Matthew 20:5

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

Matthew 20:5 (KJV)

Context

In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, the landowner goes out early in the morning to hire workers, agreeing to pay them a denarius, the typical day’s wage. He returns at the third hour, then again about the sixth and ninth hours, and finally at the eleventh hour, hiring more laborers each time. The sixth hour is noon and the ninth hour is about 3 p.m., near the end of the working day that ran from roughly 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The repeated trips show the landowner’s persistent initiative in seeking workers, illustrating God’s ongoing invitation to serve in His kingdom.

Meaning

The phrase “and did likewise” means the landowner made the same offer and promise to these later workers as he had to the first: fair payment for their labor. His consistent action reveals his character—he is generous and just, extending opportunity to all who respond to his call. The verse sets the stage for the eleventh-hour hiring and the surprising payment of the same wage to every worker, which teaches that God’s grace and rewards are given according to His will, not human merit. God is debtor to no man, and His generosity is sovereign.

Biblical connections

The sixth and ninth hours were among the three daily hours of prayer in Jewish practice, and the Jews divided the daylight period into twelve hours (John 11:9). This detail connects the parable to the rhythm of Jewish daily life, showing that the landowner’s actions occur at times already woven into the people’s religious routine.

Application

This verse challenges human notions of fairness. When the early workers saw that latecomers received the same wage, they grumbled, but the landowner reminded them they had agreed to a denarius. In God’s kingdom, grace is freely given to all who respond to His call, regardless of when they come to faith or how long they have served. Believers are called to trust God’s fairness, serve faithfully without seeking recognition, and avoid comparing their rewards with others. God calls people at various stages of life, and all who respond are welcomed.

Reflection

The parable teaches us not to be envious of others’ blessings but to focus on our own relationship with God. Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned through works, and service should be joyful, not motivated by reward. The landowner’s repeated going out reminds us that God takes the initiative in seeking workers, and His timing is not our timing. We can rejoice in God’s generosity to others, knowing that He is sovereign and just in all His ways.