|
20:1-16 The
kingdom of the heavens is like a housemaster who went out early in the
morning to hire workmen in his vineyard.
And agreeing with the workman for a denarius as the day’s pay he
sent them into his vineyard. And
going out about the third hour (about 9
o’clock in the morning?) he saw others standing in the
marketplace idle. To those he said (Note: Jesus as compared with housemaster) “You can
also go into my vineyard and I will pay you whatever is just.” So they went. And again on going out about the sixth
and the ninth hour he did the same.
And about the eleventh hour on going out he found others standing
there and he says to them. “Why are
you standing here all day doing nothing?”
And they said to him “Because nobody has hired us.” He says to them. “You also can go into my vineyard.” When evening had come the lord of the
vineyard said to his steward. “Call
the
|
workmen
and pay their wage, beginning from the last until the first.” And coming forward the ones from about
the eleventh hour each received a denarius.
And finally those who had gone out first came forward and assumed
that they would receive more. Yet
they each received a denarius in the same way. On receiving this they grumbled against
the house master saying. “These ones
who were last only did one hour and yet you gave them equal pay to us who
had borne the burden of the day and the heat. “But he answering one of them said
“Comrade, I do not injure you. Did
you not agree with me for the pay of a denarius? Take what is yours and
go. But am I not allowed to do what
I want with my own things and give this last man the same as I gave to
you. Is your eye evil because I am
good? But the last ones will be first and the
first ones last.” (Note: 2nd part
explains 1st part)
|