The Meaning of Matthew 20:9 Explained

Matthew 20:9

KJV: And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

YLT: And they of about the eleventh hour having come, did receive each a denary.

Darby: And when they who came to work about the eleventh hour came, they received each a denarius.

ASV: And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  when they came  that [were hired] about  the eleventh  hour,  they received  every man  a penny. 

What does Matthew 20:9 Mean?

Study Notes

received
. Also, 1 Corinthians 9:24 ; 2 Timothy 4:7 ; 2 Timothy 4:8 .
reward
God, in the N.T. Scriptures, offers to the lost, salvation, and, for the faithful service of the saved, rewards. The passages are easily distinguished by remembering that salvation is invariably spoken of as a free gift (e.g.) John 4:10 ; Romans 6:23 ; Ephesians 2:8 ; Ephesians 2:9 while rewards are earned by works; Matthew 10:42 ; Luke 19:17 ; 1 Corinthians 9:24 ; 1 Corinthians 9:25 ; 2 Timothy 4:7 ; 2 Timothy 4:8 ; Revelation 2:10 ; Revelation 22:12 .
A further distinction is that salvation is a present possession Luke 7:50 ; John 3:36 ; John 5:24 ; John 6:47 , while rewards are a future attainment, to be given at the coming of the Lord; Matthew 16:27 ; 2 Timothy 4:8 ; Revelation 22:12 .
reward , 1 Corinthians 9:17 ; Daniel 12:3 ; 1 Corinthians 3:14

Context Summary

Matthew 20:1-16 - The Bargaining Spirit Rebuked
This parable originated in Peter's question. He had seen the rich young man go away sorrowful, because he could not meet the test which had been put to him; and he contrasted with that great refusal the swift willingness with which he and his fellow Apostles had left all to follow the Lord Jesus.
"Take care," said Jesus, "or your bargaining for the rewards of the Kingdom, will put you down among the lowest; while they who don't bargain will come out at the top." The last made no agreement; they came in at the eleventh hour, and were only too glad to take the vineyard path, leaving the vine owner to give what he thought right. The first "agreed," taking care to strike a bargain of so much money for so much work. But they would have done better if they had left the payment to the grace of their employer. "For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed," Romans 4:16, r.v. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 20

1  Jesus, by the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor unto no man;
17  foretells his passion;
20  by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be humble;
29  and gives two blind men their sight

What do the individual words in Matthew 20:9 mean?

And having come those [hired] about the eleventh hour they received each a denarius
Καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ περὶ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν ἔλαβον ἀνὰ δηνάριον

ἐλθόντες  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
οἱ  those  [hired] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
περὶ  about 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
ἑνδεκάτην  eleventh 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἑνδέκατος  
Sense: eleventh.
ὥραν  hour 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὥρα  
Sense: a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year.
ἔλαβον  they  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
ἀνὰ  each 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἀνά  
Sense: into the midst, in the midst, amidst, among, between.
δηνάριον  a  denarius 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: δηνάριον  
Sense: A Roman silver coin in NT time.