What does Matthew 20:9 mean?

This part of the story is meant to surprise the listener a bit. Those paying attention heard Jesus say that the first workers hired by the master of the house at around 6 a.m. agreed to payment of one denarius each for the day's work. This was a reasonable wage for that era. Now, though, the master has paid a denarius to the workers hired last, the ones who showed up at the vineyard at around 5 p.m. to work for only an hour.

Jesus' story plays on a universal truth of human nature. We're all naturally insecure about what other people are making and how much they have. Since Jesus' parable is about the kingdom of God and the reward for those who follow Jesus in this life, the stakes are even higher than a single day's wages. Those who worked the longest heard what the latecomers were paid and thought, "If the master paid them a denarius, for just one hour, imagine how much we're going to get!"

Perhaps the disciples, following Jesus' tale, are thinking the same thing. If Jesus is saying that those who do only a little work for His kingdom will receive a "full day's pay" because of God's grace and generosity, imagine how much He will give to us for the sacrifice of our entire lives.

What Jesus says next, though, will make clear one more time that the kingdom of heaven does not operate like the kingdoms of the earth. In part, this is because the ultimate benefit of following Christ—an eternity in heaven—is precisely what is promised, and what is "paid," to all who follow Him (John 3:16–18).