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Explanation for:
Matthew
20
:
15
Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil, because I am good?
11
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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 familiar parable found in the Gospel of Luke conveys a similar message, where the older son feels envious of his younger sibling, rejecting him even after he has turned back to their father, and charges his father with unfairness."},{"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":"Concerning the laborers whom the lord of the vineyard engaged at the third, sixth, and ninth hours; when he began to compensate those hired later, the first ones expected to receive more, yet he treated them all equally. When they started to complain, he inquired, “If I am gracious, why is your eye filled with envy?” To those laborers, he showed favor, and they joyfully declared their reward. Observe how it is noted. When he questioned them, “Why do you stand here all day idle?” (cf. Matthew 20:6), they responded, “No one has come to hire us” (cf. Matthew 20:7). They were eager to work since they claimed no one had called them. The one who sleeps because no one has awakened him, and then comes later, faces rebuke just like the one who sleeps due to laziness. Yet there is a distinction: the former appreciates the one who roused him, while the latter, motivated by sloth, reacts with resentment toward those who stirred him. Thus, it is evident that the idleness of the lazy is more grievous than that of the laborer. \\n\\nAt the end of time, the faithful will converse with the Lord freely, whereas the unrighteous will speak out of the necessity imposed upon them, for He has established freedom in this life and necessity in the next, applicable to both the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will not be made unjust there, despite their desire, nor will the wicked find justification, even if they wish for it. In the vineyard's workings, neither His mercy faced reproach, nor was truth overthrown. In justice, He provided what was agreed, and in mercy, He exercised compassion as He willed. The Lord made it evident that this parable was spoken for this reason: “Do I not have the authority to do what I wish in My own house?” If this pertains to the Judgment and the end of days, why did the Lord add the words, “if thine eye be envious”? Who would permit the last righteous to be treated like those earlier laborers who did not exert themselves? \\n\\nAmong those hired first thing in the morning, were there not young children who perished? Consider Abel, who was the first to die in his youth; did Seth, who succeeded him, grumble against God? \\n\\nIf this parable indeed pertains to the Final Judgment, then those called from morning to evening can be understood as all humanity from the dawn of time to the conclusion of the world, all of whom are summoned into God's kingdom. They labored for God's kingdom and murmured against the Lord; however, Abel, called early in the morning, was killed in his youth and thus could not contribute to the kingdom. Righteous Seth, appointed to Adam in place of Abel, did not murmur against God."},{"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 Lord addressed the envy seen among these individuals, declaring: Friend, if your eye is evil, how good am I? (Matthew 20:15). The apostle refers to God as one who is righteous and immortal, not because angels lack righteousness or mortality, but because God embodies immortality and righteousness in their entirety; all truth and perfection reside in Him. To clarify the wrongdoing of the laborers in the parable, consider this: the worker hired at the first hour deserves greater recognition than one summoned at the third hour; the worker of the third hour holds an advantage over the one called at the sixth hour, and similarly, the sixth-hour worker is preferable to the worker of the ninth hour. Why then do they harbor jealousy towards the latter and neglect the fairness of their own compensation based on merit? You, who were engaged at the ninth hour, why do you begrudge the one who was called at the eleventh hour? Whatever justification you may offer concerning the differentiation of labor and your claim for a larger reward, the sixth-hour laborer could present similar arguments toward you. Moreover, you, the sixth-hour worker, envy the last one, who received the same denarius, meaning equal redemption—contending that the honor of salvation ought to reflect the amount of labor done. Yet, the same reasoning can be applied by the laborer from the third hour, and likewise by the one from the first hour. However, the early workers, even with their varied labors and differing moments of recruitment, gladly accept the same reward; they do not desire merely the reward of the last worker, which signifies the salvation of the Gentiles. Instead, they criticize the Master and are chastised for their envy throughout the parables."},{"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":"Moreover, if your perception is misleading, remember, I am good. He did not imply that the saints are false; rather, He asks, \\"Are you not deceitful, since I am good?\\" For truly, He embodies goodness. The reward is not based on deeds; the effort itself holds little value, but the reward is immense. You have offered a thirsty person a cup of water, yet you will receive what no eye has witnessed nor ear has heard. You can see His goodness displayed. He prioritizes the last over the first because the first shall ultimately be last. I will declare that those who are not My people will be called My people, and until the full number of nations comes in, all Israel will be redeemed in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom belongs glory and authority forever. Amen."},{"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":"The master addressed them, saying, \\"I desire to give to this final one what I have given to you.\\" Since the fulfillment of His kingdom relies on His grace, it is appropriate for Him to pose the question, \\"Am I not the sovereign able to do as I choose?\\" It is unwise for humanity to question the benevolence of God. There may be cause for concern if He were to withhold what is deserved; however, there is no basis for complaint when He does not provide what is undeserved. Hence, He asks, \\"Is your eye envious because I am generous?\\" Let no one take pride in their efforts or the time they have spent, for after these words, Truth Himself declares, \\"Thus shall the last be first, and the first last.\\" While we may recognize the good works we have done and the number behind us, we cannot fathom how scrupulously our Supreme Judge evaluates them. It brings great joy to any soul to be counted among the last in the kingdom of heaven."},{"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 close of the current age; at this culmination, everyone receives a denarius, which represents the grace of the Holy Spirit that re-creates humanity in God’s likeness, allowing them to partake in the divine essence. Those who lived prior to Christ's advent faced greater tribulations, as death had not yet been conquered, the devil remained unvanquished, and sin prevailed. However, we, through the grace of Christ and having been justified through baptism, are granted the strength to triumph over our adversary, who has already been defeated and slain by Christ. \\n\\nFrom one perspective, those who embrace faith in their youth endure more toil compared to those who turn to Christ later in life. The younger individual grapples with the ‘burden’ of divine displeasure and the intensity of lust, while the elder is often at peace with these struggles. Despite this, all receive the same precious gift of the Holy Spirit. The story illustrates that it remains possible for individuals, even in their later years, to enter the kingdom of heaven through repentance, as late life is symbolized by the eleventh hour. However, according to the parable, will the saints resent those who receive the same rewards as themselves? Certainly not. This merely highlights that the blessings reserved for the righteous are so vast and extraordinary that they inspire feelings of envy."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"I am benevolent, providing salvation for both you and him; although your perspective is tinged with jealousy, my goodness extends to all. Do not be misled by the notion that the same blessing will be bestowed upon those who have adhered to the commandments of the Gospel from the beginning until the end of their lives and those who turn to piety later in life. The parable illustrates that while they both receive salvation, their levels of glory are not the same. Salvation is defined by their perseverance, while glory pertains to the rewards they will receive, which will vary and be allotted based on the merits of those who are redeemed."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Your eye, if envious, is indeed evil. The Hebrews used the term evil in connection with the eye to describe a man who feels envy, as seen in Deuteronomy 15:9 and Proverbs 23:6. This is because envy is distinctly evident in the eye, more so than any other aspect of the soul's disposition."},{"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, the laborers who had been toiling throughout the entire day expected to receive more. However, when they too were given just a denarius, they began to complain against the master, expressing, “We have borne the toil of the whole day and the intensity of the midday sun, yet you have ranked us equally with those who worked merely for one hour, in the cool of the evening.” In response to one of the discontented workers, the master replied gently, “Friend, I do not wrong you; did we not agree on a denarius? Take what belongs to you and depart; I wish to give to this last one the same as I have given to you. Do I not have the authority to act as I choose with what belongs to me? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?\\" It is stated earlier that not every minute detail of the parable should be analyzed, so we shall refrain from scrutinizing the specifics of the laborers in the vineyard, which often perplex many interpreters. Our focus will instead rest on the complaints of those who labored throughout the day, alongside the concluding remarks of the parable. \\n\\nThe workers who had been in the vineyard since dawn—representing individuals who have devoted their lives to fulfilling God's will—received a denarius, signifying their reward of Eternal Life. Yet, since harboring grievances against God and envying those who had worked fewer hours is incompatible with the righteousness required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven, it must be recognized that they did not truly grumble. The complaints and jealousy attributed to them serve merely to highlight the magnificence of God's mercy to the listeners. \\n\\nShould we divide this parable into two segments—comprising the first part the narrative about the hiring of the workers and the instruction to compensate them equally, while the second part features the master's response to the murmurs—then we can eliminate the apparent contradiction. After relating how the master paid the final worker, who had toiled for just one hour the same wage as all those who worked the entire day, Jesus Christ seemingly poses a question to His audience: “Do you perceive this as unjust or offensive to those who labored all day? They were contracted for a denarius and received their due; the owner of the vineyard wronged no one. If in His generosity He chooses to pay all equally, who is entitled to complain? Does the owner not possess the authority to manage His own affairs as He desires?”"},{"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 murmuring they displayed demonstrated a lack of faithfulness to their commitment and an unreasonable desire for more than what they had agreed to. This discontent was met with a rightful admonition from the master, who addressed one of the dissatisfied individuals, saying, ‘Friend, I do not wrong you; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and depart; I wish to give to this last man the same as I give to you. Do I not have the authority to do what I choose? Is your eye envious because I am generous?’ In the same manner, the rewards in the kingdom of heaven will not be determined by the timing of one’s call or the duration of service, but rather by the level of faithfulness to duty, diligence in work, and the gracious nature of God, who evaluates individuals more by their inner disposition than their external efforts. For this reason, Christ further stated, ‘the last shall be first, and the first last.’ These parting discussions appear to have taken place during the final days of Christ's time in Perea, and as He was nearing the border of Judea, He received troubling news from Bethany that the one He cherished ‘was dangerously ill’ (John 11:2)."},{"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 the apostles and all believers in Christ from viewing the promised blessings as a result of their own deeds—similar to the Pharisees who aspired to prominence in the kingdom of the Messiah—Christ declares: “But many of the first shall be last, and the last first.” In the Gospel of Mark, this statement is presented alone, while the Gospel of Matthew recounts the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, who were compensated equally regardless of when they began their work. This illustrates the context in which Christ employs the saying, as He does in other teachings (Matt. 20:16; Luke 13:30). In this parable, the vineyard represents the Church of Christ, the householder symbolizes the Lord, and the laborers—who commence their tasks at various times—are understood as believers called into Christ’s Church at different points in history. This can refer specifically to those contemporary with Christ during His earthly ministry or to all believers throughout the ages. \\n\\nThe parable concludes with a reiteration of the initial statement, slightly adapted to align with its overall message: “Thus shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few chosen.” The overarching lesson of this parable is that the apportionment of rewards for believers in eternal life is entirely reliant on God’s sovereign will and grace, rather than on human judgment or perceived merit. Many who may appear to have invested little effort into their salvation or who are viewed as the least esteemed will be recognized as first in God’s evaluation, while those who regard themselves as foremost may find themselves last in the final judgment. Consequently, this parable instills a sense of humility in all followers of Christ, a vital quality for receiving the rewards promised to those who sacrifice everything for His sake."}]}
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