Matthew 20:1-16 (Gospel, Martyrs)
- 1
- For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
- 2
- Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
- 3
- And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
- 4
- and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
- 5
- Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
- 6
- And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’
- 7
- They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’
- 8
- So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
- 9
- And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.
- 10
- But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.
- 11
- And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner,
- 12
- saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
- 13
- But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
- 14
- Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.
- 15
- Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
- 16
- So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.’”