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Explanation for:
Matthew
20
:
6
But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?
9
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"At the last hour, he discovered others idle, having spent the entire day without labor. The workers of the final hour represent those who began their journey in advanced age. In this context, the apostles and the Gentile nations can be seen as the last, who are envied by many. John the Evangelist, expressing a similar sentiment, indicates that after the eleventh hour, as the sun begins to sink and daylight gives way to evening, he states: \\"My children, it is the last hour\\" (1 John 2:18)."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Additionally, the fact that He ventured out early in the morning, as well as at the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours, and at dusk, should be interpreted as the commencement of His ministry, which He pursued until the time of His Crucifixion. This is highlighted by the arrival of the thief at the eleventh hour, who entered the vineyard, symbolizing Paradise (Luke 23:43). To guard against the criticism of late repentance, he clearly demonstrated his complete willingness, for if the owner of the vineyard had previously called upon him, he would have labored then as well. It is stated, \\"No one has hired us for wages\\" (cf. Matt. 20:7)."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Just as a hired worker dedicates the entire day to serving his employer and only a brief moment to satisfying his hunger, we too ought to devote each hour of our lives to glorifying God with just a small portion allocated to our earthly needs. Much like the hired worker who may feel ashamed to enter his master’s home and request sustenance on a day he has not labored, how can we stand before God in church without shame when, in His sight, our deeds have been lacking? The apostle reminds us that the twelfth hour is already upon us, as he states, \\"Salvation is nearer to us now than when we believed\\" (Rom. 13:11). This marks the eleventh hour. Currently, while the twelfth hour may not yet have concluded, it is evident that time is dwindling. We find ourselves in the twelfth hour."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The profound and enigmatic return of the Lord has brought us to the last moments. This is why He declares in the Gospel: Walk while there is light (John 12:35)."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The Lord of the vineyard ventured out at the eleventh hour, discovering those who were idle, and chose to employ them. Who are these idle individuals? They represent our own nature, as we have remained disengaged from God and good deeds. He inquired of them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day long?’ (Matt. 20:6). He referred to the entire day as the period from the dawn of creation until the advent of His Savior, during which the Gentiles were unaware of God’s presence, having received no response. The Gentiles demonstrate wisdom in their acknowledgment: indeed, none have come to employ them; neither the law nor the prophets reached out to them, as the latter were directed solely to Israel. Thus, their reply resonates with reason: ‘No man hired us.’"},{"author-name":"Gregory the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88c2b032f5f6e5effaa54_Gregory%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"A master employs workers at different times throughout the day to tend to his vineyard, beginning early in the morning and continuing through the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours. This reflects his ongoing mission to gather preachers for the faithful throughout the ages, from the dawn of creation until the end of time. The morning period stretches from Adam to Noah; the third hour covers the time from Noah to Abraham; the sixth hour spans from Abraham to Moses; the ninth hour extends from Moses to the arrival of our Lord; and the eleventh hour reaches from the Lord's coming to the conclusion of the world. During this last hour, the apostles were sent forth to preach, and despite their late arrival, they received full compensation for their efforts. \\n\\nThe Lord, wishing to guide His followers, has consistently sent laborers to cultivate His vineyard, from the early Patriarchs, through the Law and the Prophets, to the Apostles, demonstrating His commitment to nurturing His people within this metaphorical vineyard. Anyone who combines righteous faith with good deeds is considered a worker in this vineyard. The laborer of the morning symbolizes the ancient Jewish community, which diligently sought to honor God through faithful obedience from the beginning of time. In contrast, the Gentiles are invited at the eleventh hour, reminded of their idleness throughout the day by the question: “Why do you stand here all the day of the feast?” Those who had the opportunity to work but were reluctant to engage were akin to those who remained idle, expressing their despair with the lament, “No one will hire us,” indicating their lack of preaching concerning the paths of life.\\n\\nWe must reflect on our own actions, especially those of us raised in faith, who have been nurtured by the teachings of the Church since infancy. The concept of hours can also be applied to each individual in relation to life’s stages. The morning represents the childhood of our understanding; the third hour depicts adolescence, marked by rising enthusiasm; the sixth hour symbolizes youth, at its peak strength; the ninth hour signifies old age, reflecting a waning vitality; and the eleventh hour corresponds to advanced age or decrepitude, which the Greeks refer to as elders, exhibiting the wisdom that comes with age.\\n\\nConsequently, individuals may enter into a virtuous life at various stages, becoming laborers for God at different times. Beloved brethren, it is essential to examine your conduct and ascertain whether you are truly working for the Lord. Each of us should evaluate our efforts and ensure we contribute to His vineyard. Those who prioritize their own interests over God's mission have yet to truly engage in His work. Genuine laborers are motivated by a concern for the Lord's glory and are passionate about guiding others to life. Conversely, those who live solely for their own pleasure are rightfully considered idle, failing to produce the fruits of divine labor.\\n\\nHowever, even those who have neglected to serve God until their later years stand idle until the eleventh hour. Thus, they hear the question, “Why do you stand here all day?” It is as if to say: if you did not desire to serve God when you were young and vigorous, then at least lament in your old age. Although you may not be able to contribute much to life’s work now, you are still called to enter late. The Master indeed summons them, and many receive their reward swiftly, as they transition from earthly existence to the Kingdom before those who began their service in youth. Is it not at the eleventh hour that a thief, though late in punishment, acknowledged God on the cross and, by confessing, yielded his spirit?"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"At approximately one and a half o'clock, or just before dusk, the householder discovered some individuals still waiting outside. He inquired of them, “Why have you been standing here all day?” They replied, “No one has hired us.” In his question, “Why do you stand idle?” there seems to be an implication of their inactivity, yet the workers responded with, “We are eager to work, but we have not been chosen.” The master heard their explanation and told them, “Go to my vineyard, and whatever is right, you will receive.” They promptly went. Those who began working merely an hour before day’s end were compensated with a denarius for their short time of service."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.\\" To illustrate this truth more profoundly, Christ shared a parable concerning the wages of laborers in a vineyard. The vineyard owner engaged workers in three intervals: the first group was employed for the entire day, the second for just a few hours, and the last for only one hour. He agreed to pay the first group a denarius for their labor and invited the others, as they lingered idle in the marketplace, to join in the work without any specific terms, simply assuring them that they would be compensated fairly."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In order to prevent those who had received the significant assurances made to the apostles and all Christ's disciples from believing that the promised blessings are merely a reward for their own merits, similar to how the Pharisees aspired to claim the foremost position in the Messiah's kingdom, Jesus declares, \\"But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.\\" Mark preserves this teaching, while Matthew includes the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, illustrating Jesus' intention in using this phrase in various contexts (Matt. 20:16; Luke 13:30). In this parable, the vineyard symbolizes the church of Christ; the householder represents the Lord; and the laborers, who commenced their work at different hours, signify believers who have been called to the church across various eras—whether during Christ's earthly ministry or in all subsequent generations. The parable concludes with a reiteration of the initial saying, slightly adapted to align with the message of the parable: \\"So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few chosen.\\" The overarching interpretation of this parable indicates that the distribution of eternal rewards among believers is governed entirely by God's will and grace, rather than by human evaluation of merit. Those who may appear to have put in minimal effort for their salvation and are viewed as the least in their own eyes or in the eyes of others might actually be deemed first in God’s judgment. Conversely, many who consider themselves to be foremost may find themselves at the back during the profound judgment. This parable thus fosters a sense of humility in every disciple of Christ, which is essential for attaining the blessings promised to those who have given up everything for His sake."}]}
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