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Wednesday, February 18, 2026

The Parable of the Laborers

 



Welcome to this study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. For this study, we use Mary's study notes and Alice's notes of historical and anthropological relevance.

To prepare, read Matthew chapter 20. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.

Introduction

The Gospel of Matthew stresses the reversal of values where worldly standards of power, wealth, and status are inverted in favor of humility and dedicated service to the Kingdom of God. Examples include the Beatitudes and the principle that "that many who are first will be last, and the last first" (Matt 19:30). In Matthew chapter 20, even that phrase is reversed. Jesus closes the Parable of the Laborers with these words: "So the last will be first, and the first will be last" (Matt. 20:16). Reversals or inversions such as this were a typical Semitic way to invite the listener to think more deeply and investigate a sacred mystery.

The mother of James and John asked Jesus to grant her sons positions of great authority in the Kingdom.

In chapter 20 Jesus again explains to his disciples that he will be arrested, crucified, and raised on the third day. The chapter ends with Jesus giving sight to two blind men, a miracle associated with the long-awaited Messiah.


Questions

1. Who does the "householder" represent in the Parable of the Laborers?

2. What troubled the laborers who were first to arrive when they received their wages?

3. What should the reader know about the practice of hiring day laborers in Jesus' time?

4. Jesus stressed that the future Kingdom is the opposite of the world as we know it. Why?

5. How did Eve's action in the Garden result in an inversion of God's order of creation?

6. In what ways does the future Kingdom of God represent a restoration of Paradise?

7. What did the mother of James and John want Jesus to do?

8. What was Jesus' response to the mother's request? 

9. What did Jesus say about his purpose or his mission on earth?

10. Two blind men cried out to Jesus, Son of David, for mercy. How did Jesus respond?


Answers

1. The householder/vineyard owner in the Parable of the Laborers represents God. The vineyard represents the Kingdom of God. The laborers are members of the Kingdom brought in by God and promised rewards.

2. The first laborers thought it unfair that they received the amount that they had agreed to after working all day. They begrudged the fieldhands who received the same amount though they had worked a much shorter day. However, the householder (representing God) told them that they were receiving what they had agreed on and that it was his right to give that same amount to whoever he wanted. Whether one receives Christ on his deathbed or has lived for Christ all his life, God loves them equally and shows no favoritism.

3. In the ancient Middle East, a landowner would go to the town gate to hire laborers by the day. He chose the workers he wanted (election or divine appointment). He, or his official representative (the Son of God), might return to hire another group, if needed. The amount of the wages was decided at the time of hiring. This could be interpreted as a reference to the elect of the Old Covenant and the elect of the New Covenant. Note that not all who wanted to be hired were chosen. Knowing this practice helps to make sense of the parable.

4. The early Hebrew, from whom we receive the Garden of Eden story, believed that God created the world with a hierarchy (think pyramid). The lowest creatures on the hierarchy were those that crawled along the ground like a snake. Eve, representing, all human females, was the crown of the creation, as she was the last to be created. She was at the pinnacle of the created order. Think of her at the peak of a pyramid. However, she surrendered her high estate to the serpent when she did what it wanted. This caused an inversion of the order of creation. The highest creature became subject to the basest creature. In theological terms, this is called "the Fall".

5. Jesus stressed that the future Kingdom is a place of right relationships, purity, holiness, and peace as was enjoyed in the Garden of Eden before the loss of innocence. In this sense, it is a recapitulation to the former state which God intended for humanity and all the creation. Jesus wanted his followers to understand the nature of his mission on earth.

6. The restoration of innocence and right relationships as was enjoyed in Eden is the called the doctrine of "recapitulation". It was especially championed by Irenaeus of Lyons. As the "Last Adam" Jesus Christ reverses the course of human disobedience and restores humanity to its original relationship with God the Father. In Romans 8:22, the Apostle Paul writes that "the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now", suffering under the curse of sin and death. Jesus was sent by the Father to restore God's original design.

7. The mother of James and John wanted Jesus to command that her sons be given places of honor and great authority in the Kingdom. This is why she asked that James and John be seated at Jesus' right and left. The seats at the right and left of a ruler’s throne signified the highest positions of power, authority, and honor. Such persons represented the king's authority.

8. Jesus first asked the mother what she wanted (v. 21). He did not presume. He then explained to the mother of James and John that she did not know what she was asking. He then addressed her sons, saying that they would drink his cup, that is to say that they too would suffer and die in the service of God's Kingdom.

9. Jesus explained that he came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Notice that he did not say that all would be ransomed.

10. By calling Jesus "Son of David" the two blind men expressed their belief that Jesus was the long-waited Messiah. Again, Jesus did not presume to know what the men wanted. He asked them, "What do you want me to do for you?" When they asked to have their eyesight, Jesus immediately gave them their sight. Giving sight to the blind was one of the signs of the Messiah. Isaiah 35:5 and 42:7 foretold that the Messiah would open the eyes of the blind. Jesus confirmed his Messiahship by citing this miracle. In Luke 4:18-21 he declared that he was fulfilling these scriptures.

Related reading: Gender Role Reversals and Sacred Mystery

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