Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 20:3
Verse 3. The third hour] Nine o'clock in the morning. Market-place] Where labourers usually stood till they were hired. I have often seen labourers standing in the market places of large towns in these countries, waiting to be employed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. And he went out about the third hour , etc.] About nine oclock in the morning, and saw others standing idle in the market place: the place where labourers used to be hired: and may design the world, because a place full of people, and of great wickedness, for the whole world lies in it; a place of trade and traffic in worldly things, and likewise of worldly and carnal pleasure, and also of idleness. Now Gods elect before calling, are in this place: they are natives of it, have their conversation according to it: here Christ came in person, and here he sends his ministers, his Gospel, to find them out, and by his Spirit and grace he calls them from hence; so that afterwards they are no more of it, though they are in it: but before conversion they belong to it, and their posture then is standing idle; being sluggish, and slothful in business, unwilling to work, and afraid of a little danger and trouble, sauntering away their time in carnal pleasures, and so clothed with rags, and in a starving, famishing condition: but Christs eye is upon them; he observes, and takes notice of them in this disagreeable position and situation, and speaks of them in the following manner.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-16 - The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the Jews were first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel shoul be preached to the Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equa privileges and advantages with the Jews. The parable may also be applied more generally, and shows, 1. That God is debtor to no man. 2 That many who begin last, and promise little in religion, sometimes, by the blessing of God, arrive at a great deal of knowledge, grace, an usefulness. 3. That the recompense of reward will be given to the saints, but not according to the time of their conversion. It describe the state of the visible church, and explains the declaration that the last shall be first, and the first last, in its various references Till we are hired into the service of God, we are standing all the da idle: a sinful state, though a state of drudgery to Satan, may be called a state of idleness. The market-place is the world, and from that we are called by the gospel. Come, come from this market-place Work for God will not admit of trifling. A man may go idle to hell, but he that will go to heaven, must be diligent. The Roman penny wa sevenpence halfpenny in our money, wages then enough for the day' support. This does not prove that the reward of our obedience to God is of works, or of debt; when we have done all, we are unprofitabl servants; but it signifies that there is a reward set before us, ye let none, upon this presumption, put off repentance till they are old Some were sent into the vineyard at the eleventh hour; but nobody ha hired them before. The Gentiles came in at the eleventh hour; the gospel had not been before preached to them. Those that have had gospe offers made them at the third or sixth hour, and have refused them will not have to say at the eleventh hour, as these had, No man ha hired us. Therefore, not to discourage any, but to awaken all, be it remembered, that now is the accepted time. The riches of Divine grac are loudly murmured at, among proud Pharisees and nominal Christians There is great proneness in us to think that we have too little, an others too much of the tokens of God's favour; and that we do too much and others too little in the work of God. But if God gives grace to others, it is kindness to them, and no injustice to us. Carna worldlings agree with God for their penny in this world; and choos their portion in this life. Obedient believers agree with God for their penny in the other world, and must remember they have so agreed. Dids not thou agree to take up with heaven as thy portion, thy all; wil thou seek for happiness in the creature? God punishes none more tha they deserve, and recompenses every service done for him; he therefor does no wrong to any, by showing extraordinary grace to some. See her the nature of envy. It is an evil eye, which is displeased at the goo of others, and desires their hurt. It is a grief to ourselves displeasing to God, and hurtful to our neighbours: it is a sin that ha neither pleasure, profit, nor honour. Let us forego every proud claim and seek for salvation as a free gift. Let us never envy or grudge, but rejoice and praise God for his mercy to others as well as to ourselves.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ εξελθων 1831 5631 V-2AAP-NSM περι 4012 PREP την 3588 T-ASF τριτην 5154 A-ASF ωραν 5610 N-ASF ειδεν 1492 5627 V-2AAI-3S αλλους 243 A-APM εστωτας 2476 5761 V-RAP-APM εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF αγορα 58 N-DSF αργους 692 A-APM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
20:3 {Standing in the marketplace idle} (hestwtas agorai argous). The market place was the place where men and masters met for bargaining. At Hamadan in Persia, Morier in _Second Journey through Persia_, as cited by Trench in his _Parables_, says: "We observed every morning, before the sun rose, that a numerous band of peasants were collected, with spades in their hands, waiting to be hired for the day to work in the surrounding fields."
