Matthew 20:14

“They maintain also, that these thirty Æons are most plainly indicated in the parable of the labourers sent into the vineyard.” — editor's note: Matt. xx. 1–16.

“Yet mayest Thou say, O Lord: “I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xx. 14.

Chapter LXIII.—Of the Little Children on Whom He Laid His Hands; Of the Rich Man to Whom He Said, “Sell All that Thou Hast;” Of the Vineyard in Which the Labourers Were Hired at Different Hours; And of the Question…

“For He saith, “Friend, I do thee no wrong, I will give to ‘these also’ even as unto thee.” ( Matt. xx. 14.)” — the author cites it

“…all be with the one God—albeit the wages be various, albeit there be “many mansions”, in the house of the same Father having laboured for the “one penny” of the self-same hire, that is, of eternal life; in which (eternal life) God will still less separate them whom He has conjoined, than in this lesser life He…” — editor's note: Matt. xx. 1–16.

“Yesterday it was theirs, for it was permitted to be so; to-day the Master takes it and gives it to thee, that thou mayest make a good and saving use of it.” — editor's note: Matt. xx. 14.

To establish the truth of this saying, “There are many first that shall be last, and last first,” the Lord subjoins a similitude.

The Master of the household is Christ, whose house are the heavens and the earth; and the creatures of the heavens, and the earth, and beneath the earth, His family. His vineyard is righteousness, in which are set…

Or; The Master of the household, that is, our Maker, has a vineyard, that is, the Church universal, which has borne so many stocks, as many saints as it has put forth from righteous Abel to the very last saint who…

For the whole of this present life may be called one day, long to us, short compared to the existence of God.

The morning is that age of the world which was from Adam and Noah, and therefore it is said, “Who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.” The terms of their hiring He adds, “And when he…

The denarius I suppose here to mean salvation.

A denarius was a coin anciently equal to ten sesterces, and bearing the king’s image. Well therefore does the denarius represent the reward of the keeping of the decalogue. And that, “Having agreed with them for a…

The third hour is the period from Noah to Abraham; of which it is said, “And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the market-place idle.”

The market-place is all that is without the vineyard, that is, without the Church of Christ.

For in this world men live by buying and selling, and gain their support by defrauding each other.

He that lives to himself, and feeds on the delights of the flesh, is rightly accused as idle, forasmuch as he does not seek the fruit of godly labour.

Or; The “idle” are not sinners, for they are called dead. But he is idle who works not the work of God. Do you desire to be not idle? Take not that which is another’s; and give of that which is your own, and you have…

Or; He did not call upon the labourers of the third hour for a complete task, but left to their own choice, how much they should work. For they might perform in the vineyard work equal to that of those who had…

The sixth hour is that from Abraham to Moses, the ninth that from Moses to the coming of the Lord.

These two hours are coupled together, because in the sixth and ninth it was that He called the generation of the Jews, and multiplied to publish His testaments among men, whereas the appointed time of salvation now…

The eleventh hour is that from the coming of the Lord to the end of the world. The labourer in the morning, at the third, sixth, and ninth hours, denotes the ancient Hebrew people, which in its elect from the very…

For what is our hiring, and the wages of that hiring? The promise of eternal life; for the Gentiles knew neither God, nor God’s promises.

These then are sent into the vineyard, “Go ye also into my vineyard.”

But when they had rendered their day’s task, at the fitting time for payment, “When even was come,” that is, when the day of this world was drawing to its close.

Consider, He gives the reward not the next morning, but in the evening. Thus the judgment shall take place while this world is still standing, and each man shall receive that which is due to him. This is on two…

Or, if you choose, the Father saith unto the Son; for the Father wrought by the Son, and the Son by the Holy Spirit, not that there is any difference of substance, or majesty.

Or; “The Lord said to his steward,” that is, to one of the Angels who was set over the payment of the labourers; or to one of those many guardians, according to what is written, that “The heir as long as he is a…

Or, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the master of the household, and also the steward, like as He is the door, and also the keeper of the door. For He Himself will come to judgment, to render to each man according…

But the first labourers having the witness through faith have not received the promise of God, the lord of the household providing some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. And…

For we always give more willingly, where we give without return, seeing it is for our own honour that we give. Therefore God in giving reward to all the saints shews himself just; in giving to us, merciful; as the…

Or; The lesser are therefore taken as first, because the lesser are to be made rich.

They get alike a denarius who have wrought since the eleventh hour, (for they sought it with their whole soul,) and who have wrought since the first. They, that is, who were called from the beginning of the world…

And this not with injustice. For he who was born in the first period of the world, lived no longer than the determined time of his life, and what harm was it to him, though the world continued after his leaving it?…

But we ought not to pursue through every particular the circumstances of a parable; but enter into its general scope, and seek nothing further. This then is not introduced in order to represent some as moved with…

Or because the old fathers down to the Lord’s coming, notwithstanding their righteous lives, were not brought to the kingdom, this murmur is theirs. But we who have come at the eleventh hour, do not murmur after our…

Or, all that were called of old envy the Gentiles, and are pained at the grace of the Gospel.

And this murmur of the labourers corresponds with the frowardness of this nation, which even in the time of Moses were stiff-necked.

By this one to whom his answer is given, may be understood all the believing Jews, whom he calls friends because of their faith.

Their complaint was not that they were defrauded of their rightful recompense, but that the others had received more than they deserved. For the envious have as much pain at others’ success as at their own loss. From…

A denarius bears the figure of the king. You have therefore received the reward which I promised you, that is, my image and likeness; what desirest thou more? And yet, it is not that thou shouldest have more, but…

That is, take thy reward, and enter into glory. “I will give to this last,” that is, to the gentile people, according to their deserts, as to thee.

Perhaps it is to Adam He says, “Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst thou not agree with me for a denarius? Take that thine is, and go thy way.” Salvation is thine, that is, the denarius. “I will give unto this last…

Because that life eternal shall be equal to all the saints, a denarius is given to all; but forasmuch as in that life eternal the light of merits shall shine diversely, there are with the Father many mansions; so…

And because the attainment of this kingdom is of the goodness of His will, it is added, “It is not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?” For it is a foolish complaint of man to murmur against the goodness…

By the eye is understood his purpose. The Jews had an evil eye, that is, an evil purpose, seeing they were grieved at the salvation of the Gentiles. Whereto this parable pointed, He shews by adding, “So the first…

Or; He says the first shall be last, and the last first, not that the last are to be exalted before the first, but that they should be put on an equality, so that the difference of time should make no difference in…

There be very many come to the faith, yet but few arrive at the heavenly kingdom; many follow God in words, but shun Him in their lives. Whereof spring two things to be thought upon. The first, that none should…

That He called not all of them at once, but some in the morning, some at the third hour, and so forth, proceeded from the difference of their minds [ed. note: γνώμη]. He then called them when they would obey; as He…

They then who have neglected till extreme old age to live unto God, have stood idle to the eleventh hour, yet even these the master of the household calls, and oftentimes gives them their reward before other,…

But this, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” is not said to such as having “begun, in the spirit,” [Gal 3:3] have been “made perfect by the flesh,” as inviting them to return again, and to live in the Spirit. This…

When He says, The first shall be last, and the last first,” He alludes secretly to such as were at the first eminent, and afterwards set at nought virtue; and to others who have been reclaimed from wickedness, and…