Matthew 20:10

10 καὶ ἐλθόντες ⸃ οἱ πρῶτοι ἐνόμισαν ὅτι πλεῖον λήμψονται · καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ ἀνὰ δηνάριον καὶ αὐτοί.

Matthew 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.

Matthew 20:10 In-Context

8 ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης λέγει ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος τῷ ἐπιτρόπῳ αὐτοῦ · Κάλεσον τοὺς ἐργάτας καὶ ἀπόδος αὐτοῖς τὸν μισθὸν ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῶν ἐσχάτων ἕως τῶν πρώτων.

9 καὶ ἐλθόντες ⸃ οἱ περὶ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν ἔλαβον ἀνὰ δηνάριον.

10 καὶ ἐλθόντες ⸃ οἱ πρῶτοι ἐνόμισαν ὅτι πλεῖον λήμψονται · καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ ἀνὰ δηνάριον καὶ αὐτοί.

11 λαβόντες δὲ ἐγόγγυζον κατὰ τοῦ οἰκοδεσπότου

12 λέγοντες · Οὗτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι μίαν ὥραν ἐποίησαν, καὶ ἴσους αὐτοὺς ἡμῖν ⸃ ἐποίησας τοῖς βαστάσασι τὸ βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν καύσωνα.