Parable of the Vineyard Workers

The Kingdom Of God As A Vineyard.

Matthew 20 : 1-16.

For the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And he said unto them; Go you also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing idle, and he said unto them, Why do you stand here idle all day? They said unto him Because no man has hired us. He said unto them, Go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall you receive.

So when evening came, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have only worked one hour, and you have made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. But the vineyard owner answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do you no wrong: did you not agree with me for a penny? Take that which is yours and go your way: I will give unto this last, even as unto you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is your eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.