Matthew 20:3

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market.

Matthew 20:3 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 20:3

And he went out about the third hour
About nine o'clock in the morning,

and saw others standing idle in the market place:
the place where labourers used to be hired: and may design the world, because a place full of people, and of great wickedness, for the whole world lies in it; a place of trade and traffic in worldly things, and likewise of worldly and carnal pleasure, and also of idleness. Now God's elect before calling, are in this place: they are natives of it, have their conversation according to it: here Christ came in person, and here he sends his ministers, his Gospel, to find them out, and by his Spirit and grace he calls them from hence; so that afterwards they are no more of it, though they are in it: but before conversion they belong to it, and their posture then is standing idle; being sluggish, and slothful in business, unwilling to work, and afraid of a little danger and trouble, sauntering away their time in carnal pleasures, and so clothed with rags, and in a starving, famishing condition: but Christ's eye is upon them; he observes, and takes notice of them in this disagreeable position and situation, and speaks of them in the following manner.

Matthew 20:3 In-Context

1 The kingdom of heavens is like to an husbandman, that went out first by the morrow [that went out early, or by the morrow], to hire workmen into his vineyard.

2 And when the covenant was made with the workmen, of a penny for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market.

4 And he said to them, Go ye also into mine vineyard [Go ye also into my vinery], and that that shall be rightful, I shall give to you. And they went forth.

5 Again he went out about the sixth hour, and the ninth, and did in like manner.