Matthew 20:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The laborers recruited at the sixth hour signify the righteous during the age of Abraham, under whom the commandment of circumcision was established, and the eleventh hour signifies those righteous at the advent of Christ. Of these, it is asked, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” (Matt. 20:6) They are likened to those who lack hope in the Lord or are unrighteous in this life, remaining idle in all good works like those who linger in the marketplace, leading lives of futility. The Lord calls to them, inquiring, “What are you doing standing idle?” Yet they respond, “No one has hired us” (Matthew 20:7). For it was neither Moses nor any of the saints who ministered to the Gentiles, but solely to Israel. Nevertheless, the Lord sends these individuals to labor in the vineyard as well. He illustrates five distinct callings to reflect that in every era, there were both the diligent and the negligent, akin to the five wise and five foolish virgins. Some exhibited virtue, while others, through their folly, overlooked the eternal hope. The conclusion of life is symbolized as evening, a representation of the period from Christ's coming to the culmination of ages, which falls after the eleventh hour. As John notes, it represents the final moment when the master of the house directs the distribution of rewards, beginning with those last called. The master of the house is interpreted as the Father, who regards the Son, the distributor, not merely as a servant but as a fellow worker, since through Him, He accomplishes all that He desires.

The Lord, wishing to instruct His people and cultivate His vineyard, has never ceased sending His workers. He first sent the Patriarchs, followed by the Teachers of the Law and the Prophets, and ultimately the Apostles to rectify the behavior of His people, laboring in the vineyard through their efforts. To various extents, any individual who combines good deeds with true faith can be considered a laborer in this vineyard. The one who worked from the morning represents the ancient Jewish people, who, since the world's inception, sought to honor God through their chosen ones with genuine faith, as though they tirelessly worked the soil of the vineyard. Meanwhile, at the eleventh hour, the Gentiles received their call, queried with, "Why do you stand here idle all day?" This reflects those who, during a prolonged time of peace, refrained from striving for their own salvation.

When questioned, their response is, "No one has hired us," indicating that no Patriarch or Prophet has come to them. This plea underscores the absence of guidance on the path to life. We must consider our own situation; how can we justify our inactivity if we do not engage in good works, especially when many of us have almost been steeped in faith since infancy, exposed to the teachings of life from our earliest days within the nurturing embrace of the Holy Church?

This notion of time can be applied to every individual according to the different stages of life. The morning signifies the formative years of our understanding, while the third hour marks adolescence, a time when enthusiasm and energy flourish. The sixth hour, representing youth, captures the peak of vigor, akin to the sun at noon. The ninth hour correlates to old age as vitality wanes. The eleventh hour symbolizes very old age or decrepitude, which the Greeks refer to as "elders" to suggest a depth of experience beyond mere old age.

Thus, individuals are called to a virtuous life at varying stages: some from childhood, others from youth, adulthood, or even late in life. These are all laborers in the vineyard, representing different hours of their existence. Beloved brethren, examine your conduct and determine if you are indeed workers of God. Each person should reflect on their actions and assess whether they are contributing to the Lord’s vineyard. Those who pursue only their own interests have not yet entered the vineyard of the Lord. Genuine laborers seek the Lord’s gain over their own, demonstrating fervor for love and righteousness, striving to redeem souls and guiding others toward life eternal alongside them.

In contrast, one who lives solely for personal pleasures is rightly deemed idle, for they produce no fruit reflecting divine endeavors. Moreover, neglecting to live for God until the very last hour parallels standing inert until the eleventh hour. Therefore, it is fitting that those who have remained idle until then are asked, "Why do you stand here all day?" It suggests that if one did not dare to live for God while youthful and valiant, they should at least lament their negligence in old age, even if their time for significant labor is diminished; it is still commendable to respond, albeit late. The Master calls them as well, and frequently they receive their reward sooner, transitioning from this life to God’s kingdom ahead of those called from their youth.

Is it not at the eleventh hour that the late-arriving thief is found, who, though not aged, arrived late due to his punishment? His confession of faith on the cross allowed him to surrender his spirit to God, embodying the grace of late but sincere repentance.

It's important to note that the initial laborers entered into their work with a formal agreement, while those who came later accepted the invitation on trust alone. The skepticism of the former became evident when the master began to settle accounts, while the faithfulness and humble expectation of the latter were favored by the owner, rewarding them beyond their expectations. The apostle Peter, upon hearing this parable, had to reflect on his own misguided question, “What will we have?” Accountability does not apply to the Lord: our calling is to labor, serve, and obey His sacred commandments while entrusting the rewards to Him. The One who is compassionate can grant you what you consider insignificant, and will provide more than you could ever hope for—rest assured of this, for He does not overlook even a cup of cold water given in His name, nor the unnoticed sigh of a heart burdened by sin, and certainly not the acts of love exhibited by His servants.

The workers, called at various times, correspond to believers who responded to Christ’s call throughout different eras, both during His earthly ministry and across all ages. The parable concludes with a restatement of the earlier saying, slightly altered to align with its message: ‘Thus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called, and few chosen.’ The overall lesson is clear: the distribution of eternal rewards for believers is determined solely by God's will and grace, not by human assessments of merit. Those who may seem to have labored less for their salvation and are regarded as the least in their own and others' eyes may be deemed first in God's sight. Conversely, those who consider themselves foremost may find themselves last in the divine judgement. Therefore, this parable imparts the essential virtue of humility to all of Christ's followers, a prerequisite for receiving the promised rewards for those who have given everything for the sake of Christ.