportunities set before you.
 
Each of us must prioritize what we will do throughout the day. Circumstances may not be perfect, but is it more important to work inside laying tile, or is it more important to have a full day’s wages to pay for food for the family? The way we look at opportunities will say a lot about where our ultimate priorities lie.
 
Foolish people will stick stubbornly to foolish choices. At the end of the day, they may regret what they decided upon, they may turn to theft to cover their bad choices, or they may lie to their family about why there is no food. And yet, quite often, they will go out the next day and make more bad choices.
 
So we can learn from watching others as much as through our own errors, if we are willing to pay attention. Above all, there is one choice that must be decided upon. As there truly is no guarantee of tomorrow, we should be wise and discerning about this particular choice –
 
“We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:‘In an acceptable time I have heard you,And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2 Corinthians 6:1, 2
 
Be wise. Call on Jesus today. If you are reading this, it means that you were brought to this commentary for a reason. God has done the necessary work to align your life with this choice. He has also done all that is necessary for you to be saved. All He asks is for you to believe what He has done is sufficient. Accept His offer of peace today.
 
Glorious Lord God, thank You for having brought us to the place where we have heard the message of salvation and applied it to our lives. Help us now to walk faithfully in that salvation all our days. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Matthew 20:2

Thursday, 21 May 2026
 
Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Matthew 20:2
 
“Having also harmonized with the toilers from ‘denarius, the day,’ he sent them into the ‘vineyard, his’.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus began the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. He continues that now, saying, “And having harmonized with the toilers.”
 
An amount was agreed on (harmonized) between him and those who will be in his employ. This is what will happen with any day laborer, and it is what happens with any hired staff in any job. Even military service sets the terms of payment, regardless of if it is compulsory or voluntary enlistment.
 
People want to know what to expect for their labor before entering into it. This goes back to the earliest records of the Bible. In Genesis 29, it says –
 
“And he said, Laban, to Jacob, ‘(Indeed) not my brother, you. And you served me gratuitously? You must (surely) cause to declare to me what your wages!’ 16And to Laban, two daughters. ‘Name, the whopping’ Leah, and ‘name, the diminutive’ Rachel. 17And ‘eyes, Leah’ tender. And Rachel, she was ‘beautiful, form’ and ‘beautiful, appearance.
 
18And he cherished, Jacob, Rachel. And he said, ‘I will serve you seven years in Rachel, your daughter, the diminutive.’
 
19And he said, Laban, ‘Good I giving her to you from my giving her to ‘man, another’. You must (surely) sit with me!’ 20And he served, Jacob, in Rachel seven years. And they were, in his eyes, according to ‘days, ones’ in his ‘cherish, her’.” Genesis 29:15-20 (CG).
 
Such arrangements are wholly appropriate, and they are considered binding. If either side defaults on the agreement, it is considered theft. If the owner doesn’t pay, he has stolen the time and effort of the laborer. If the laborer refuses to work according to whatever standard was set forth, he is considered to have stolen the property of the owner. Understanding this, Jesus notes that the agreement was “from ‘denarius, the day,’.”
 
The denarius was introduced in Matthew 18:28. It was a small silver coin used in Roman currency. It was approximately 53 grams of silver. Its value changed according to the strength of the Roman currency system, as any nation’s currency does. But for this parable, it is accepted as a day’s labor by both parties. With that agreed on, “he sent them into the ‘vineyard, his’.”
 
It is his property. The vineyard was either planted by him or tended to since he acquired the property. His time, money, and resources have been used to keep the vineyard in proper shape. On the other side, the laborer has needs and desires that he anticipates based on what he will earn. His abilities have been evaluated, and he is to perform according to what the owner expects from those abilities.
 
Life application: In the story of Jacob and Laban, Laban cheated Jacob. Instead of giving him Rachel for seven years of labor, he gave him Leah. Only after the marriage was consummated did Jacob realize what had happened. He had his years of labor essentially stolen from him.
 
Laban then offered Rachel for another seven years of labor. Jacob agreed to this, but it was not the original agreement. Laban had seven years to marry off Leah, and he didn’t do it, connivingly setting Jacob up to serve him longer so that Laban could unjustly benefit from him.
 
Understanding this, be sure to count your pay before you take it for a deposit. And for sure, gents, be sure to lift the veil on the woman you are about to marry. Under it, she might not be who you think.
 
Lord God, what a wonderful story is found in Jacob’s two wives and two concubines. There is law, and there is grace. And there are two exiles during those periods for the nation of Israel. And yet, You have brought them back again to fulfill the final promises in Your word to this unruly people. May that day be soon. Amen.

Matthew 20:1

Wednesday, 20 May 2026
 
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Matthew 20:1
 
“Like, for, it is the ‘kingdom, the heavens’: man, housemaster, who he exited concurrently early to hire toilers into ‘vineyard, his’.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Chapter 19 concluded with Jesus’ words concerning many who are first will be last and last who will be first. Continuing with that thought, He now begins another parable, saying, “Like, for, it is the ‘kingdom, the heavens’.”
 
As with His other parables about the kingdom of the heavens, we can anticipate that what Jesus will say is to be considered a recognizable truth about how the workings of God concerning redemption are played out in humanity.
 
In other words, there is the kingdom of the heavens, an example of which is given for us to learn from. This will help us see and understand more clearly what God is doing in the redemptive process. As such, Jesus says the kingdom is like a “man, housemaster.”
 
It can already be speculated that the man is the Lord. He is overseeing His plan of redemption, which is typified by the house. The house in this case doesn’t just mean a physical house. Rather, it involves everything under the authority of the house.
 
For example, the house of David signifies his person, authority, descendants, scope of influence, etc. It is an all-encompassing thought concerning that which belongs to David. Of this house master, Jesus says of him, “who he exited concurrently early.”
 
Though a bit clunky, evaluating the words will help understand the meaning. The word hama signifies “at the same time.” A single word to suit the purpose is “concurrently.” The word prói is an adverb that means “at dawn.” Thus, the man exited his house “concurrently early.” This was “to hire toilers.”
 
A new word is seen here, misthoó, to hire or let out for wages. It will only be seen here and in verse 7 of this chapter. This practice has probably existed since the first people on the earth. It continues today in companies with names like Labor Ready, Jobs Today, Hire Me, etc.
 
It is also not uncommon for people to go to work sites or various locations where workers hoping for a job gather. Temporary hire solves many immediate labor problems while allowing the laborers freedom to move, choose what they will do, etc. In this case, the housemaster wants employees to go “into ‘vineyard, his’.”
 
The ampelón, vineyard, is introduced here. It is derived from ampelos, a vine. In many cases, it would make no sense to have a lot of permanent employees to tend to a particular type of job all year. Hence, people may hire employees for a day, a week, a month, or a season.
 
There may be a few permanent servants or employees, but until the vines are ready to be clipped and the grapes gathered, there is no point in having people sit around doing nothing while being paid. This is the setting Jesus begins with to explain what it is like in the kingdom of the heavens.
 
Life application: Jesus is using examples that the people would have been intimately familiar with. This is true both from Scripture and from the society in which the people lived. Although many of the things He talks about are understood pretty much anywhere, there are things He mentions that are unique to the land and culture of Israel.
 
If you had never seen a palm tree, you would have no idea what it was without seeing a picture of one. Many of the things Jesus speaks of in the gospels can be understood if one has read the Old Testament, even if it isn’t generally known in a particular society.
 
Without reading the Old Testament, a person may not have any idea what He is talking about. Inferences can be made, and understanding in a general sense can be obtained, but like going to Israel itself to see the land and grasp the layout for a better understanding of Jesus’ movements, it is important not to neglect reading the Old Testament.
 
Redemptive history did not just begin when Jesus started His ministry. Everything about what He does and where He does it is intimately connected to what has already been recorded. So, don’t neglect reading and thinking about the contents of the Old Testament.
 
For those parts that are difficult to understand, there are scholars who have laid out what is meant for pretty much every part of the Bible. The more you study, contemplate, and consider the Old Testament, the more alive and meaningful the New Testament will be to you. Be sure to read your Bible... the whole Bible!
 
Lord God, what a wonderful thing You have done. You came and participated in Your creation in the Person of Jesus. He was a real Man who dwelt in a particular land among a particular group of people. Everything about Him reveals intimacy and fellowship. May we now participate in that as we interact with You through Your word that tells us all about Jesus. Amen.