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Explanation for:
Matthew
20
:
11
And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,
8
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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":"All were filled with jealousy towards the last laborers and accused the landowner of unfairness. Their grievance was not that they received less than what they had contracted for, but rather that they desired more than those upon whom the kindness of the master had been bestowed."},{"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":"Those who worked from the eleventh hour are granted the same wage, a denarius, as those who anticipated their payment from the first hour. This reflects the equal reward of Eternal Life given to all, including those called at the end of time, alongside those summoned from the creation of the world. Consequently, those who toiled longer express their discontent, saying, ‘These last ones have only labored for an hour, yet You have made them equal to us, who have endured the toil of the day and the heat.’ The workers who began at the start of time carried the weight of the day's trials and the sun's heat; their prolonged existence required them to withstand significant challenges of the flesh. To endure the burdens of the day and the sweltering heat signifies a life of weariness stemming from the trials of their mortal bodies.\\n\\nOne might wonder why the latecomers to the kingdom provoke such complaints. It is important to note that those who murmur cannot inherit the heavenly kingdom; true recipients of this kingdom do not harbor murmuring in their hearts. However, the ancient Fathers, despite their righteous lives, were not granted entry into the kingdom until He, who through His death opened the doors of Paradise, descended for mankind. Their grievances stemmed from a life lived righteously in anticipation of the kingdom, yet they remained outside for a prolonged period. According to perfect justice, they who, while dwelling in the tranquil realms of hell, labored in the vineyard, displayed the tendency to express dissatisfaction. Thus, after their complaints, these individuals, having transitioned from a long time in hell to the blessings of the kingdom, are awarded the same denarius."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The evening signifies the conclusion of the age; at the culmination, all are granted a denarius. This denarius represents the grace of the Holy Spirit, which reshapes humanity into the likeness of God, allowing one to share in the divine essence. Those who lived prior to Christ's advent endured greater trials, for at that time, death had not yet been vanquished, the enemy was not yet defeated, and sin reigned. Yet we, through Christ's grace, having been justified in baptism, are empowered to triumph over our adversary, who has already been subdued and vanquished by Christ. From one perspective, those who accept Christ in their youth endure a heavier burden than those who come to faith later in life. The young carry the ‘burden’ of wrath and the heat of temptation, while the aged are often more subdued by it. Nevertheless, all receive the same precious gift of the Holy Spirit. This parable illustrates that entry into the kingdom of heaven is attainable even in old age through repentance, symbolized by the eleventh hour. However, regarding the parable, will the saints resent those who receive the same rewards they enjoy? Absolutely not. It merely indicates that the rewards set aside for the righteous are so abundant and extraordinary that they might provoke feelings of envy."},{"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":"The master's generosity sparked the expectation among the other workers that he would reward them with a higher wage in light of their longer hours, potentially offering more than the promised denarius. However, when he paid each of them the same amount as those who worked just an hour, they reacted with discontent, voicing their grievances about being treated equally with those who had labored for only a short time, while they had endured the heat and hardship throughout the entire day."},{"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":"When they received their payment, instead of feeling remorseful for their lack of faith in the benevolent master, they grumbled against the owner of the vineyard, saying: \\"These latecomers worked only for an hour, and you have treated them the same as us, who toiled through the entire day in the scorching heat. We labored under the blazing sun, while they only worked for a brief period in the cooler evening, when the labor is far less demanding, yet you put them on equal footing with us.\\" Their words reveal the envy harbored by their fellow workers, a sentiment that arose from doubt and a proud assessment of their own efforts. Similarly, in the parable of the prodigal son, the older brother exclaimed: \\"Look, I have served you all these years and have never disobeyed your commands, yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours, who squandered your wealth with loose living, returns, you kill the fattened calf for him\\" (Luke 15:29-30)."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Upon witnessing that those who arrived at the last hour received the same payment of a denarius, those who labored throughout the day expected to receive more. However, when they too received just a denarius, they began to complain about the master, saying, “We have toiled in the heat of the day, yet you have treated us the same as those who worked for only an hour during the evening’s cool.” The master, addressing one of the discontented individuals, responded gently, “Friend, I am not being unjust to you; did you not agree upon a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to provide to the last worker what I granted to you. Am I not permitted to do what I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye filled with jealousy because I am generous?” \\n\\nIt has been previously noted that it is futile to attempt to dissect every single aspect of the parable in detail, thus we shall refrain from an exhaustive analysis of the story of the laborers in the vineyard, which often confuses many interpreters. Instead, we’ll focus on the complaints of those who toiled all day and the concluding remarks of the parable. The workers who had been in the vineyard since morning, representing individuals who have dedicated their lives to fulfilling God’s will, received a denarius along with others, which signifies their honor of Eternal Life. Yet, since their grumbling against God and envy towards those who worked fewer hours contradicts the character of those destined for the kingdom of heaven, it can be understood that they did not truly grumble; rather, such complaints were attributed to them to highlight the vastness of God’s mercy to the audience.\\n\\nIf we consider dividing this parable into two sections, with the first recounting the hiring of the laborers and the directive to pay them all equally, and the second focusing on the master’s reply to the complaints—which can be viewed as the concluding thought from Jesus Christ regarding the parable—the seeming contradiction dissipates. After narrating how the master compensated the last worker, who labored for only an hour, the same amount as those who toiled all day, Jesus posed a question to His listeners: “Do you find this unjust or offensive to those who worked all day? They were contracted for a denarius and received their full wages; the vineyard owner has wronged no one. If he, in his generosity, chooses to pay them all the same, who has the right to object? Does not the owner of the vineyard possess the authority to manage his affairs as he wishes?”"},{"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":"To prevent both disciples and others from assuming the promised blessings are a result of their own efforts, akin to the Pharisees who sought prominence in the Messiah’s realm, Jesus proclaimed: ‘But many of the first shall be last, and the last first.’ In the Gospel of Mark, only this statement is included; however, in the Gospel of Matthew, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard is also presented. This story clarifies the meaning behind Jesus's words as He employed the same expression in various circumstances (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 began their work at different times, signify believers in Christ who have been called into the Church at various points (in relation to Christ's contemporaries—during His earthly ministry, and regarding all believers across ages). The parable concludes with a similar phrase to its beginning, albeit with slight adjustments to align with its narrative: ‘Thus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few are chosen.’ The overarching message of the parable conveys that the distribution of eternal life’s rewards for believers is governed solely by the will and grace of God, independent of human merit as determined by personal assessment. Many who, by their own or others’ standards, seem to have accomplished little for their salvation may be exalted in God’s judgment, while those who regard themselves as foremost may find themselves in a position of last when faced with divine judgment. Consequently, this parable encourages every follower of Christ to embody humility, which is essential to receiving the rewards promised to those who have surrendered all for the sake of Christ."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Those in the first group have recognized feelings of jealousy and a propensity to complain, whereas those in the second group face no such accusations."}]}
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