Matthew 20:6, commentary and pictures

About the eleventh hour, one hour before the day ended, the householder went to the marketplace, found others standing idle and unhired, asked why they stood all day idle, and on hearing that no one had hired them sent them into his vineyard with the promise of what is right. His late hiring shows that God in free grace accepts penitent sinners who enter His service even near the close of life, and rewards them not by length of labor or visible results but by His generous mercy. Those late workers trusted Him without bargaining for a set wage, grateful simply to be received, while the first-hired who had agreed for a penny measured reward by work, compared themselves with others, and murmured at His liberality. His question is His rebuke and call to all who profess to believe yet stand idle, to go at once into the vineyard to warn sinners and win souls while day lasts, for night is coming when no one can work. The call presses with special force now, for probation is fast closing and thousands who never before valued the truth will embrace it with zeal surpassing earlier workers and fill places left vacant by death or apostasy, yet it gives no excuse for delay, for neglected light leaves the heart in greater darkness.

Parable Story and Setting

The verse belongs to the parable of the kingdom of heaven as a householder hiring laborers for his vineyard, beginning early in the morning for a penny a day and continuing about the third and about the sixth and ninth hours with the promise of whatsoever is right, then about the eleventh hour, one hour before the workday ended, with payment in the evening from last to first every man a penny. The late hiring belongs among calls made at different hours through the day, with the Lord's invitation continuing from early morning until the last hour and the late workers receiving the same pay as those hired earlier. That late call forms part of the lesson against resentment over generosity, showing that service does not give workers grounds to demand greater reward than others.

About the eleventh hour the householder went out to the marketplace and found others standing idle without work. He asked why they stand there all the day idle, and they answered that no man had hired them. He then sent them also into the vineyard with the promise to pay them whatsoever is right, showing that workers may be called even near the close of the day and that their service is met with a fair and just reward. In the parable the vineyard represents the world and its workers portray labor in His service, and the call to work reaches people at different times.

The men found idle at the eleventh hour had not refused the householder's earlier call but were still unhired because no one had hired them. Their late response therefore differs from hearing the truth and knowingly refusing to follow it, whether to please friends or preserve self-righteous comfort, and then later repenting. The parable does not excuse those who refuse the first call to labor though they later repent, and it warns against delaying a response to mercy.

Grace and Equal Reward

The parable of the laborers teaches free grace, correcting the notion that divine favor must be earned and that the reward of the righteous is gained by one's own works. It rebukes worship prompted by a grasping, mercenary spirit, showing the disciples that they were not free from that spirit and presenting the right principles of grace and reward. The reward is given by grace, not as a debt that is earned, so no laborer may claim a superior right or begrudge another's reward. It exposes the belief that long years of service earn salvation or entitle a person to greater reward, a belief that leads even those who have endured hardship and trial to show an unchristlike, faultfinding spirit when they measure reward by work and compare themselves with others.

The workers found at the eleventh hour represent sinners who enter God's service late, whose service is short and has not earned a full reward, yet whom God accepts and rewards according to His generous purpose and mercy rather than the amount of labor. Christ accepts penitent sinners who come with humble faith and obey His commandments even near the end of the day, so acceptance and reward depend not on length of service but on the faith and spirit brought to the work. Their thankful, humble trust in God's kindness brings them joy, for they are grateful simply to be accepted and God fills them with joy in His generous acceptance. God's reward rests on His purpose and mercy, not on the amount or visible results of work, and He values a humble, trusting, grateful spirit, with service motivated by love for God and others rather than eagerness for compensation. Those who accept truth and begin working with Christ late in the time of opportunity, even when the final crisis is near, receive the same reward as those who worked throughout the day, asking no questions about wages because their reward rests on the master's generous purpose rather than time worked. The same reward is not measured by how much each accomplished but is given according to the spirit and principles guiding the work, including purity of motive and earnest desire to glorify God.

The late workers trusted the householder without bargaining over pay, leaving payment to him to deal justly and generously. They were so thankful for a chance to work that they were glad to work at any price, with hearts full of thanksgiving and love for the one who accepted them, showing faith by asking no questions about reward. They illustrate the poor sinner who knows his unworthiness, who has long neglected to enter the Master's vineyard but comes at the eleventh hour with short service and seemingly large wages, who expects very little and is satisfied with little if only Christ will accept him. When paid first at the close of day with a full day's wage they were greatly surprised, knowing they had not earned the money, and the kindness in their employer's countenance filled them with gratitude so that they never forgot His goodness and gracious compensation. Those serving the Master should not insist on a fixed wage but trust the householder to deal fairly, for grumbling about the arrangement finds no sympathy because the worker's heart needs to change and be purified of grumbling to recognize God's goodness with faith. God's treatment is not measured simply by hours worked or visible results but by the spirit brought to service.

The value of service is measured by the spirit in which it is given, not by how long a person has labored. The reward of God's grace is blessed for those who serve in simple faith and love. Right service is whole-hearted labor to the utmost of ability without setting a high estimate on one's own services, swelling with pride and self-importance, or measuring every hour's work with exactness, but comparing one's efforts with the Saviour's work and accounting oneself an unprofitable servant. It does not study how little can be done to reach the lowest standard but grasps the fullness of Christ in order to do much for Him. The measure of a worker is fidelity and the spirit prompting the work, not comparative capacity, learning, or advantages, for God has a place for every believer and uses varied talents, and service must not depend on pride or demand for esteem or appreciation. The parable thus contrasts those who serve for a fixed reward with those who leave payment to the householder, for workers with a hireling spirit treat their labor as more valuable yet God esteems them last.

Those called first represent people who serve with a hireling spirit, treating their work as more valuable than that of those called later and trying to agree with God on a set reward for a set amount of labor. They claim preference or greater reward because of long service and sacrifice, fix their own stipulated wages without which they will not work, and at the close of day are found last. The parable warns against serving for honor or reward rather than the privilege of serving Christ, and shows that God's generous treatment of others is no ground for jealousy or complaint. The householder's equal payment to the latecomers displayed his liberality, which the earlier workers would have recognized if their hearts had been free from selfishness. Service in God's work should be free of self-exaltation and disparagement of others, with workers depending on God and working with Christ rather than serving for praise or wages alone. True self-sacrificing faithful workers labor with God's angels sent forth with them, and by denying self and taking up the cross daily and following Christ enter into the design of the divine Planner to be instructed and guided.

Late Workers Identified

The dying thief on the cross is the great example of an eleventh-hour laborer, saved at the brink of eternity at the close of probation when leading Jews denied Christ and even His disciples doubted Him. He discerned by faith the world's Redeemer, the Son of God and the sinner's Friend and Saviour, in One crucified like a malefactor, and called Him Lord. His asking showed faith, patience, contrition and earnestness, with full realization that Jesus could save him if He would, and with hope mingled with anguish from knowing that without Him he would be lost, eternally lost, casting his helpless dying soul and body upon Christ. His conversion was genuine under peculiar circumstances for a special purpose, testifying to all beholders that Jesus was no impostor but sustained His character and carried out His mission to the closing scene, and his utterance of faith amid blasphemy was most grateful to Christ. It proves that even the vilest sinner may find pardon, acceptance and salvation through the merits of the blood of Christ.

Even at the eleventh hour, before it is utterly too late, there is still opportunity to respond to Christ, for Jesus waits to reveal Himself, and when a person hears His voice and opens the heart through repentance and faith He comes in and abides there. The eleventh hour is the closing period of life when its sands are nearly run out, and even then the chiefest of sinners who comes to God just as he is, with no plea but that Christ died to save sinners, will find pardon. A hardened, hopeless sinner without God on the very borders of the eternal world may still be saved by falling broken on the Rock Christ Jesus, crying with a broken repentant heart as blind Bartimaeus did, Jesus of Nazareth have mercy on me, coming without waiting or reasoning and throwing himself at the feet of Jesus, and God will not leave such a one to perish but alone can touch the heart with new tenderness and bring a sense of long-perverted obligations to Him. That late pardon still requires cooperating with God, for Christ did not die to cover transgression that remains unrepented and unconfessed, with confession made privately to God and to injured parties rather than always publicly, and receiving grace is to bear fruit in a life of practical godliness, doing good and faithfully using entrusted gifts.

In the closing work thousands who have not previously recognized or valued the truth will see and acknowledge it with surprising speed and earnestness, so rapidly that the church will be surprised and God alone will receive the glory. These one-hour laborers brought in when great light shines from the Word of God are diligent students of prophecy in all nations, tribes and peoples, coming from grossest error to take the place of those who had opportunities and privileges and did not prize them. They include men who had very meager opportunities and walked in error because they knew no better way, even those supposed to be heathen to whom beams of light come as the word came to Zacchaeus, with the supposed hardened sinner found tender as a child. Many will come from the world and the churches, even the Catholic Church, who never opposed heaven's light but lived according to what they had, and they will work earnestly in the task appointed them, valuing the great truths of God's Word and bringing those truths into daily life.

These late workers work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, consecrate ability and all entrusted means to advance the work, are true to principle, shun not duty to declare the whole counsel of God, and so God is not left without witnesses. Men and women still brought into the fold amid the perils of the last day, if in earnest the Lord accepts them and works through them as they use all talents in humble, all-round work to extend the knowledge of God, labor for those in the churches, and raise up other workers who will help and educate others, so whole communities are blessed. As they put on Christ their minds are enlarged by higher education to give the treasures of heavenly truth to others to be given to still others, and in the parable they are paid as much as those who first entered the field, and through grace and faithful presentation of truth may be accounted first. Their zeal may surpass that of earlier workers, and when crisis comes they step forward equipped for the struggle, upholding God's law, the faith of Jesus and religious liberty, including a converted ministry gathered from the world.

The eleventh-hour call fills ranks left broken when those who knew the truth and had great light, privileges and abundance of light depart from the faith, through perversity turn from Christ, throw off the restraint of the Word, make void His law, become offended and walk no more with Him. God provides new workers to fill places left vacant by death or apostasy, and many faithful self-sacrificing men and women, young and old alike, will answer late in the work when the task has grown harder and people more hardened, with God renewing their minds and directing hands, feet and speech to carry the work to completion. Many who hear the truth for the first time in the last days fill those vacant places, take their places and crowns, and prove faithful and receive their reward represented by the penny, showing God's mercy toward those who had no opportunity even while destructive judgments are falling as the Lord still reaches out to save them. In contrast, those given great light who fail to live by it will fall away until their light fades and their lamps go out for lack of the oil of grace, and God's Spirit will pass by those who have had their day of test yet failed to know His voice or value His work.

The men hired late had not refused the householder's earlier call but were still unhired because no one had hired them, so their late response differs from hearing the truth and knowingly refusing to follow it, whether to please friends or preserve self-righteous comfort, and later repenting. The parable therefore does not excuse those who refuse the first call to labor though they later repent, nor excuse delay or presuming on the thief's conversion by trusting to death-bed repentance and neglecting present opportunities. Every neglected ray of light leaves the sinner in greater darkness until deception may take possession and the case become hopeless.

Urgent Call to Service

The question is Christ's own rebuke and call to professed Christians and church members found standing idle in the marketplace, asking why they stand all the day idle and commanding them to go to work today in His vineyard while it is day, because night is coming when no one can work and present opportunities to share truth will close. No one is to remain an idler in His service, for persons with their time, abilities, influence and means belong to God and each moment must be used for His will rather than wasted in idleness, self-pleasing, self-interest, business concerns or ways to kill time. The voice sounds down through time to the present with special urgency near the end, reproving idleness and encouraging useful employment of time and ability before the day is over.

Standing idle is not neutral, for it hinders fellow workers, leaves souls to perish out of Christ, buries talents bound in a napkin in the earth, forfeits claim to the reward of the righteous which is for laborers, and gives employment to Satan. Those with great light and privileges must appreciate and use them rather than let the heart become calloused, becoming faithful, self-sacrificing laborers instead of withholding what God entrusted for saving souls. Even those found idle at the eleventh hour may still be called to labor late in the day, but the penny is given to the worker, and faithful work and its fruit reveal character.

The call presses for earnest, unselfish, whole-hearted effort to the utmost of ability while opportunity lasts, not limited to an eight-hour workday. Every soul is to advance and not be an idler, beginning at once in any place and capacity, giving the work the best energies, not waiting for greater opportunities, holier dispositions, greater gifts or a regular process, including work in irregular lines where need is everywhere. Neglect of time's value can and should be overcome through transforming grace, for God's work elevates those who give themselves to it, and those connected with Christ grow in grace and knowledge to full stature and, with the Sun of Righteousness risen upon the church, shine and become strong and efficient agents whether farmer, mechanic, teacher or pastor.

The vineyard is the Lord's work of presenting truth to those in darkness for the salvation of fellow men, warning sinners, winning souls, enlightening others and making Christ known. To labor there is to be wide awake and zealously work with unreserved, devoted, self-sacrificing effort, availing of every opening to press in the truth, sowing the seed of truth, giving practical instruction to those who take their stand for the gospel, and working in unison with God and angels who are moving on hearts and consciences in other nations where honest souls troubled by the signs of the times ask what the end will be. Such labor is marked by prayer, faith, self-denial and restraint of natural appetites and passions, earnest prayers in faith for fellow workers not fully in the truth, feeling the worth of souls for whom Christ died, handling sacred things without trifling frivolity, consecrating self to God and centering affections and hopes in Him, so that life shows the power of the truth shared and bears fruit. Even the humblest servant can do this earnest, devoted service that helps others and consistently lives out faith, and its reward is the knowledge of doing what is right, not continual arguing about matters of faith.

Bible religion never makes men idle but proves by reproving the indolent and urging industry that all must recognize responsibility for useful work. Those taught to earn what they receive learn to make the most of it and in learning self-reliance become self-sustaining and able to help others, while shunning assigned work falls far below the privilege of usefulness and brings great loss. Christ calls believers away from idleness to devote their days to doing good to souls needing help, bringing joy to the sorrowful, light to the darkened and life to the perishing, following the Saviour's example of a hallowed life while it is day. Daily duties are to be cheerfully accepted and performed, with words, acts and deportment revealing heaven, the Word of life studied and practiced, actions conformed to the laws of the kingdom of heaven, talents multiplied for greater usefulness, time well used for the good of self and the world, good works shining, and life made like Christ's, while Christ works with and in behalf of all who accept whatever work they are called to, setting them free and making cramped lives broad and efficient as laborers together with God.

The work is to be done as carrying the divine Householder's message, with love and dependence on God, examining the heart rather than exalting self or disparaging others, trusting His truth to make worry and anxiety unnecessary.

All Believers Sent to Work

The question why idle ones stand all day is a call to everyone who professes belief in the truth to rise and take personal action in advancing God's work rather than standing by without contributing. It is not limited to ordained ministers or to preaching from the pulpit, for there is a large work to do outside the pulpit and each person is to serve usefully according to ability. Consecrated lay members have a large work to do in educating those in error, winning souls, communicating heaven's light to the world, and leading others to the water of life they have received. The call rests on every church member, including lay members, women, youth and children, and none needs to crowd out another.

Ministers are to give those standing idle a portion of the work and a place to serve in the vineyard instead of hindering them from going out. People learn to use their talents and abilities by putting them to work, so when they make mistakes they should be corrected and set to work again while they continue working. There are to be no idlers in the vineyard, which is the worldwide work of winning sinners to the Saviour and raising up churches place after place, constantly enlarging the circle of effort until the work encircles the world. Ministers are therefore not to spend their time laboring only for those who have already accepted the truth or among churches already having light, but with Christ's love to go forth to sow truth, organize believers into churches, educate members to work more than merely preaching to them, teach new converts to work at once for regions beyond, pass on to other equally important fields, and select and train worthy young men as co-laborers rather than keeping workers waiting through prolonged study.

The call presses especially on women who have allowed God-given talents to lie unused through inaction, which is inexcusable, summoning them not to wait for greater opportunities or holier dispositions but to take a place in the work at the crisis. They are to consecrate themselves wholly to Christ with all that they have and are, trust in His power to save, believe He will use such self-sacrificing instruments to do His will and glorify His name, and receive self-possession, the light of His countenance, and power through the Holy Spirit. Women thus imbued with duty can do in families a work men cannot do, reaching the inner life and coming close to hearts men cannot reach. They serve as missionaries by teaching the truth, corresponding with others, distributing reading matter, speaking with families and praying with mothers and children, writing missionary letters to friends at a distance and to strangers with simplicity and without self-exaltation, distributing tracts and papers that correctly represent the faith to neighbors and through the mails to those willing to read and investigate, and continuing unwearied distribution of literature even amid home responsibilities, with prayer before approaching others or writing, close application giving discipline to perfect Christian experience.

Young men are called even now to enter the vineyard as consecrated laborers, turning powers of mind now used in serving self and acquiring property to earnest, persevering labor for God. That vineyard work is studying the Scriptures, warning sinners, winning souls to Christ, turning sinners to Christ, pointing the unbelieving and desponding heavenward, and entering the gospel ministry, the highest work, to explain the Scriptures and lecture upon the prophecies. God accepts for that labor those who really have good abilities and consecrate themselves to Him unreservedly, yet even capable workers are greatly benefited by a few months' instruction in at least the common branches of education, the truths of God's word for this time, and the prophecies, to discipline the mind, develop its powers, direct them understandingly, best appreciate divine truth, represent Bible religion, and advance God's glory. Schools are to prepare young people to win souls and become valuable workers fitted for missionary fields rather than concentrating resources in one place or turning them aside to other lines, for few are doing this work when there should be many, and those who walk in the light and go from one degree of light and strength to another will at the end be welcomed into the joy of their Lord.

Christ sees promise and useful qualifications in people who appear unpromising, late, discouraging or unlikely, including people of different ages and ordinary occupations with little education. As they keep learning, give their hearts to the work, and follow His providence, He equips them for work suited to their abilities and gives them power through the Holy Spirit to speak. In this way even beginners can enter neglected fields and help people who need a first step toward faith.

Fields for Final Labor

The present moment is the eleventh hour, with little time left for labor and probation fast closing, so the call to leave idleness and enter service presses with special force near the close of earth's history. It is the call to the closing work of proclaiming the third angel's message, awakening sinners from deadly lethargy before sin's power grows stronger unto final ruin, preparing people for the day of the Lord and the soon coming of Jesus, even when serving requires great sacrifice. It is the closing work for this time when principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places war against the truth and Satan's deceiving power is so great that if possible he would deceive the very elect. Accomplishing that work requires human effort combined with divine power, with discernment sharpened by divine enlightenment to know the Spirit that is of God and not be ignorant of Satan's devices.

Laborers are still summoned even when much of the day has passed to open new fields and warn the world rather than remain among churches that already have much light and many advantages. The summons is to carry the truth to people who have not heard it, while God and His angels are moving hearts yet few are working. It is directed to willingness to serve in foreign mission fields, to enter the cities without further delay and labor to win souls amid widespread spiritual darkness and great need, including the destitute Southern field and neglected parts of the vineyard, rather than settling near established institutions for profit.

The vineyard's work includes circulating publications, canvassing and selling religious books, missionary correspondence, and giving offerings so that workers can go into the vineyard and bring people to God. Even late in the day there is still a call to awaken and prepare capable workers for positions of trust, with each person working according to ability and teaching others by example and instruction, so that no portion is left destitute. Keeping useful knowledge from others or failing to train them neglects an important service, for the light of the message is to be made available to every soul and workers called even late are met with a fair reward.

The Lord's vineyard is one great field, indeed the world, with needs in every part and servants working in different places to warn the careless and save the lost. Many laborers are needed throughout it to cultivate it, laboring in harmony alongside the influential and the lowly without being bound to one human center of control. The church and its institutions are to help send workers into the field and sustain their interest and growth with sympathy and opportunities to grow, while those who serve care about the whole work, enlarge efforts until the work encircles the world, and stand ready to help wherever help is needed.

Those truly called bear the burden of the message and take up God-given work rather than neglect it or stand idle while souls are ready to be gathered. In the closing work of the third angel's message, people long indifferent will heed the call and become active workers, raising up believers in new fields, for God has useful work for people of varied talents including humble workers who have not been ordained. Everyone is called to work, using talents, effort and resources to advance the cause, gather souls and bless others rather than pursuing selfish advantage or diverting means elsewhere, watching for and improving opportunities and persevering in seeking greater usefulness so ability increases and bears fruit to His glory.