Matthew 20:5

5 "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing.

Matthew 20:5 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 20:5

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour
About twelve o'clock, or at noon, and three o'clock in the afternoon. These three last mentioned seasons of the day, were the hours of prayer; see ( Acts 2:15 ) ( 3:1 ) ( 10:9 ) and did likewise: seeing others in the same place, and posture, he called them, and sent them into his vineyard, to labour there, giving them the same promise he did to others.

Matthew 20:5 In-Context

3 "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place;

4 and to those he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' And so they went.

5 "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing.

6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'

7 "They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'

Footnotes

• [a] I.e. noon and 3 p.m.
• [b] Lit "similarly"