Matthew 20:8-16

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on Matthew 20:8-16

8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’
9The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.
10So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.
11On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner.
12‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’
13But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius?
14Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.
15Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
— Matthew 20:8-16

Related Resources from Heartlight

Illustration of Matthew 20:10-12 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 20:10-12 NLT -- "Then those workers that were hired first came to get their pay. Those workers thought they would be paid more than the other workers. But each one of those workers also received one silver coin. When they got their silver coin, these workers complained to the man that owned the land. The workers said, 'Those people were hired last and worked only one hour. But you paid them the same as us. And we worked hard all day in the hot sun.'"

Illustration of Matthew 20:8-9 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 20:8-9 NLT -- "At the end of the day, the owner of the field said to the boss of all the workers, 'Call the workers and pay all of them. Start by paying the last people I hired. Then pay all of them, ending with the workers I hired first.' The workers that were hired at five o'clock came to get their pay. Each worker got one silver coin."

Illustration of Matthew 20:14-15 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 20:14-15 NLT -- "'So take your pay and go. I want to give the man that was hired last the same pay that I gave you. I can do what I want with my own money. Are you jealous because I am good {to those people}?'"

Illustration of Matthew 20:13 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 20:13 NLT -- "But the man that owned the field said to one of those workers, 'Friend, I am being fair with you. You agreed to work for one silver coin. Right?'"

Illustration of Matthew 20:16 NLT

Illustration of Matthew 20:16 NLT -- "So the people that have the last place now will have the first place in the future. And the people that have the first place now will have the last place in the future."

Cross References for Matthew 20:8-16

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.