Matthew 20:13 Commentary and Bible Study

The lord of the vineyard addresses one of those hired first, as representative of all. He makes it individual, personal – this is an answer to Peter. The apostles could see that they corresponded to the labourers who had worked a full day. He addresses him as friend – he is not resentful at this complaint, but explains why the way he has treated his workers is entirely fair, and indeed is more than fair. He does not speak to rebuke them but to win them to his viewpoint.‘I do thee no wrong’ – as lord of the vineyard, he is sovereign in this situation, and is correct in saying that he is under no obligation to pay the same to all. This is a great understatement. He has done them great good for their livelihood depended on being hired. ‘Take that is thine own, and go thy way.’ We too have received something from the Lord that is immeasurably great. We must stop thinking that, in some way, we have deserved it. We must rid ourselves of that constant desire to think that we are better than others. ‘I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.’ Christ has given us an example of grace operating in the world, and we can understand it, even though what he describes is very unusual. We can see that the will of the vineyard owner is sovereign and his sovereignty must not be questioned. Man naturally thinks in terms of a reward system as the basis of his relationship with God, and so Christ takes such a system and breaks it in order to introduce the element of grace.‘Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?’ The lord of the vineyard is no man’s debtor, and neither is the Lord of glory. Job records God’s words: ‘Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine’ (Job 41:11). The apostle says, ‘Who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?’ (Romans 11:35). If a gift is truly a gift, then it is not an obligation. It is given freely and no one can place any constraint on the giver. It comes from within him where no man has the ability or right to interfere. The fact that a gift has been given to one, does not change that fact or determine what should be given to another. He who truly owns what he his can do what he likes with his goods.