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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Matthew 20:16

MATTHEW—NOTE ON Matthew 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first last. Jesus is not denying degrees of reward in heaven (see note on 1 Cor. 3:14–15). He affirms that God’s generosity is more abundant than anyone would expect. Jesus is probably also warning his early followers that they should not despise those who come later.

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See also Matthew 20:16 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    MATTHEW 20:16 e;scatoi. {A} Although it is possible that the words polloi. … evkletoi, had been accidentally omitted from an ancestor of a B L Z 085 _al_ owing to homoeoteleuton, the Committee regard...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Matthew 20:16. _SO THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST, AND THE FIRST LAST_] The GENTILES, who have been long without the true God, shall now enjoy all the privileges of the new covenant; and the Jews, who...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    SO THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST ... - This is the moral or scope of the parable. “To teach this it was spoken.” Many that, in the order of time, are brought last into the kingdom, shall be first in the rew...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    8. THE PARABLE OF THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD. The Healing of the Two Blind Men. CHAPTER 20 1. The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. (Matthew 20:1 .) 2. The Third Prediction of His Death an...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD. It is possible (as it is necessary) to distinguish two interpretations of this splendid parable, (_a)_ that intended by Jesus, (_b)_ that suggested by the eva...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    "For the situation in the Kingdom of Heaven is like what happened when a householder went out first thing in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. When he had come to an agreement with them th...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE MASTER SEEKS HIS WORKERS (Matthew 20:1-16)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SO, &C. See note on Matthew 19:30, which precedes the parable, as this concludes it....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _for many be called, but few chosen_ This verse which occurs in a natural connection ch. Matthew 19:30, but is difficult to explain here, is omitted in the best MSS. The words are probably interpolate...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    After ἜΣΧΑΤΟΙ the _textus receptus_ has: πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσι κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί. Here the older MSS. are followed, but CD and the mass of later uncials and many versions and patristic quotations c...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD Peculiar to St Matthew...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver 1. "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _AT THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY IS THE GRACE OF GOD MATTHEW 20:1-16:_ The parable of the workers in the vineyard is a powerful lesson on the theme of God's grace. What God gives comes from His goodness...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΣΟΝΤΑΙ _fut. ind. med. (dep.) от_ ΕΙΜΊ (G1510) быть....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    FOR MANY ARE CALLED, &C.— A proverbial expression, which, as it is here stated, imports that the Jews should all be called by the Apostles and first preachers to receive the Gospel;—"They shall have t...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Section 50 JESUS TELLS THE STORY OF THE ELEVENTH HOUR LABORERS TEXT: 20:1-16 1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. SO THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST, AND THE FIRST LAST: - q.d., 'Take heed lest by indulging the spirit of these "murmure...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    23 As the political constitution of the Jewish commonwealth rendered it practically impossible to acquire great possessions without oppressing others, riches were a hindrance and are largely lost in t...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD. THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM 1-16, Parable of the labourers in the vineyard (peculiar to St. Matthew). This difficult parable is closely linked with what goes before, and ca...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FOR MANY BE CALLED, BUT FEW CHOSEN] These words are omitted by the RV, probably rightly. If retained, they are very difficult to interpret in such a way as to harmonise with the parable....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MATTHEW’S GOOD NEWS MATTHEW’S *GOSPEL _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 20 THE STORY ABOUT THE LAND-OWNER’S WORKERS 20:1-16 V1 ‘Where God rules, it is like this. A man who owned land went out early one mo...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SO THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST. — This, then, is the great lesson of the parable, and it answers at once the question whether we are to see in it the doctrine of an absolute equality in the blessedness of...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 15 Last Days in Peraea - Matthew 19:1 - Matthew 20:1 THERE were two main roads from Galilee to Jerusalem. One passed through Samaria, on the west of the Jordan, the other through Peraea, east...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Parable of the hours_, peculiar to Mt., and, whatever its real connection as spoken by Jesus, to be interpreted in relation to its setting as here given, which is not impossible. The parable is broug...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Christ here points the moral of the parable = Matthew 19:30, the terms ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι changing places, the better to suit the story. The meaning is not: the last as the first, and the first as the las...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE BARGAINING SPIRIT REBUKED Matthew 20:1-16 This parable originated in Peter's question. He had seen the rich young man go away sorrowful, because he could not meet the test which had been put to...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    One great principle of rewards is laid down in this parable. It is that they will be given, not according to length or amount of service, but according to fidelity to opportunities. The Master was now...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Few chosen: only such as have not despised their caller, but followed and believed him; for men believed not, but of their own free will. (St. Augustine, lib. i, ad Simplic. q. ii.) (Bristow) --- Henc...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHAPTER 16 THE HIRED LABORERS Matthew 20:1-16. _“For the kingdom of the heavens is like unto a man who is a landlord, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.”_ The Jews...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." See the Note on Matthew 22:14....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _CALLED AND CHOSEN_ ‘So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen.’ Matthew 20:16 St. Peter tells us there are many things in the Bible hard to be understood....

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE REFORM OF THE IDLER_ ‘Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us.’ Matthew 20 part Matthew 20:6 This parable is one of the most difficult in the New Te...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    16._So the first shall be last. _He does not now compare the Jews to the Gentiles, (as in another passages) nor the reprobate, who swerve from the faith, to the elect who persevere; and therefore the...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    We may remark that, when the Lord answers Peter, it was the consequence of having left all for Christ upon His call. The motive was Christ Himself: therefore He says, "Ye which have followed me." He s...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    SO THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST, AND THE FIRST LAST,.... As he had asserted in Matthew 19:30 and which is clearly illustrated by this parable, as it may be applied to Jews or Gentiles, or to nominal and re...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Ver. 16. _So the last shall be first, &c._] This is the purport of the preceding parable. Application is the life o...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _So the last shall be first, and the first last_ The Gentiles last called, and last in advantages and privileges, not having been favoured in that respect as the Jews were, and despised and looked dow...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    FIRST; in privileges, and in their own estimation. LAST; in the reception of the gifts of distinguishing grace. God distinguishes men by his favors as he sees best; not without wise and good reasons,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    SO THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST, AND THE FIRST LAST; FOR MANY BE CALLED, BUT FEW CHOSEN. In choosing one man out of the whole company of murmurers, the master gave all the greater force to his application....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The master's answer:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The principle of the first and the last is now illustrated in a most penetrating parable of the kingdom of heaven. The householder goes out early in the morning to hire labourers to work in his vineya...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 should be preached to the Gentiles, and they should be admit...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Ver. 1-16. We find this parable only recorded by St. Matthew; nor have any thing to guide us in understanding the scope of our Saviour in it, but ACTS 20:16, _So the last shall be first, and the first...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Epistle of Barnabas Let us beware lest we be found [fulfilling that saying], as it is written, "Many are called, but few are chosen."[37] Epistle of Barnabas the last like the first."[72] Irenaeus...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Matthew 20:16 So G3779 last G2078 be G2071 (G5704) first G4413 and G2532 first G4413 last G2078 For...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘So the last will be first, and the first last.' And thus the story tells us that because of God's goodness and graciousness, and because our spirits can so easily become jealous and hardened, it is o...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Matthew 20:16. The proverbial expression of chap. Matthew 19:30, recurs with a different order. The parable, therefore, illustrates the truth that the order in the calling of individuals and nations w...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    The direct reply to Peter's question is found in all three accounts; the parable is peculiar to Matthew. It loses most of its seeming difficulties, when connected with the previous conversation. The q...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THE LAST FIRST AND THE FIRST LAST (ο εσχατο πρωτο κα ο πρωτο εσχατο). The adjectives change places as compared with Matthew 19:30. The point is the same, though this order suits the parable better....

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 20:1. _For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers f...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 20:1. _For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers f...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Parables of laborers in the vineyard. Jesus' death and resurrection again foretold. Ambitious requests of James and John. Healing of the two blind men. CHARACTERS: Jesus, wife of Zebedee, J...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Matthew 20:1. _A householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers_ for the work of his vineyard, the time, the most important time of the vintage being understood. It was the custom...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AND JESUS CONCLUDED. The first - last; and the last - first. Here, this teaches that the Jews, who were first to be called by God, would not receive more than the Gentiles, who were last to be called....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard: _ THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD 1. This story is on the...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _So the last shall be first, and the first last._ THE ELECT CHRISTIANS It is not a question of calling, but of moving from second to first place, or falling back from first to second place. There is...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 20 _The kingdom of heaven is like._ That is, God acts in the kingdom of Heaven like a master hiring labourers into his vineyard; for strictly speaking, the kingdom of Heaven is not like the h...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 20:1. FOR, etc.—The division of the Chapter s is here singularly unfortunate, as separating the parable both from the events which gave occasion to it and from the teaching wh...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MATTHEW 20:1 _Parable of the labourers in the vineyard_._ _(Peculiar to St. Matthew.) MATTHEW 20:1 FOR. The following parable is intended to illustrate the apophthegm at the end of the...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn to Matthew's gospel chapter twenty, and continue our book-by-book study through the Word of God? Matthew chapter twenty opens with the parable of the laborers going out into the vineyard...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; James 1:23;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    So the last shall be first, and the first last — Not only with regard to the Jews and Gentiles, but in a thousand other instances. For many are called — All who hear the Gospel; but few chosen — Only...

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