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Book of Matthew - Chapter 20 - Verse 9

20:9
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

Meaning

In this verse, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who hired workers throughout the day to work in his vineyard. The workers who were hired at the start of the day agreed to work for a denarius, which was a day's wage. As the day went on, the landowner continued to hire more workers, even up until the eleventh hour. When it came time to pay the workers, those who were hired last received the same wage as those who had worked the entire day. This parable teaches us about the generosity and grace of God. It reminds us that God's grace is freely given to all, regardless of when we come to Him. It also challenges us to be grateful for the blessings we receive, without comparing ourselves to others. Ultimately, this verse reminds us that God's love and abundance are available to all who seek Him, regardless of when they come to faith.

Theological Overview

In this verse from the Gospel of Matthew, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard is shared by Jesus. The theological interpretation of this verse revolves around the concepts of grace, generosity, and equality in God's kingdom. The hiring of workers throughout the day symbolizes God's invitation to all people to enter into His kingdom, regardless of when they come to faith. The fact that those who worked only for one hour received the same wage as those who worked all day demonstrates God's grace and His equal treatment of believers. The word study of 'penny' in this verse reveals a deeper meaning as well. The Greek word used here, "denarius," was the usual wage for a day's work during that time. This highlights the idea that God's reward for faithfulness is not based on human standards of effort or time, but on His own generosity and love. It is a reminder that God's grace is available to all, regardless of our past or present circumstances.

American Standard Version

And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.
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