Section 20:1–16
Jesus told a parable about vineyard workers
In this section, Jesus told a parable about some vineyard workers and the man who owned the vineyard. Even though the workers worked for a different number of hours, the owner gave them all the same pay. This parable continues the discussion about rewards for being a disciple (19:27–29). It also helps to explain the meaning of the saying “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first” (19:30). The main point of the parable is about God’s grace. In the kingdom, God gives his servants much more than they deserve. In the kingdom, the values are different than the values here on earth.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The story about men who worked in a field of grapes
-or-
A story that shows God’s generosity/grace
-or-
Rewards for serving God
This parable occurs only in the book of Matthew.
Paragraph 20:1–7
20:1a
For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces an explanation for something that was just said. In this case, the parable that follows explains the statement that Jesus made in 19:30. He said that, at the renewal of all things, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Here are some other ways to introduce this explanation:
Let me explain
-or-
Jesus continued, explaining
the kingdom of heaven is like: Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to the entire parable in 20:1–16. Jesus did not just compare the kingdom of heaven to the master of a house. Make sure your grammar indicates that. Here are some examples:
Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like:
-or-
The kingdom of heaven is like this story.
-or-
I can compare the kingdom of heaven to this parable.
the kingdom of heaven: The phrase the kingdom of heaven last occurred in 19:23b. You should translate it the same ways in both places. For help to translate this phrase, see the note at 18:23a.
a landowner: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates a landowner is more literally “a man a house-master.” Jesus often used the phrase “a man” to introduce the main character of a parable he told. Follow the pattern of your language to indicate that this man is the main character of the story. For example:
There was a certain man who owned some land
This phrase refers to someone who was rich enough to own a house and possibly other property and land.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
a master of the house (English Standard Version)
-or-
a person who owned some land (New Century Version)
-or-
the owner of a farm/field
20:1b
who went out: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went out indicates that the master of the house went outside his house. He went to the marketplace to find people willing to work for him. This is where people looking for work would gather. That place is made explicit in 20:3, but you may need to mention it here. For example:
who went out ⌊to the marketplace⌋
-or-
He went ⌊to the public square⌋
early in the morning: This phrase probably refers to a time soon after sunrise. It was as soon as there was enough daylight to work. In Israel this would have been about 6 o’clock in the morning.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
One morning…very early (New Century Version)
-or-
at daybreak (New Jerusalem Bible)
to hire workers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to hire is based on the word for “wage.” It means “to pay wages/money to.” The master of the house intended to give the men money for the work that they would do.
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates workers refers to people who do work which requires physical labor. (This same word occurs in 10:10b.)
Here are some other ways to translate this entire phrase:
to employ workers
-or-
to find people whom he would pay to work
-or-
to look for people to work
for his vineyard: A vineyard is a field where grapevines are planted. Grapevines are long, woody vines that produce a fruit called grapes. People used sticks to hold the vines off the ground so that the fruit hung down without touching the ground.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in his grape farm
-or-
in his field of grape vines
In some languages, there may not be a word for “vineyard” or for “grape.” If this is true in your language, here are two other options to consider:
• Borrow the word for “grape” from another language and add a general expression that describes what a grape farm is. For example:
farm for producing ⌊a fruit called⌋ grapes
-or-
farm for raising ⌊fruit from⌋ grape ⌊vines⌋
• Use a general word for fruit that would fit in this context. For example:
farm to produce a fruit ⌊used to make wine⌋
You may also want to add a footnote. For example:
The fruit called “grape” grows on a vine. The fruit is used for making wine.
Note that “grape” and “grapefruit” are not the same thing.
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