Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 20:1

"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard." — Matthew 20:1 (ASV)

For the kingdom of heaven, etc. The word "for" shows that this chapter should have been connected with the preceding. The parable was spoken expressly to illustrate the sentiment in the last verse of that chapter. The kingdom of heaven means here the church, including perhaps its state here and hereafter. See Barnes on Matthew 3:2.

It has reference to rewards; and the meaning may be expressed as follows: "Rewards will be bestowed in my kingdom, or on my followers, in the same manner as they were by a certain householder, in such a way that the last will be equal to the first, and the first last."

A householder. A master of a family. One at the head of family affairs.

His vineyard. No inconsiderable part of Judea was employed in the culture of the grape. Vineyards are often used, therefore, to represent a fertile or well-cultivated place; and hence the church, denoting the care and culture that God has bestowed on it (Isaiah 5:7; Jeremiah 12:10). For the manner of their construction, see Barnes on Matthew 21:33.