Matthew 20:3
“And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.”
This verse is part of a parable known as the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, which is found in Matthew 20:1-16. In this parable, Jesus uses a story to illustrate a spiritual truth.
In the context of this verse, Jesus begins by saying, “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard” (Matthew 20:1, KJV). The householder represents God, and the vineyard symbolizes the work of His kingdom.
In Matthew 20:2, we learn that the householder agreed with the first group of laborers to pay them a denarius for their work. A denarius was the usual daily wage for a laborer during that time.
Matthew 20:3 focuses on the householder going out again, around the third hour (around 9 a.m.), to hire more laborers for his vineyard. He finds other individuals standing idle in the marketplace, not having been hired yet. This verse emphasizes the willingness of the householder to seek out and offer work to those who were still available and willing to work.
This parable teaches several important lessons:
God’s generosity:The householder’s willingness to hire laborers throughout the day, even at the third hour, shows God’s abundant grace and generosity. It signifies that God’s invitation to be a part of His kingdom and serve Him is extended to people at different times in their lives. No matter when a person comes to God, they are welcomed and offered a place to serve Him.
Equal reward:In Matthew 20:4-7, we see that the householder went out again at the sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours and hired more laborers, each time promising them a fair wage. However, when it came time to distribute the payment at the end of the day, all the workers received the same denarius, regardless of the number of hours they had worked. This reveals that God’s rewards are not based on human merit or the length of service but on His grace and generosity. It reminds us that salvation and God’s blessings are not earned but received as a gift.
God’s sovereignty:The parable also addresses the issue of envy and comparison. When those who were hired early in the day saw that those who worked only for a short time received the same payment, they complained, feeling it was unfair. The householder’s response in Matthew 20:13-15 highlights God’s sovereignty and the fact that He has the right to bestow His blessings as He chooses. It challenges us to trust in God’s wisdom and fairness rather than comparing ourselves to others.
Overall, Matthew 20:3 and the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard remind us of God’s abundant grace, the equal reward for all who respond to His call, and the importance of trusting in His sovereignty. It encourages us to recognize that it is never too late to respond to God’s invitation and serve Him faithfully.
