TAWG - January 3, 2023 - Matthew 20:1-19
January 3, 2023

Matthew 20:1-19

20:1-7 | Jesus told this parable to illustrate His proverb that “the first will be last, and the last first” (19:30). The landowner hired workers at 9am, noon, 3pm, and finally 5pm. The group hired at the end of the day would have included the sort of workers nobody wants to hire. The owner promised all the laborers the same wage: a denarius.

20:8-15 | No matter how many hours they worked, all workers were paid the same wage – the wage that was promised. The workers hired first represent Israel, the recipients of God’s covenant promises (Rom. 3:1-2; Eph. 2:11-12). Those hired last, at the end of the day, represent the Gentiles, who were offered the same salvation available to the Jews through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:13-15).

20:16 | Jesus repeated His aphorism from 19:30 and then added that many are called, but few chosen. His meaning is essentially the same in both cases; namely, that God lavishes His grace on those He chooses, and those who receive it are blessed beyond anything they can ever hope to earn.

20:17-19 | The decisive, final trek to Jerusalem began in Jericho. For the third time Jesus specifically predicted His impending death, but for the first time He mentioned the manner of His demise – crucifixion, which only the Romans employed. He also implied some kind of trial would result in a death sentence.