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Explanation for:
Matthew
20
:
14
Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee.
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":"The Jew who resides under the law is not redeemed through grace but through actions, for one who performs grace will find life in it. Therefore, it is stated to that worker further."},{"author-name":"Basil the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c889927158e4af30595484_Basil%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Where was the individual instructed to go when he heard the command, \\"Take your own and go\\"? The response may lead to the same destination as that of those condemned for failing to do good (Matthew 25:41-45). Moreover, one who harbors envy towards their brother is deemed worse than the slothful, as envy is often equated with murder throughout various passages in Scripture (Romans 1:29, Galatians 5:21)."},{"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 represents the conclusion of the age; at its culmination, everyone receives a denarius, a symbol of the grace of the Holy Spirit that renews humanity in the likeness of God, allowing them to partake in the divine nature. Those who lived prior to Christ's arrival experienced greater suffering, for at that time, death had not yet been vanquished, the adversary was still unbroken, and sin reigned. However, through Christ’s grace, we are justified in baptism and equipped with the strength to conquer our foe, who had already been defeated and slain by Christ. In one sense, those who embrace their faith in youth endure greater trials than those who turn to Christ later in life. The young are burdened by the ‘wrath’ and passionate desires, while the elder is more subdued. Yet, all are granted the same outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The parable illustrates that one can enter the kingdom of heaven even in old age through sincere repentance, with old age metaphorically represented by the eleventh hour. However, according to the parable, will the saints look upon those who receive equal rewards with jealousy? Certainly not. This merely demonstrates that the rewards reserved for the righteous are so plentiful and magnificent that they might stir envy."},{"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":"Take what belongs to you and depart; I choose to grant this final individual the same as you. This is my decision and not your concern. To you, I have compensated accordingly; with others, I maintain a separate arrangement. I will distribute as I see fit."},{"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 final hour received a denarius each, those who labored throughout the day expected a larger reward. However, when they too were given a denarius, they began to complain against the master, saying, \\"We have toiled through the entirety of the day and endured the heat of midday, yet you have treated us the same as those who worked just one hour, and even that in the cool of evening.\\" The master responded gently to one of the murmurers, saying, \\"Friend, I have not wronged you; did we not agree on a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give this final man the same as I have given you. Do I not have the authority to do as I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye filled with envy because I am generous?\\" It has been indicated that it is not beneficial to try to decipher every minor detail of the parable, hence we shall refrain from an in-depth analysis of the story of the laborers in the vineyard, which often confounds many interpreters. We will focus instead on the complaints of those who toiled all day long, as well as the concluding words of the parable. Those who had labored in the vineyard since dawn—representing individuals who have faithfully followed God's will throughout their lives and regarded themselves as God's workers—received a denarius along with their peers, meaning they were granted the honor of Eternal Life. Yet, their complaints against God and their jealousy towards those who worked fewer hours contradict the righteousness expected of those entering the kingdom of heaven. Thus, we must conclude that their grumbling was not genuine; it was ascribed to them solely to illustrate the depth of God's mercy to the audience. If we divide this parable into two segments, with the first part detailing the hiring of the laborers and the instruction to pay them equally, and the second part comprising the master's response to the dissenters, then the seeming contradiction is resolved. After recounting how the master compensated the last worker, who labored only one hour, the same as those who worked all day, Jesus seemed to pose a question to His listeners: \\"Do you find this unfair, distressing to those who worked all day? They were hired for a denarius and received their full wages; the owner of the vineyard wronged no one. If he, in his generosity, chose to pay them all the same, who has the authority to object? Does not the owner of the vineyard possess the right to handle his affairs as he sees fit?\\""},{"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 complaints expressed by them unveiled a lack of faithfulness to their commitment and an unrealistic desire for more than what they had agreed upon. This dissatisfaction was met with a rightful admonition from the master, who addressed one of the dissatisfied individuals: \\"Friend, I do not wrong you; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go; but I intend to give this last man the same as you. Do I not have the right to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?\\" Accordingly, the rewards in the kingdom of heaven are not determined by the order of one's calling or the duration of service, but rather by the measure of faithfulness in duty, diligence in work, and the sublime goodness of God, who assesses individuals more by their inner selves than their external efforts. For this reason, Christ reiterated, \\"the last shall be first, and the first last.\\" These parting discussions seem to take place during the final days of Christ's time in Perea, and as He neared the border of Judea, He received word from Bethany that the one whom He cherished \\"was dangerously ill.\\""},{"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 the apostles and all believers in Christ from perceiving the promised blessings as rewards earned through their own merit, similar to how the Pharisees sought to elevate themselves in the kingdom of the Messiah, Jesus proclaimed: “But many that are first shall be last, and the last first.” Mark captures this statement alone, while Matthew presents the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, illustrating the profound meaning behind Jesus’ words in various contexts (Matt. 20:16, Luke 13:30). Here, the vineyard symbolizes the Church of Christ; the householder represents the Lord; and the laborers, who commenced work at different times, signify believers in Christ who were called to the Church across various eras—whether during Christ’s ministry or throughout subsequent ages. The parable concludes with a reiteration of its opening statement, slightly adjusted to follow the narrative’s flow: “So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few chosen.” The essence of this parable is that the distribution of rewards for eternal life among believers is entirely governed by the grace and will of God, not determined by human standards of merit. Thus, those who may have exerted minimal effort toward their salvation, often viewed as the least in their own eyes and by others, may ultimately be honored as the foremost in God’s sight, while many who regard themselves as the greatest may find themselves relegated to the least in the wake of divine judgment. This parable therefore imparts a lesson of humility to every follower of Christ, which is essential for receiving the promised rewards reserved for those who have renounced all for His sake."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"What was allotted to the former due to their deception was recompense, while the latter received grace. Thus, the former, who remained guilty of folly, were rightfully denied more. It becomes clear that the division of the recompense was equitable, for obstinacy was weighed equally with labor."}]}
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