Matthew 20:8 Meaning and Explanation
“So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →When evening comes the owner tells his steward to pay all the workers, starting with the last hired and ending with the first.
What Does Matthew 20:8 Mean?
Evening was the appointed time for paying day laborers, as the law required that a poor man's wages not be held overnight. The lord of the vineyard now orders the reckoning, but with a deliberate twist: payment is to begin from the last unto the first. The order itself is part of the lesson about to unfold.
By paying the latecomers first and in full view, the master ensures that everyone sees how he treats them. This is no oversight; it is intentional generosity made public. The evening here points beyond the field to the great day of reckoning, when the Lord will settle accounts and reward His servants. The surprising order, last before first, prepares us to see that God's measures of reward overturn our instincts about who deserves what.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 20:8
What does Matthew 20:8 mean?
When evening comes the owner tells his steward to pay all the workers, starting with the last hired and ending with the first.