Mattityahu 20:10

10 And when the rishonim came, they were under the impression that they would receive a larger sum; instead, they themselves each received a denarius.

Mattityahu 20:10 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 20:10

But when the first came
Who were early hired into the vineyard; and design either the first saints that were in the world; or the Jews that first believed in Christ, either really or nominally; or such, who were called by grace in their early days:

they supposed,
or "hoped", as the Syriac version renders it,

that they should have received more;
than a penny, a greater reward: not that they could expect it on the foot of their agreement, or on account of their work; but because they observed, that they that came last into the vineyard, had as much as they agreed for; and therefore hoped, from the goodness of their Lord to them, that they should receive more:

and they likewise received every man a penny;
the selfsame privileges of the Gospel, and a title to the selfsame reward of free grace, the selfsame glory and happiness.

Mattityahu 20:10 In-Context

8 And when erev had come, another man, the owner of the kerem, says to his foreman, Call the poalim and give to them the wage, beginning with the acharonim and going to the rishonim.

9 And the ones that came around the eleventh hour each received a denarius.

10 And when the rishonim came, they were under the impression that they would receive a larger sum; instead, they themselves each received a denarius.

11 And when they received the denarius, they were complaining against the Baal Bayit,

12 saying, These acharonim worked one hour, and you made them equal to us, the ones having endured the burden and the heat of the whole day.