Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 20:8

"And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first." — Matthew 20:8 (ASV)

When evening came — It was one of the humane rules of the Mosaic law that the day laborer was to be paid by the day, and not made to wait for his wages (Deuteronomy 24:15). The householder keeps this law, and his doing so is a feature of his character.

Beginning from the last to the first — The order is not without its significance. It was a practical illustration of the words that had introduced the parable: that the last should be the first.