Matthew 20:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’

NIV: Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

NASB: Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’

CSB: Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Are you jealous because I’m generous?’

NLT: Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

KJV: Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

NKJV: Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’

The master (Matthew 20:1) asks two questions of the grumbling workers (Matthew 20:11). They are upset because those who worked just an hour are receiving the same wage as those who worked far longer and harder under worse conditions. The master asks them if he's not allowed to do what he chooses with his own money. Do they resent his generosity to others? They are not being deprived of anything—the wages paid are exactly what they agreed to.

These are questions and concerns many of us should pose to ourselves when comparing the good gifts God has given to us with those given to others. This is especially important when we face the temptation to consider others less worthy of reward, especially the gifts of eternal life and a home in heaven.

Jesus' parable places into the master's mouth words valid for God to ask us. We know how we must answer. He is absolutely allowed to do whatever He wants with what belongs to Him. He is God (Romans 9:15–23). We are foolish to resent His grace and generosity to anyone, especially since our only hope in this life and the next comes through His grace and generosity, as well. We are left with nothing but to receive our own reward, in Christ, with gratitude. We're promised eternal life (John 10:28), and that's what we receive (John 3:16).

Matthew 20:1–16 is a parable illustrating what Jesus meant in saying that some of the last will be first and the first last in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:30). When a master hires five groups of workers at different times throughout the day, he pays the last group the same amount that he pays the group hired early in the morning. Though that group grumbles, they received what they had agreed to earn and had not been cheated. The master insists he has the right to show generosity to whomever he wishes. Jesus concludes by saying, again, that the last will be first, and the first last. Themes found in this parable are echoed in the later portion of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:25–32).

Jesus illustrates His earlier comments about how some of the "first will be last, and the last first" (Matthew 19:30) with a parable about hired workers. He then clearly tells His disciples about His impending death and resurrection. The mother of James and John asks Jesus to make her sons number two and three in His kingdom. Jesus tells the disciples that true greatness won't come by flaunting authority as the Gentile leaders do. Instead, they will become great by serving each other, even as a slave does, as Jesus Himself has done. He then heals two blind men immediately before entering Jerusalem.

Matthew 20 begins with a parable that illustrates Jesus' statement at the end of Matthew 19: In His kingdom, some of the first will be last and the last first. Still on their way to Jerusalem, Jesus tells the disciples for the third time that He will be killed and then raised on the third day. When asked, Jesus explains that it is not up to Him to grant the seats on His right and left hand in the kingdom and that His disciples will not become great in the way of Gentiles. Instead, they will find greatness by serving each other. A healing of two blind men leads into the triumphal entry, the first event in the last earthly week of Jesus' ministry.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.