SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:6
Y saliendo cerca de la hora undcima, hall otros que estaban ociosos; y les dijo: ¿Por qu estis aquí todo el día ociosos?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 20:6
Verse 6. Eleventh] Five o'clock in the evening, when there was only one hour before the end of the Jewish day, which, in matters of labour, closed at six.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. And about the eleventh hour he went out , etc.] About five oclock in the afternoon. The Persic version reads it, the twelfth hour, which was six oclock in the afternoon, the last hour of the day. The Jews divided their day into twelve hours, ( John 11:9) and these twelve hours into four parts; ( Nehemiah 9:3) each part containing three hours, to which division there is a manifest respect in this parable. These different seasons of the husbandmans going out to hire labourers, may have regard either to the several periods of time, and ages of the world, as before the law, under the law, the times of the Messiah, and the last days; or the various dispensations of the Gospel, first by Christ, and John the Baptist to the Jews, then by the apostles to the same in their first mission, afterwards when their commission was renewed, first to the Jews in Judea, and then to the same among the nations of the world, and last of all to the Gentiles; or to the several stages of human life, and may regard Christs call of persons in childhood, youth, manhood, and old age; which last may be signified by the eleventh hour, as also the Gentiles, and the remainder of Gods elect in the last day: and found others standing idle ; in the same place and position as before: for the state and condition of Gods elect, by nature, as it is the same with others, it is the same with them all. The word idle is omitted here by the Vulgate Latin, the Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and in Munsters Hebrew Gospel; but is retained in the Syriac and Persic versions; and stands in the Greek copies: and saith unto them, why stand ye here all the day idle? for being about the eleventh hour, the day was far spent, it was almost gone, a small portion of it remained, but one hour, as appears from ( Matthew 20:12).
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
περι 4012 PREP δε 1161 CONJ την 3588 T-ASF ενδεκατην 1734 A-ASF ωραν 5610 N-ASF εξελθων 1831 5631 V-2AAP-NSM ευρεν 2147 5627 V-2AAI-3S αλλους 243 A-APM εστωτας 2476 5761 V-RAP-APM αργους 692 A-APM και 2532 CONJ λεγει 3004 5719 V-PAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM τι 5101 I-ASN ωδε 5602 ADV εστηκατε 2476 5758 V-RAI-2P ολην 3650 A-ASF την 3588 T-ASF ημεραν 2250 N-ASF αργοι 692 A-NPM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
20:6 {All the day idle} (holen ten hemeran argoi). Extent of time (accusative) again. Argoi is a privative and ergon, work, no work. The problem of the unemployed.
