Matthew 20:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The young carry the ‘burden’ of wrath and the heat of temptation, while the aged are often more subdued by it. Nevertheless, all receive the same precious gift of the Holy Spirit. This parable illustrates that entry into the kingdom of heaven is attainable even in old age through repentance, symbolized by the eleventh hour. However, regarding the parable, will the saints resent those who receive the same rewards they enjoy? Absolutely not. It merely indicates that the rewards set aside for the righteous are so abundant and extraordinary that they might provoke feelings of envy.

To endure the burdens of the day and the sweltering heat signifies a life of weariness stemming from the trials of their mortal bodies.

One might wonder why the latecomers to the kingdom provoke such complaints. It is important to note that those who murmur cannot inherit the heavenly kingdom; true recipients of this kingdom do not harbor murmuring in their hearts. However, the ancient Fathers, despite their righteous lives, were not granted entry into the kingdom until He, who through His death opened the doors of Paradise, descended for mankind. Their grievances stemmed from a life lived righteously in anticipation of the kingdom, yet they remained outside for a prolonged period. According to perfect justice, they who, while dwelling in the tranquil realms of hell, labored in the vineyard, displayed the tendency to express dissatisfaction. Thus, after their complaints, these individuals, having transitioned from a long time in hell to the blessings of the kingdom, are awarded the same denarius.

Similarly, in the parable of the prodigal son, the older brother exclaimed: "Look, I have served you all these years and have never disobeyed your commands, yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours, who squandered your wealth with loose living, returns, you kill the fattened calf for him" (Luke 15:29-30).

In this parable, the vineyard symbolizes the Church of Christ; the householder represents the Lord; and the laborers, who began their work at different times, signify believers in Christ who have been called into the Church at various points (in relation to Christ's contemporaries—during His earthly ministry, and regarding all believers across ages). The parable concludes with a similar phrase to its beginning, albeit with slight adjustments to align with its narrative: ‘Thus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few are chosen.’ The overarching message of the parable conveys that the distribution of eternal life’s rewards for believers is governed solely by the will and grace of God, independent of human merit as determined by personal assessment. Many who, by their own or others’ standards, seem to have accomplished little for their salvation may be exalted in God’s judgment, while those who regard themselves as foremost may find themselves in a position of last when faced with divine judgment. Consequently, this parable encourages every follower of Christ to embody humility, which is essential to receiving the rewards promised to those who have surrendered all for the sake of Christ.

It has been previously noted that it is futile to attempt to dissect every single aspect of the parable in detail, thus we shall refrain from an exhaustive analysis of the story of the laborers in the vineyard, which often confuses many interpreters. Instead, we’ll focus on the complaints of those who toiled all day and the concluding remarks of the parable. The workers who had been in the vineyard since morning, representing individuals who have dedicated their lives to fulfilling God’s will, received a denarius along with others, which signifies their honor of Eternal Life. Yet, since their grumbling against God and envy towards those who worked fewer hours contradicts the character of those destined for the kingdom of heaven, it can be understood that they did not truly grumble; rather, such complaints were attributed to them to highlight the vastness of God’s mercy to the audience.

If we consider dividing this parable into two sections, with the first recounting the hiring of the laborers and the directive to pay them all equally, and the second focusing on the master’s reply to the complaints—which can be viewed as the concluding thought from Jesus Christ regarding the parable—the seeming contradiction dissipates. After narrating how the master compensated the last worker, who labored for only an hour, the same amount as those who toiled all day, Jesus posed a question to His listeners: “Do you find this unjust or offensive to those who worked all day? They were contracted for a denarius and received their full wages; the vineyard owner has wronged no one. If he, in his generosity, chooses to pay them all the same, who has the right to object? Does not the owner of the vineyard possess the authority to manage his affairs as he wishes?”