Matthew 20:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The latter, benefiting from the Lord's generosity rather than their labor, are the first to be compensated, for all who exist after Christ's coming, through baptism and communion with the Spirit, partake in the divine essence (2 Pet. 1:4) and are deemed children of God, while those who lived prior are referred to as born of women (Lk. 7:28), although they too will be called similarly. For though the prophets shared in the Spirit, it was not in the same way as the faithful, since the Holy Spirit interacts with the souls of believers like leaven, transforming the whole individual into a new state of life. This transformation allows us to participate in the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4) and to boldly proclaim: Abba, Father (Mk. 14:36). However, those of ancient times did not receive such grace. Therefore, Paul explains, "For ye did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye received the Spirit of adoption" (Rom. 8:15), while those before did not share in the dignity of adoption but were subject to a spirit of bondage. Thus, it is affirmed that we, as the first to receive the spiritual denarius, are thereby inherently favored over others.

The Lord continually sends laborers into His vineyard, commencing with the Patriarchs, continuing with the Teachers of the Law and the Prophets, and culminating in the Apostles, who guided His people towards righteousness.

Every individual who aligns good deeds with genuine faith can be considered a worker in this vineyard. The workers of the morning represent the ancient Jewish people who, since the dawn of time, have strived to honor God through true belief as His chosen ones. In contrast, the Gentiles were called in the eleventh hour, and they responded, "Why do you stand here all day?" They remained idle during a long stretch of peace, feeling overlooked because no Patriarch or Prophet had appeared to them. Their complaint about being left unengaged signifies a lack of instruction on the paths of righteousness.

Thus, what can we say in our defense if we do not engage in good works? We, who have been nurtured in faith from infancy, who have been taught the words of life from our earliest days and have received the nourishing teachings of the Holy Church, should reflect on this. The various hours of the day can also parallel the stages of life. The morning symbolizes childhood; the third hour, adolescence; the sixth hour represents youth; the ninth hour points to old age; and the eleventh hour signifies a very advanced age. This is why older individuals are often referred to by the Greeks as "elders," suggesting a level of maturity beyond mere age.

Consequently, since some individuals come to a virtuous life in childhood, some in youth, others in adulthood, and still others in their later years, they are all recognized as laborers in the vineyard, each in their own time. Therefore, dear friends, let us examine our deeds to ensure we are indeed workers for God. Each person should reflect on their actions and whether they are contributing to the Lord's vineyard. Those who seek only their own benefit are still outside the vineyard of God. True laborers are those who prioritize the interests of the Lord, driven by love and zeal for goodness, earnestly striving to lead others towards eternal life.

In contrast, someone who lives solely for personal pleasure is rightly deemed inactive, producing no fruit in divine endeavors. Even those who have neglected to serve God throughout their lives appear to remain idle until the eleventh hour. Hence, it is justly asked of those who have been idle, "Why do you stand here all day?" This inquiry implies that if one chose not to live for God in their youth, they should at least lament in their final years. Even when they may not contribute much to the quest for life, they can still make their way, albeit late. The Master also calls to them, and many of them receive their reward swiftly, entering into the Kingdom before those who have toiled since their youth. Notably, it was at the eleventh hour that a thief, late to his punishment but not in years, recognized God on the cross and surrendered his spirit shortly after his confession.

In this parable, the vineyard symbolizes the church of Christ, the householder represents the Lord, and the workers—who commenced their tasks at different intervals—are believers in Christ called at various times into His church (for Christ's contemporaries, during His earthly ministry; for believers in general, throughout different eras). The parable concludes with a variation of its opening statement, reflecting the progression of the narrative: “So the last will be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few are chosen.” The overarching message of the parable is that the distribution of eternal life rewards for believers relies solely on God's will and grace, rather than on human assessment of merit; many who seemingly labored little toward their salvation and were deemed last by themselves and others may be honored as first by God’s judgment, while many who viewed themselves as first may find themselves last in the dreadful judgment. Thus, this parable teaches all Christ's followers the importance of humility, which is essential for receiving the rewards promised to those who have relinquished everything for the sake of Christ.