Matthew 20:13 Meaning and Explanation
“But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The master answers one of them kindly, saying he has done no wrong, for they had agreed on a penny.
What Does Matthew 20:13 Mean?
The master replies not with anger but with the word, Friend. He gently reminds the worker that no injustice has been done: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? The terms were settled freely that morning, and those terms have been honored to the letter. There is no wrong here, only a promise kept.
The tenderness of that single word, Friend, is worth pausing over. Even to the one murmuring against him, the master answers with affection rather than rebuke. God does not deal falsely with anyone. He gives what He has promised, fully and faithfully. The complaint, when examined, dissolves: the worker received exactly what was just. The trouble lay not in the master's fairness but in the worker's grudging heart.
Matthew 20:13 in the Original Language
hetairos (ἑταῖρος), 'friend' -- a comrade or companion, here a kindly address even amid reproof.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 20:13
What does Matthew 20:13 mean?
The master answers one of them kindly, saying he has done no wrong, for they had agreed on a penny.