Charles Ellicott 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 — The chapter division here is singularly unfortunate, as it separates the parable from both the events that prompted it and the teaching it illustrates. It is not too much to say that we can hardly understand it at all unless we connect it with the story of the young ruler who had great possessions, and the claims the disciples had made for themselves when they contrasted their own readiness with his reluctance.

To hire labourers into his vineyard — The parable's framework presents a form of labor that is, in some respects, lower than that of "servants" or "slaves" who were part of the household, having been bought or born into their position. The laborers here are the "hired servants" of Luke 15:17, engaged for a limited time and paid by the day. In interpreting the parable, we can see the householder as our Lord Himself. This was a title He seems to have delighted in, applying it directly to Himself in Matthew 10:25, Matthew 13:27, and Matthew 13:52. The "vineyard" is primarily, as in Isaiah 5:1, the house of Israel, which the Anointed of the Lord had come to claim as His kingdom.

The "early morning" therefore corresponds to the beginning of our Lord's ministry. The "labourers" He called at that time were the disciples whom He had summoned to follow Him at the outset of His work. He had promised them a reward. Although they were, at best, unprofitable servants, He still offered them wages. These wages were the kingdom of heaven itself (Matthew 5:3, 10), which is to say, "righteousness, and peace, and joy," and ultimately, "eternal life, seeing and knowing God" (Matthew 5:8; John 17:3).

I believe we can trace a subtle and distinctive fitness in our Lord's choice of this form of labor, which is distinct from both free, willing service on the one hand, and the task-work of slaves on the other. It was not, in itself, the best or most adequate symbol of the disciples' relationship to their Lord. However, as their question, What shall we have, therefore? implies, it was precisely what was on their minds. Therefore, He chose this illustration, adapting to their weakness in order to teach them the lesson they needed.