Matthew 20:7
They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
The men stood idle all day because no one had hired them, not because they refused work, and even at the eleventh hour the householder called them into the vineyard with the promise that they would receive whatever was right and fair at his judgment. The parable teaches free grace and corrects the idea that divine favor must be earned, for first and last share the same reward of eternal life given by generosity rather than as a debt for amount worked. Its value is measured by the spirit of faith and love brought into the work rather than by length of labor or visible results, with the late workers trusting the promise without bargaining while the hireling spirit stipulates terms and claims preference. The eleventh-hour workers picture penitent sinners coming late in humble faith, like the thief on the cross, and people who hear the truth for the first time in the last days when thousands will see and acknowledge it in a sudden surprising movement. The vineyard is God's work for the salvation of souls in the world and whole world field, and every follower is called to enter it at once in active service according to ability, laboring while it is day before probation closes.
Words and Immediate Setting
The men had stood idle the whole day because no one had hired them, not because they were idle by choice. They had not refused work or rejected an earlier call, but had remained waiting until they were found and invited. Their idleness was the lack of an employer, and the householder welcomed them on that ground.
Even at the eleventh hour he still calls such unhired ones into his vineyard. The late call adds workers to the service shortly before the workday ends. A late start therefore does not shut them out from the work or from its reward.
He sends them to labor with the promise that they shall receive whatsoever is right. The amount is left to his own judgment as a fair and just payment. They accept his word without stipulating a fixed wage or asking questions about pay.
Grace Trust and Reward
The parable corrects the notion that divine favor and reward must be earned by works, teaching free grace toward those who had stood idle only because no one had hired them and who are still called late to labor for what is right. The late start does not exclude them from work or reward, for the invitation with its promise of fair payment belongs to that lesson of gracious recompense. It exposes the self-righteous spirit that treats service as a claim to preference and greater honor for hardship and long service, resenting equal privileges given through goodness. First and last share the same eternal reward, given by grace and not as debt, so none can claim it as right or resent another's share.
The value of service is measured by the spirit of faith and love brought into the work, not by length of labor, amount done, or visible results. The kingdom gospel is not confined by precise regulations but deals with men to develop moral and spiritual capabilities, rewarding according to the spirit rather than output. Those who trust without bargain receive right and just dealing, while those hired first receive only the amount agreed, and what observers call unfair is right. The reward depends on generosity of purpose and equity rather than human standards of compensation, under higher principles than human thoughts and ways.
The later workers trusted the promise to give what is right and asked no questions about wages, leaving payment with the householder in faith that he would do justly. Their faith shaped their work and placed them first, for the reward rests on generous purpose rather than amount accomplished. This trust stands against the hireling spirit that bargains with God for a stated reward, stipulates terms, and regards its own service as more valuable than others'. The same principle marks penitent sinners who come late in life in humble faith, obey the commandments, and are accepted.
In the parable the late-invited unemployed receive the same wage as those hired earlier, illustrating chosen generosity and liberality that selfish hearts fail to recognize. Those entering at the eleventh hour after having no earlier opportunity, including those accepting truth and becoming workers during the final crisis and amid last-day perils, receive equal wages with earlier workers. If earnest they are accepted and worked through, enlarged in mind as they put on Christ, giving treasures of heavenly truth to others to pass onward so the good work extends and whole communities are blessed. Their trust and willingness to work without demanding reward pictures the poor sinner coming late, expecting little and grateful simply to be accepted, receiving generous payment exceeding what was earned. That willingness expresses faith and gratitude rather than demand for wages, showing gracious reward to thankful, loving hearts satisfied if received into service.
God deals by the higher principles and law of His kingdom, which are not of this world and are not bound by human opinions, worldly rules, human standards, or precise regulations. The householder's management represents God cultivating moral and spiritual capabilities, dealing by kingdom principles rather than human compensation. Being called later does not vindicate those who hear truth and deliberately refuse it to keep their own time and way, for the late-hired had not refused the earlier call but were still waiting unhired when found. Those who refuse and later repent do well to repent, but it is unsafe to trifle with the first call of mercy.
The verse pictures sinners entering service late who know they have not earned reward, coming in humble faith, obeying, and satisfied to serve, whom God accepts and rewards generously according to His purpose with a grateful, humble, trusting spirit pleasing to Him. Servants must therefore trust the householder's goodness rather than complain, claim larger reward for longer service, insist on fixed wage as though He will not deal fairly, or turn generosity into complaint. They must not exalt themselves, belittle others, serve for wages, praise, or self-exaltation, rank their own or others' work by human standards, or give way to worry and anxiety, but serve with love, dependence, purity of motive, and earnest desire to glorify God. Purity of motive brings the faithful worker the same reward as one accomplishing more, since reward is determined by spirit and principles governing the work and is not to be measured against one another.
The reward is for those who work, not for those who remain idle in the marketplace, for grace does not remove the need to do our part faithfully and fruit reveals character. Idleness in the vineyard gives up claim to the reward of the righteous, which belongs to faithful workers invited with promise of what is right. Remaining idle represents spiritual unfaithfulness, and slothfulness carries penalty so that even otherwise worthy actions receive no credit when marked by unfaithfulness.
Prophetic Late-Day Workers
The eleventh-hour workers are sinners who enter service late in life, knowing they have not earned reward yet accepted and rewarded generously according to purpose rather than amount or visible results, with a grateful, humble, trusting spirit. The thief on the cross is the example, entrusting his helpless dying life to Christ in earnestness, repentance and dependence on mercy, acknowledging Jesus as Lord and saved near the end of life.
They are also people who hear truth for the first time in the last days and enter earnestly, receiving equal wages with those who worked through the day even though they had no earlier opportunity to be hired or to learn. Even while judgments are falling the Lord mercifully admits many of these new hearers, while the door is closed to those who refused to enter. Amid the perils of the last day men and women still brought into the fold at the eleventh hour are accepted if earnest and worked through, their minds enlarged as they put on Christ so they give treasures of heavenly truth to others to give to still others, extending the good work and blessing whole communities. Those coming late can still labor earnestly, value the truths of God's Word and bring them into daily life, and the Lord gathers such a company from the world at the eleventh hour to serve Him.
Thousands will see and acknowledge truth in a day in a sudden surprising movement that glorifies God alone and surprises the church, with conversions so rapid and an accumulation of divine agencies combined with human effort cutting the closing work short in a most unexpected manner. The Spirit moves like wind where He wills, so no one can say when His movings will be realized or in what direction or through whom He will manifest Himself. At that time He may pass by those who have had their day of testing and opportunity yet have not recognized God's voice, distinguished it, valued His work or appreciated His movings.
They come in to fill places left vacant by those who departed from the faith, by apostasy and death, with faithful self-sacrificing workers both younger and older given power from above and equipped in mind, hands, feet and tongue to carry the work steadily forward until complete. They are those who receive light and enter after others with greater opportunities, light and privilege turned away, failed to live by it and fell from Christ rejecting duty. Though having had few opportunities and less light, which does not prevent response, they consecrate abilities and means to advance the work, remain true to principle, do not shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God, and receive reward for faithfulness and loyalty. New workers including young people can thus serve faithfully even as the work grows harder.
These late laborers come from the world and the churches, even the Catholic Church, and their zeal may far exceed that of those who have stood in rank and file to proclaim truth heretofore, including Sabbathkeeping Adventists who do not walk in the light. When crisis and the season of calamity come they will take their place in the conflict, see the battle coming and give the trumpet a certain sound, come to the front, gird themselves with the whole armor of God, exalt His law, adhere to the faith of Jesus and maintain the cause of religious liberty. Those without the burden of the message must stand out of the way and prepare the way for them and not interpose themselves between God and His work. The Lord gathers this company from the world at the eleventh hour to serve Him, including a converted ministry.
Even when the work has grown harder and people more resistant, faithful workers entering late still labor in appointed work and receive their appointed reward, pictured as their penny. Those called at the eleventh hour may through Christ's grace and faithful presentation of truth be accounted first. In the closing work of the third angel's message long-indifferent people who stood idle in the marketplace will heed the call and enter active service as workers for the Master. This call to work in the vineyard reaches through the ages and remains urgent near the close of earth's history.
Even at the eleventh hour on the very borders of the eternal world, before it is utterly too late when the sands of life are nearly run out, a hardened conscience in sin, transgression and unbelief, without hope and without God, can still be saved and find pardon. He must come at once just as he is, not waiting for anything nor stopping to reason, with no plea except that Christ died to save the chiefest of sinners, fall on Christ Jesus the Rock and be broken, throw himself at Jesus' feet with broken repentant heart crying for mercy as did blind Bartimaeus, and God will not leave him to perish but touch his heart with new tenderness and lead him to sense obligations to God so long perverted. Pardon requires cooperation with God, for Christ did not die to cover unrepented and unconfessed transgression, so confession is required with some sins confessed alone to God and to injured parties, while not all sins are to be confessed publicly.
Even now in the eleventh hour Christ calls men to commence serving their Saviour in vineyard work for souls ready to perish, on the ground that men are His by creation and by redemption, bought with a price. Those answering will meet many temptations from Satan but can overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. That overcoming was made possible because Christ laid off His glorious crown and kingly robe, stepped down from His throne, clothed divinity with humanity to stand at the head of the fallen race joining humanity with His human arm to God with His divine arm, became poor that men might become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, suffered and died for salvation, and now can impart to them the fragrance of His character to work in their behalf.
Meaning of the Vineyard
The vineyard is the Lord's own work of presenting truth to those in darkness and laboring for the salvation of fellow men, and all who are Christians in every sense are called to be workers in it. Each professed follower has a task or portion of that work, and persevering daily effort increases ability to labor effectively and bear fruit to God's glory. The means entrusted to men as stewards are to advance that work, and the promise of what is right supports the appeal for more willing workers with renewed courage and activity in service. The call requires giving self unreservedly in devoted self-sacrifice, staying wide awake and not asleep, availing every opening to press in the truth, working in unison with God and angels who are moving upon hearts and consciences even in other nations, and imitating the Saviour's life of self-denial, sacrifice, and faithful earnest labor through which God will accomplish a great work.
The vineyard in Christ's parables is the world, the whole world field and the Lord's large field of work to be cultivated in many places. The Lord sees the work to be done, the places where memorials for truth should stand, and the fields unworked and destitute of facilities, and His command to go means workers and means must go to many cities and not be absorbed in one place. Laborers are to be spread throughout it rather than centered in one place, with burdens distributed so the light reaches much farther. God Himself is to be the confidence, power, ruler, counselor and guardian of every part of His work in every place, teaching and leading and guiding men there, so institutions including sanitariums are not to be bound to one great center or controlled by contracts and plans of human minds, but high and lowly each do their own part in perfect harmony without human cords. The figure calls for study, and faithful cultivation of school land with disinterested care of buildings replaces the love of sports and amusements that perplexes school work, while those going to mission fields must be trained in cultivation of the soil and manual lines to take hold of any work and instruct as they have been instructed, since no work is more effectual than that of those educated in practical life.
Going into the vineyard requires equity and just judgment, with equal concern across all fields and readiness to help wherever help is needed. Every building is to be erected with reference to other places needing similar buildings, and every part given a chance to have facilities. The work must be placed on a proper basis everywhere with means from the Lord's treasury, not putting over-abundance into expensive buildings in one place while other portions such as the Southern field are left without culture, without facilities, and with nothing or next to nothing. While working in one portion, sharp keen men must use sanctified ability to plan a more proportionate work for all portions, for unfaithful stewardship in this distribution will stand before the universe of heaven. Even when men in responsible positions neglect destitute fields and close their senses to appeals, the Lord's work must still be done, leaving workers who understand the necessities free to go anywhere in the field, bring the case directly before unsealed hearts, ask for help without means passing through office or society, and devise and plan their own way when no special effort is made to prepare it.
The home is part of the Lord's vineyard, where older family members are to cultivate it by patiently teaching and helping younger children and sharing the knowledge God has given. Parents claiming present truth who neglect home training and fail to cooperate with school workers in the education dearest to the Saviour's heart lay off their own responsibility and are but little better than idlers, and their duty is to take up training and make the most of facilities within reach so the schools may succeed after the Lord's plans. The same summons sends God's messengers into the cities and towns to win souls, to be set to work where they are rather than held back in one place. There they are to respond with courage, zeal, sustained effort, and heart, soul and voice, making up for lost time.
Foreign lands and unreached peoples belong to the vineyard, for God's great moral vineyard now calls for laborers abroad. The shortness of remaining time makes the need urgent, urging preparation and service as colporters and mission workers trusting the Master to give what is right. Those who go must have the greatness of the work impressed upon them and bring practical godliness into daily experience to be fitted for any place of usefulness in the world, in the church or in the vineyard, and schools are to be educating and training schools sending forth fit men and women for the missionary field. Workers trained in their own languages are to find their places quickly and labor perseveringly among foreigners who do not know the message, with God going before them and giving souls as their hire. Missionary work among colored people is likewise the Lord's vineyard, where those with talent are to be encouraged, educated and trained as workers for their own communities, and patient persevering effort there is richly rewarded.
Call to Present Service
Every Christian is called to active service according to ability, with no idlers allowed, and all should begin at once, for every moment carries duty to God and others. The invitation to those not yet hired reaches those who have heard salvation but are not yet serving, and it is not disregarded without loss, for Christ expects everyone to work and does not want idlers. The call is urgent because the day is limited and probation fast closes, and workers must labor while it is day before the night comes when no one can work. The voice sounds down through time to the present to professed Christians standing idle in the marketplace, commanding them to enter and work while there is time, because signs of the end show the day nearing its close and the last message of mercy to the lost will soon be forever past. There is no time to spend on self-pleasing pursuits, and God-given abilities are to be developed and used for the benefit of others with the help of everyone that loves Jesus.
Consecrated lay members not called to preach are still called to useful service outside the pulpit, where they are, in homes, among neighbors, and in irregular lines, without waiting for a regular process. Not being ordained or called to preach from a desk does not excuse from labor for souls, and the Lord's vineyard is everywhere so that one hundred laborers stepping out in self-sacrificing work would win souls and learn by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. Ministers and churches should give people a share, correct mistakes, set them to work again, and prepare students promptly rather than delaying practical work for years of study, since ability is learned by use. Christ sees promise and qualifications in people who may seem discouraging, and as they remain learners God prepares them through providence and gives power to speak through the Holy Spirit. Students should be sent promptly to warn the world because time is short, and practical work should not be needlessly delayed for further education.
Full consecration brings closer union with Christ, growth in strength and knowledge, and fruit through faith, prayer, and self-denial. Working with Christ helps believers grow in spiritual strength and knowledge of His work and sacrifice, and true workers show faith, prayer, and self-denial in their lives while God accomplishes His work through their cooperation. Vineyard work means bearing the message, cooperating with God and angels, depending on God without worry, and not serving for wages, praise, or self-exaltation. Workers serve Christ in many kinds of work, must not exalt themselves or belittle others or rank work by human standards, but serve with love and trust rather than anxiety.
Service is sacred work for salvation requiring earnest prayer in faith for those not fully in the truth, a sense of the worth of every soul for whom Christ died and of the sacredness of handling sacred things, and freedom from trifling frivolity and carelessness that grieves angels. Whole-hearted labor to the utmost does not measure hours, seek the lowest standard, or exalt self with pride and self-importance, but compares efforts with the Saviour and accounts self unprofitable while grasping Christ's fullness to do much for Him. Knowing the truth obligates burdened, self-giving labor in unity where God works, rather than sitting at home, refusing a place, or leaving family and personal responsibilities to the church. True obedience keeps step with God's people and works in harmony in the channel where God is working, gathering experience in advancing the work, going without the camp bearing reproach rather than calling the church to oneself, for to refuse this place is self-deception and not God's order.
Each has an assigned part to act in harmony without human centralization, using time, abilities, means, and influence to save others and make Christ known. God gives each person work and expects entrusted powers to be used while opportunity lasts, and institutions including every sanitarium are not to be bound to one great center by contracts and plans of human minds but to have God as confidence, ruler, counselor, and guardian so burdens are distributed and light reaches farther. Being Christ's servant means likeness to Jesus in mind, thoughts, words, and actions, freedom from worldly entanglement and binding to the living Source of power to represent Christianity correctly, and wise, careful, intelligent labor that does not destroy or overweary nature but preserves health for continued usefulness under the shepherd's guidance. Those called should give themselves fully, trust God, and go forward, and God will sustain them with wisdom, strength, and the Holy Spirit's power to speak. Christ welcomes those not yet given work, sees qualifications where others are discouraged, and through continued learning and providence fits beginners including those from ordinary work with little education for neglected fields where humble wholeheartedness proves them right for time and place.
Youth and children are to be trained, educated, and given opportunity to become earnest, persevering soul-winners in mission fields and in gospel ministry. The work is studying Scripture, becoming intelligent in spiritual knowledge and the kingdom, warning sinners, winning souls, turning powers of mind from self and property into God's service into a heavenly channel, and going from light and strength to greater light and strength unto the joy of the Lord when warfare ends. Young people consecrating themselves and using abilities for God become valuable workers united with Christ, and much greater numbers are needed with opportunity and training to serve. Women who humbly distribute literature, write to others, and do what they can are vineyard workers being trained for acceptable service. God calls for young men to enter the ministry and for students to study Scripture, spiritual knowledge, prophecies, and common branches to cultivate entrusted talents for His glory. Abilities are talents owed to the Creator to be improved by education disciplining the mind and directing powers to advance His glory, so that even a few months of schooling in the word for this time greatly benefits those called.
Ministers must enlarge efforts, labor for sinners rather than only for believers, raise churches, set members to work, and train worthy young men so new converts at once carry the message onward. All servants are constantly to do more and never less until the work encircles the world, sowing beside all waters, visiting place after place, proclaiming truth in regions beyond with Christ's love burning in hearts, then devoting more time to educating than preaching by teaching people to extend knowledge and selecting co-laborers so companies come under gospel power fitting them for service. The Master knows and watches workers wherever they labor in the large vineyard, and the church should send, support, and sympathize with them as they grow. Workers should serve wherever needed to the utmost without seeking enjoyment or gain, following Christ's self-sacrifice and self-denying example rather than demanding high wages. There is work for everyone calling for personal sacrifice rather than selfishness, with many laborers to be set to work and supported.
Laborers' circumstances and wages should be treated fairly and not cut without consent and understanding of needs. Those sustained as workers must be producers of fruit through faithful effort, not consumers wasting support and opportunity. No narrow rule may dictate which line must precede service, such as canvassing before ministry; each should seek God's direction and labor according to ability. Entering needy new fields requires prepared, self-denying workers willing to labor without paid passage, large wages, or financial carrying while cooperating with God. The call requires coming determined not to fail nor be discouraged, visiting and laboring for souls where they are, with cooperation given as long as the worker cooperates with God.
The worn worker rescued and counseled by Christ may change to another portion of the harvest field and still render valuable service while others bear the former burden. Christ finds, rescues, loves, guards, and counsels His wandering sheep, then gives work where life, health, strength, and courage are preserved and life is not sacrificed. Those beginning new work should receive help from experienced workers rather than stand independently, and workers should spread throughout many places rather than center in one. The Lord's large field is to be cultivated in many places with many laborers needed throughout it. Those truly called to teach will feel the burden to raise Sabbathkeepers in new fields, while others can assist without wholly devoting themselves to preaching or extensive travel.
Church members who feel they do not know how to serve should still heed Christ's call rather than remain idle, and even the humblest consistent life of faith is service whose doing of right is itself reward. Faithful service includes consistently living faith rather than necessarily frequent argument or public speaking. Refusing to labor is refusing to use abilities in His service, and idleness hinders workers and leaves room for Satan. Standing idle is not neutral, and refusing canvassing that brings truth to families for selfish gain is refusing the vineyard. Abilities and means are talents owed to the Creator that do great good in His service but great harm when perverted to selfish gain, and the heaviest obligation rests on those with greatest means and opportunity who must render proportionate return. The Lord expects return in proportion to capital given and holds each responsible for use or abuse according to ability and opportunity, for today is trust and afterward reckoning when accounts are shown, though a small vessel is not expected to hold as much as a large one. Means entrusted as stewards should advance the work, as W. C. could have done much good but love of gain made harmful.
Gifts to Christ can support workers sent to bring to God those for whom Jesus died, and Bible readings and meetings that awaken interest merit support by remaining in the field. Parables of the vineyard call for study, and faithful cultivation of school land with disinterested care of buildings replaces love of sports and trains in soil cultivation and manual labor for mission fields. Those going forth prepared to instruct as instructed go effectually, educated in practical life to take hold of any line of work where called. Those longing for truth may be converted into intelligent helpers whose faith and works show labor was not in vain, and strength is needed for vineyard labor. Church members are to be educated for service and ministers to proclaim the message to those who have not heard it. The required work is earnest persevering labor for souls including opening new fields and warning the world.
The church is Christ's vineyard where each shares responsibility as co-laborer with Christ, and people are to prepare themselves for labor in it. No member is to remain idle or wait for others to help, but each is to serve, share responsibility, and join Christ in His work. The summons applies to entering the cities with heart, soul, and voice to win souls and make up for lost time. Messengers are to respond with courage, zeal, and sustained effort in labor for winning souls. Medical missionaries answer the call by serving neglected fields rather than seeking advantage in places already served. The vineyard invitation offers saving grace now, calling all to do good and practice godliness, with one great field where servants warn the careless without selfish or sectional aims. Every accountable person can find opportunities including helping sufferers, and service spreading mercy throughout the world will be accepted.
The task is given by the Master and its reward determined by what is right, with purity of motive and desire to glorify God bringing the same reward as greater accomplishment. Reward is not to be measured against one another but by spirit and principles governing work. Those who will not work without stipulated wages fix their own destiny and are last at day's close, while self-sacrificing workers go with angels, deny self daily, and enter the divine Planner's design. Men and women fix destiny for heaven or hell while a world is to be warned, and by obeying the faithful are instructed and guided, taking up the cross daily and following Christ. Late entrants can still labor earnestly, value God's truths, and bring them into daily life. The call to the vineyard is the call to arouse slothful professed disciples who bury talents while souls perish, to unearth talents and enlighten others, since God gives every man his work. Idlers in the marketplace are professed disciples binding talents in a napkin and burying them while souls perish out of Christ, and ministering as diligent workers belongs not to ministers alone but to all professing truth to make Christ known for salvation.
Every church member is to be a working link in a golden chain, taking interest in each soul and convert, finding work for each, and praying for grace to do God's works. No genuine Christian stays idle while every heavenly agency is ready to join human workers to carry light to all parts of the world, and all united bind hearts to one another and to God to enlighten the world with work for each and work for all so none crowds out another, each feeling responsible for health, strength, and growth in pure religion and praying from sincere contrite hearts for Christ's Spirit. Parents who neglect home training lay off responsibility and are little better than idlers, while children should also share the burdens of the cause. Parental duty is to take up training, cooperate with school workers in education dearest to the Saviour's heart, and use facilities within reach so established schools succeed after the Lord's plans, with children's abilities now used rather than left for parents to bear. The duty to use abilities faithfully belongs to the divine calling, and entrusted responsibility includes training others by example and instruction. Service is a calling from God carrying duty to use abilities well, and the church must awaken, prepare capable workers for trust, and have each do appointed work according to ability. The Lord's work must proceed even when responsible stewards neglect destitute fields, leaving workers free to appeal directly and devise their own way. When stewards close senses to appeals for a destitute field like the Southern Field, those understanding necessities have right to go anywhere in the American field, bring the case directly before hearts not sealed, and ask help with means not passing through office or society, planning their own way if no special effort prepares it. Office laborers take up the sacred salvation work with unselfish devotion and faith.