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Matthew 20:1-16
 | Reading the Text:
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| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 | The
Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto. |
| "Reversal
and Restoration," Comparative World Scriptures from United
Communities of Spirit. |
| Chapter IV of
the Epistle of Barnabas.
(ca. 130) |
| XXIX.27-42;
Tatian's Diatessaron
(c. 150-160). |
| III.XXII.4, IV.XV.2, IV.XXVII.4, IV.XXXVI.7, Adversus
Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons.
(c. 180) |
| Chapter
XVI, On Baptism, Tertullian
(c. 198) |
| V.3, Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
| Chapter III,
The Prescription of Heretics, Tertullian (c.
200) |
| Chapter
X, On Monogamy, Tertullian
(c. 215) |
| Latin text of Augustine's Sermon 87 (Mt 20:1-16) |
| From the
Catena
Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas. |
| From the Geneva Notes.
 | "For by an "evil eye" the Hebrews mean "envy", because
such dispositions appear chiefly in the eyes, as above in Mt 6:23." |
|
| From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
| "The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the
Jews were first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel should be preached to the
Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the
Jews." |
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| From Wesley's Notes.
| "That some of those who were first called may yet be last, our Lord
confirms by the following parable: of which the primary scope is, to show, That many of
the Jews would be rejected, and many of the Gentiles accepted; the secondary, That of the
Gentiles, many who were first converted would be last and lowest in the kingdom of glory;
and many of those who were last converted would be first, and highest
therein." |
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| "Divine
Sovereignty; Matthew 20;15," Charles H. Spurgeon, 1856. |
| From the Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "This parable, recorded only by Matthew, is closely connected with the end
of the nineteenth chapter, being spoken with reference to Peter's question as to how it
should fare with those who, like himself, had left all for Christ." |
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| From The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "Our duty in the vineyard is to go to work as soon as the Lord calls us,
and to do what he tells us." |
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| Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
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Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
"Wages and Gifts," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from
Seattle,
Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
| "In an unforgettable
way, Jesus taught that life and salvation are gifts from God, pure
gifts, unearned and undeserved. We, his followers, are to live with that
awareness." |
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"Do the Math," Rev. Todd Weir, bloomingcactus.com.
| "What is the incentive to do good if
there is no stairway? Why should I go the extra mile for someone if my
reward is the same as someone who doesn’t do much of anything? There is
no point in doing good, no fairness in life without the stairway." |
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"Employee #00001," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with
Jesus Foundation.
| "As he
so often did, his punch line shocked his listeners with a radical
reversal that subverted conventional wisdom. If we listen carefully
today, it should shock us too." |
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|
"First
Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary:
Pentecost 18"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
| "Our response to people is not to
make sure they get their rights, but because they are people and that will often mean
going beyond what, according to accepted norms, they have a right to claim. Love of this
kind goes beyond human rights." |
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Matthew in the Margins, by
Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia. |
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"Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Matthew 20:1-16," Transformed for
Disciple Community: Matthew in Pentecost, James L. Boyce,
Word & World: Theology for
Christian Ministry, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1993. |
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"Matthew 20:1-16, Pentecost 18," Perspectives on the Parables --
Glimpses on the Kingdom of God, Robert H. Albers,
Word & World: Theology for
Christian Ministry, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1984. |
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"Your God Is Too Nice," Gracia Grindal, Christian Century,
2002.
| "God's freedom is part of the hidden nature, or
mystery, of God--something that we don't hear much about today. We've
domesticated God down to the point of genial predictability, a power
that wouldn't do anything a nice person like me wouldn't do." |
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"Wild Zucchini," Anthony B. Robinson, The Christian Century,
1993.
| "It would be difficult to imagine a parable that is
at once more disturbing and yet more relevant to our lives and society." |
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"Exegetical Considerations,"
18th Sunday after Pentecost, Richard Carlson, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Using Greek
for Sunday Text Preparations.
| "How
do concepts of that which is righteous and that which is judged to be
unrighteous relate to this parable’s interpretation, especially through
the use of dikaion in v. 4 and adiko
in v. 13?" |
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Exegetical Notes
by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
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"It might be noted that what kept
the rich man out of fellowship with Christ was not anything evil, but, we
might call it, "his goodness" -- the keeping of the commandments and the
assumption of (divine) blessings of his wealth." |
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|
Exegesis,
Proper 20A, by
Richard Donovan at lectionary.org.
| "Have we achieved high position
or accomplished much for Christ -- do we have good reason for just a bit
of pride? Jesus warns, 'The last will be first, and the first will be
last.'" |
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|
"Idle in the Marketplace,"
Jerry Goebel, One
Family Outreach. "Focus on scripture from a justice perspective." Exegesis, study, and teen study
and activities.
| "Our Lord is not concerned with profit margins – He
is concerned with justice. When we get to heaven we will not be asked
about what we have accumulated – but what we have distributed. He will
not ask us how much profit we amassed while on earth; he will ask us how
broke we became – broken hearted, broken and given, broken and blessed!" |
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"The Great Reversal," C. Thomas Hilton, The Clergy Journal,
2002. |
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"The
Workers in the Vineyard," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed
textual notes. |
|
Wellspring of
the Gospel, Ordinary 25A, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn
Turner, Weekly Wellsprings. |
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"Justice in the Kingdom,"
Larry Broding's
Word-Sunday.Com: A
Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's
Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
| "What is the difference between
fairness and justice?" |
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"Intimations
of the Year of Jubilee in the Parables of The Wicked Tenants and the Workers in the
Vineyard," by Herman C. Waetjen.
| "Jesus' parables violated the ordered system of land tenure and
economic exchange in the world of his day. The rule of God, which his stories
metaphorically disclosed, will undermine the ruling elite's self-serving systemic
structures and institutions." |
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| "NEXT
in Line," analysis and reflection by Joan Hunt and Ed Schroeder, in Sabbatheology
by The Crossing Community of St Louis, Missouri.
| "Note our assumption that God understands lines. We are sure that God
invented lines and operates by the Protestant Work Ethic--God understands the version held
by those at one end of the line (the front? the back?) ("I've paid my dues, I deserve
reward"), and God also understands the version held by those at the end (beginning?)
of the line ("I didn't have a fair chance, I deserve compensation")." |
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| "The
Blessing of the Usual Daily Wage," analysis and reflection by Michael Hoy, in Sabbatheology
by The Crossing Community of St Louis, Missouri.
| "They seek what, to them, seems "fair." The "evil eye"
of envy is not centered in the Giver, but only in the gifts...Yet when the Owner gives
fairness for his gifts, would we really be ready to receive it?" |
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| Articles & Background:
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"Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard," wikipedia. |
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"Who Controls
the Resources? Economics and Justice in Matt 20:1-15," Mary Kay
Dobrovolny, Society of Biblical Literature New Testament Section - not
for citation without permission from author, 2004. |
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"Engaging Jesus' Parables: The Essential Contribution of Listeners,"
Richard Q. Ford, Constellation, 2002. |
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"Parables
and their Social Contexts," Chapter 6 in What Are They
Saying about the Parables? by David Gowler (Paulist Press, 2000).
| "William Herzog claims that a
recognition of the social code of honor significantly alters our
understanding of the Laborers in the Vineyard parable (Mt
20:1–16)." |
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"Dreaming of Vineyard U," Mary Rose D'Angelo, National Catholic
Reporter, 1999. |
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| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Akinade, Akintunde E.,
"On Sacred Trust: Covenant from an African Perspective," The Living
Pulpit, 2005. |
| Bridges, Linda McKinnish, "Preaching
the Parables in Matthew's Gospel in Ordinary Time: The Extraordinary
Tales of God's World," Review & Expositor, 2007. (Section on this
text begins on p.348, but is best read in context of entire article.)
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Hock, Ronald F.,
"Romancing the Parables of Jesus," Perspectives in Religious Studies,
2002. |
| McArthur, Anna,
"Eleventh-Hour Workers," sermon, Journal for Preachers, 2002. |
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| Reviews: |
| Sermons:
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"Wages and Gifts,"
Sermons from Seattle,
Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. |
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"A Question of Fairness,"
18 Pentecost - 18 September 2005, Luke Bouman, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the
RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors. |
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"Even at the End of the Day There Is Still Time," George H. Martin,
The Clergy Journal, 2005. |
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"Center and
Circumference," Fr. Richard Rohr, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago
Sunday Evening Club, 1992. |
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"The
Heavenly Landowner," Rev. Sarah Buteux,
Cambridge Swedenborg Chapel, Cambridge, MA. |
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"Life Isn't
Fair, Thank God!" Fr. John Claypool, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago
Sunday Evening Club, 2000. |
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"The Last Will Be
First," Jim S. Kim, Church of All Nations, 2004.
Covenant Network of
Presbyterians. |
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"Equal Pay for
Unequal Work," John Jewell,
1999. |
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"From Board Room to
Union Hall," the Rev. Dr. Norman Pott, Day
1, 1996. |
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"The
Invitation," William Willimon, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday
Evening Club, 1992. |
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"Defining Justice with Jesus," Dean William Willimon, Duke Chapel,
1999. |
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"Two
Parables about Judgment," Reinhold Niebuhr, Chapter 13 in Beyond
Tragedy, 1937. At Religion Online. |
| Father
Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily:
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| With Children:
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"An Unending Supply,"
Lois Parker Edstrom, Lectionary.org. |
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"Working
for God,"
Fr. Max
Bowers, Kid's Church. |
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"The Kingdom
of Heaven Is Like a Vineyard," Sunday School
Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc. |
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"The Last
Shall Be First,"
Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com. |
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"Parable of the
Workers in the Vineyard," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian
Center. |
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"The Workers in the Vineyard,"
online computer java-based coloring pages from Grace Baptist Church of
Feeding Hill. |
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| Drama:
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| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
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Clip Art, Matthew
12:20, 15, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators. |
| Clip Art Images:
Matthew 20:1-16, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú. |
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Matthew 20:1-16, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora,
Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use
these for free.") |
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Matthew 20:1-16, at
Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration.
Liberation emphasis. |
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Matthew 20:1-16,
Scripture Pics - graphics
relating to RCL texts, Matt Baker, Germantown UMC, Ohio. |
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| Hymns and Music:
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| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index:
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| Movies scenes with the following themes,
listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance: |
| Study Links and Resources for the Book of Matthew |
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