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Matthew 20

Matt. 20:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
For
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
the kingdom
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
basileia (Greek #932)
properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: kingdom, + reign.
Pronounce: bas-il-i'-ah
Origin: from 935
of heaven
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ouranos (Greek #3772)
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)
KJV usage: air, heaven(-ly), sky.
Pronounce: oo-ran-os'
Origin: perhaps from the same as 3735 (through the idea of elevation)
is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
like
homoios (Greek #3664)
similar (in appearance or character)
KJV usage: like, + manner.
Pronounce: hom'-oy-os
Origin: from the base of 3674
unto a man
anthropos (Greek #444)
man-faced, i.e. a human being
KJV usage: certain, man.
Pronounce: anth'-ro-pos
Origin: from 435 and ὤψ (the countenance; from 3700)
that is an householder
oikodespotes (Greek #3617)
the head of a family
KJV usage: goodman (of the house), householder, master of the house.
Pronounce: oy-kod-es-pot'-ace
Origin: from 3624 and 1203
f, which
hostis (Greek #3748)
which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same
KJV usage: X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever). Compare 3754.
Pronounce: hos'-tis
Origin: ἥτις (hay'-tis), and the neuter ὅτι (hot'-ee) from 3739 and 5100
went out
exerchomai (Greek #1831)
to issue (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad.
Pronounce: ex-er'-khom-ahee
Origin: from 1537 and 2064
early
hama (Greek #260)
properly, at the "same" time, but freely used as a preposition or adverb denoting close association
KJV usage: also, and, together, with(-al).
Pronounce: ham'-ah
Origin: a primary particle
in the morning
proi (Greek #4404)
at dawn; by implication, the day-break watch
KJV usage: early (in the morning), (in the) morning.
Pronounce: pro-ee'
Origin: adverb from 4253
to hire
misthoo (Greek #3409)
to let out for wages, i.e. (middle voice) to hire
KJV usage: hire.
Pronounce: mis-tho'-o
Origin: from 3408
laborers
ergates (Greek #2040)
a toiler; figuratively, a teacher
KJV usage: labourer, worker(-men).
Pronounce: er-gat'-ace
Origin: from 2041
into
eis (Greek #1519)
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
KJV usage: (abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ice
Origin: a primary preposition
his
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
vineyard
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ampelon (Greek #290)
a vineyard
KJV usage: vineyard.
Pronounce: am-pel-ohn'
Origin: from 288
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f
Song of Sol. 8:11‑12• 11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon: He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand silver-pieces.
 12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: The thousand silver-pieces be to thee, Solomon; And to the keepers of its fruit, two hundred. (Song of Sol. 8:11‑12)

More on:

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Heaven,
Kingdom; Kingdom of God; Kingdom of Heaven,
Vineyard

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-16:  Christ, by the similitude of the labourers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor unto no man;
17-19:  foretells his passion;
20-28:  by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be lowly;
29-34:  and gives two blind men their sight.
the kingdom.This parable was intended to illustrate the equity of God's dealings, even when "the first are placed last, and the last first."
Matt. 3:2• 2and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh. (Matt. 3:2)
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Matt. 13:24,31,33,44‑45,47• 24Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens has become like a man sowing good seed in his field;
 31Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field;
 33He spoke another parable to them: The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until it had been all leavened.
 44The kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hid in the field, which a man having found has hid, and for the joy of it goes and sells all whatever he has, and buys that field.
 45Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls;
 47Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a seine which has been cast into the sea, and which has gathered together of every kind, (Matt. 13:24,31,33,44‑45,47)
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Matt. 22:2• 2The kingdom of the heavens has become like a king who made a wedding feast for his son, (Matt. 22:2)
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Matt. 25:1,14• 1Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be made like to ten virgins that having taken their torches, went forth to meet the bridegroom.
 14For it is as if a man going away out of a country called his own bondmen and delivered to them his substance. (Matt. 25:1,14)
a man.
Matt. 9:37‑38• 37Then saith he to his disciples, The harvest is great and the workmen are few;
 38supplicate therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth workmen unto his harvest. (Matt. 9:37‑38)
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Matt. 21:33‑43• 33Hear another parable: There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and made a fence round it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and left the country.
 34But when the time of fruit drew near, he sent his bondmen to the husbandmen to receive his fruits.
 35And the husbandmen took his bondmen, and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
 36Again he sent other bondmen more than the first, and they did to them in like manner.
 37And at last he sent to them his son, saying, They will have respect for my son.
 38But the husbandmen, seeing the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him and possess his inheritance.
 39And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him.
 40When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what shall he do to those husbandmen?
 41They say to him, He will miserably destroy those evil men, and let out the vineyard to other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
 42Jesus says to them, Have ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone: this is of the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes?
 43Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and shall be given to a nation producing the fruits of it. (Matt. 21:33‑43)
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Song of Sol. 8:11‑12• 11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon: He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand silver-pieces.
 12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: The thousand silver-pieces be to thee, Solomon; And to the keepers of its fruit, two hundred. (Song of Sol. 8:11‑12)
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Isa. 5:1‑2• 1I will sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard: My well-beloved had a vineyard upon a fruitful hill.
 2And he dug it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine; and he built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress therein; and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes. (Isa. 5:1‑2)
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John 15:1• 1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (John 15:1)
early.
Matt. 23:37• 37Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those that are sent unto her, how often would I have gathered thy children as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matt. 23:37)
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Song of Sol. 8:11‑12• 11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon: He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand silver-pieces.
 12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: The thousand silver-pieces be to thee, Solomon; And to the keepers of its fruit, two hundred. (Song of Sol. 8:11‑12)
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Jer. 25:3‑4• 3From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, the king of Judah, even unto this day, these three and twenty years, the word of Jehovah hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.
 4And Jehovah hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear, (Jer. 25:3‑4)
labourers.
Mark 13:34• 34it is as a man gone out of the country, having left his house and given to his bondmen the authority, and to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch. (Mark 13:34)
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1 Cor. 15:58• 58So then, my beloved brethren, be firm, immovable, abounding always in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:58)
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Heb. 13:21• 21perfect you in every good work to the doing of his will, doing in you what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for the ages of ages. Amen. (Heb. 13:21)
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2 Peter 1:5‑10• 5But for this very reason also, using therewith all diligence, in your faith have also virtue, in virtue knowledge,
 6in knowledge temperance, in temperance endurance, in endurance godliness,
 7in godliness brotherly love, in brotherly love love:
 8for these things existing and abounding in you make you to be neither idle nor unfruitful as regards the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ;
 9for he with whom these things are not present is blind, short-sighted, and has forgotten the purging of his former sins.
 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, use diligence to make your calling and election sure, for doing these things ye will never fall; (2 Peter 1:5‑10)
• A parable is added with a totally different principle, in which the prominent thought is the sovereignty of God, for the express purpose, I think, of guarding against such effects. For God is not unrighteous to forget our work and labor of love which we may have shown toward His name: but there is a danger for us in it. (“Remarks on Matthew 20:1-29” by W. Kelly)
• In order to keep us in this sense of grace, the Spirit of God recurs in this chapter to the sovereignty of God, the counteractive to the self-righteousness that is to be found even in the heart of a disciple. (“Remarks on Matthew 20:1-29” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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1
For the kingdom of the heavens is like a householderc whob went out with the early morn to hire workmen for his vineyard.

JND Translation Notes

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c
Lit. "a man, a householder."
b
As ch. 7.24, "he who is such as."

W. Kelly Translation

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1
For the kingdom of the heavens is like a householdera which went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard;

WK Translation Notes

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a
The addition of "that was" or "is" is alike uncalled for. Are we to say in {vi 24989}{/vi} "the men the shepherds"? In chap. 13:23, 45, 52, 28:23, it is simply an enemy, a merchant, a householder, the shepherds. In fact, it was not emphatically a man that was hostile, but the devil, and a King who in truth was not a mere man.