Matthew 20:6
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Matthew 20:6
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Chapter Context
Matthew 20 is a biographical gospel chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of righteousness, judgment, holiness. Written during the late first century CE (c. 80-90 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Written when Christianity was separating from Judaism following Jerusalem's destruction.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-34: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it establishes important theological principles that resonate throughout Scripture. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Matthew and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Matthew 20:6
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Analysis
And about the eleventh hour he went out (περὶ δὲ τὴν ἑνδεκάτην ὥραν ἐξελθών, peri de tēn hendekatēn hōran exelthōn)—The eleventh hour, approximately 5 PM in a workday that began at 6 AM, represents the final opportunity before sunset when work ceased. The master's going out at this late hour demonstrates grace's extravagance, seeking workers when only one hour remains. This hiring seems economically irrational but reveals God's heart.
Why stand ye here all the day idle? (τί ὧδε ἑστήκατε ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἀργοί, ti hōde hestēkate holēn tēn hēmeran argoi)—The master's question assumes desire for employment, not laziness. The adjective ἀργός (argos, idle, unemployed) describes involuntary inactivity, not sloth. These workers waited all day without opportunity, highlighting that exclusion from Kingdom labor is often circumstantial, not volitional. The master's question invites explanation, showing concern for their plight.
Historical Context
Workers hired at the eleventh hour faced economic disaster—a partial day's wage couldn't feed a family. The master's inquiry shows compassion, not accusation. In Jesus's parable, these represent Gentiles, sinners, and social outcasts who were excluded from covenant privilege through no fault of their own—like the tax collectors and prostitutes entering the Kingdom before the religious elite (21:31).
Reflection
- How does the master's question challenge assumptions about those outside the church being uninterested in spiritual things versus being overlooked or excluded?
- What does the eleventh-hour hiring teach about God's willingness to receive those who come to faith late in life or in history's final hour?
- In what ways might the church, like the early-hired laborers, resent God's gracious inclusion of eleventh-hour converts?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: John 9:4, Acts 17:21, Hebrews 6:12