Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 20:5

"Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise." — Matthew 20:5 (ASV)

If it had been solely a business transaction, the householder would have waited to begin a new day and would not have given a whole day’s wage for a fraction of a day’s work. The entire matter was purely one of grace, and therefore, when half the day was gone, about the sixth hour, he called in laborers.

Men of forty and fifty are called to enter the vineyard. Yes, and about the ninth hour, men were hired. At sixty, the Lord calls a number by His grace! It is wrong to assert that men are not saved after forty. We know to the contrary and could mention instances.

God, in the greatness of His love, calls into His service men from whom the exuberance of useful vigor has departed. He accepts the waning hours of their day. He has work for the weak as well as for the strong.

He allows no one to labor for Him without the reward of grace, even though they have spent their best days in sin. This is no encouragement to procrastination, but it should induce old sinners to seek the Lord at once.

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

Had it been entirely and solely a business transaction, the householder would have waited to begin a new day, and would not have given a whole day's wage for a fraction of a day's work. The entire matter was of grace alone; and, therefore, when half the day was gone, about the sixth hour, he called in labourers. Men of forty and fifty are called to enter the vineyard. Yes, and about the ninth hour, men were engaged. At sixty, the Lord calls a number by His grace!

It is wrong to assert that men are not saved after forty; we know to the contrary, and could mention instances. God in the greatness of His love calls into His service men from whom the exuberance of useful vigor has departed; He accepts the waning hours of their day. He has work for the weak as well as for the strong. He allows none to labour for Him without the reward of grace, even though they have spent their best days in sin. This is no encouragement to procrastination; but it should induce old sinners to seek the Lord at once.