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Verse Takeaways
1
A Fair Day's Wage
Commentators universally note that the "penny" (a Roman denarius) was the standard, fair wage for a full day's labor. It was the common pay for a soldier or worker, sufficient for a family's daily needs. This establishes that the landowner's initial offer was just and reasonable, which is a crucial detail for understanding the rest of the parable.
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Matthew
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Commentaries
10
Albert Barnes
On Matthew 20:2
18th Century
Theologian
A penny a day. The coin referred to here was a Roman coin, equal in value to about 14 cents, [approximately 7 pence]. The original text de…
AT Robertson
On Matthew 20:2
For a penny a day (εκ δηναριου την ημεραν). See on 18:28. "Penny" is not adequate, "shilling" Moffatt has it. The εκ with the abla…
Charles Spurgeon
On Matthew 20:1–2
19th Century
Preacher
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. A…
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Matthew 20:2
The normal working day was ten hours or so, not counting breaks. The landowner in the parable finds his first set of workers at about 6 A. M. and a…
John Gill
On Matthew 20:2
17th Century
Pastor
And when he has agreed with the labourers for a penny a day,
&c.] These labourers were of that sort that were called…
Matthew Henry
On Matthew 20:1–16
17th Century
Minister
This parable's primary purpose seems to show that although the Jews were first called into the vineyard, the gospel would eventually be preached to…
Thomas Aquinas
On Matthew 20:1–16
13th Century
Philosopher
Above, the Lord spoke about the attainment of the kingdom of heaven by the common way of salvation and by the way of perfection. Because certain pe…