For indicates that the parable in vv. 1-16 is an explanation of Matt. 19:30.

Denoting Christ, who is the householder.

Morning here is 6:00 a.m., denoting the earliest part of the church age, when Christ came to call His disciples into the kingdom.

The workmen denote the disciples.

The vineyard denotes the kingdom.

Referring to the agreement the Lord made in Matt. 19:27-29.

See note John 6:7¹. The denarius here denotes the reward the Lord offered Peter in His agreement with him in Matt. 19:27-29.

Hebrew time; so in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. This is 9:00 a.m., denoting the second part of the church age.

This word indicates that whoever does not work in the kingdom of the heavens is standing idle in the world.

The marketplace denotes the world.

12:00 noon, denoting the middle part of the church age.

3:00 p.m., denoting the fourth part of the church age.

5:00 p.m., denoting the fifth part of the church age. So in v. 9.

Outside the kingdom of God, no human beings are employed by God.

Even near the end of the church age the Lord still calls people.

6:00 p.m., denoting the end of the church age.

This is against the natural and commercial concept. It indicates that the wages paid to the last workmen are not according to their work but according to the gracious wish of the Lord of the vineyard.

These first workmen included Peter, who made a deal with the Lord in Matt. 19:27-29.

They did not know Rom. 9:14-15, 20. There is no unrighteousness with the Lord. He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. Who were they to reply against the Lord?

Peter's natural concept, representing that of all believers, was commercial; he did not know the Lord's gracious wish.

By one of them, the Lord was referring undoubtedly to Peter.

Lit., comrade, companion, partner.

Denoting the agreement the Lord made with Peter in Matt. 19:27-29.

This was a strong answer to Peter from the Lord, indicating that the Lord had given him what he thought he deserved. But the Lord has the right to give the same wages to the last workmen according to His own wish, in the principle not of work but of grace. This shattered Peter's natural and commercial mind and corrected his concept.

In dealing with the Lord in Matt. 19:27, Peter's concept was altogether commercial, according to the principle of work, not grace. In His answer to Peter, the Lord strongly indicated that His reward to His followers is not a commercial matter but a matter according to His desire and grace. For the disciples to gain the kingdom of the heavens, they needed to leave all and follow the Lord; but what He will give them as a reward is more than they deserve. It is not according to the principle of commerce but according to the Lord's good pleasure. This is an incentive to His followers.

Cf. note Mark 7:22².

The last are the latest workmen, and the first are the earliest ones. In working, the earliest come first, but in receiving the reward, the last become the first. It is in this way that the Lord makes the last first and the first last.

This was the third time the Lord revealed His death to the disciples. The first was in Caesarea Philippi, before His transfiguration (Matt. 16:13, 21). The second was in Galilee, after His transfiguration (Matt. 17:22). This third time was on the way to Jerusalem. This revelation was a prophecy, altogether strange to the natural concept of the disciples; yet it would be fulfilled literally, in every detail.

John and James.

If we ask to sit on the throne in the kingdom, we must be prepared to drink the cup of suffering. To suffer the cross is the way to enter into the kingdom (Acts 14:22). The selfish entreaty of the mother of John and James afforded the Lord an opportunity to reveal the way to enter into the kingdom.

Standing in the position of man, the Lord was fully subject to the Father; He did not assume the right to do anything outside the Father.

This is absolutely contrary to the natural, self-seeking mind. The indignation of the ten disciples (v. 24) also afforded the Lord an opportunity to reveal the way to live in the kingdom: to be willing to serve others as a servant, even as a slave (v. 27), rather than rule over others.

See note Matt. 20:26¹.

In this book, the book on the kingdom, the Lord stood always in the position of man. Although the kingdom of the heavens is constituted with the divine life, it is carried out in humanity.

Lit., soul, soul-life.

The royal title of Christ for the children of Israel. See note Matt. 15:22².