Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 20:9

"And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling." — Matthew 20:9 (ASV)

Our Lord’s pay is not a wage for what is deserved, but a gift of bounty. He paid on the scale of grace and not at the rate of merit. He commenced in superb style, and to those who began to work at the eleventh hour, he gave every man a penny. Here was a full day’s pay for one hour’s work. In this was displayed the boundless bounty of the lord of the vineyard.

That some, who have served the Lord for only a very brief time, have equaled and even excelled those who have been believers for many years is clear, for many short but blessed lives attest to it. Converted late in life, they have been singularly diligent, specially consecrated, and memorably holy, and thus they have obtained the full result of grace at a speedy rate.

God will place in heavenly glory those who turn to Christ even at the last. Did not our Lord say even to the dying thief, “Today you shall be with Me in paradise”? To what better place could any venerable saint have been taken? Oh, the riches of the grace of God!