The Different Laborers Who Were Paid the Same, 25th Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026

Matthew 20:1-16

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like ^[a]a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the 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 to those he said, ‘You go into the vineyard also, and whatever is right, I will give you.’ And so they went. 

⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. ⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

⁸ “Now when evening came, the ^[g]owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, starting with the last group to the first.’ ⁹ When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 

¹⁰ And so when those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day’s work and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what is yours and go; but I want to give to this last person the same as to you. ¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with what is my own? Or is your eye ^[j]envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶ So the last shall be first, and the first, last.”

Gospel Commentary

Understanding the Parable

Jesus tells the story of a landowner who hires workers for his vineyard at different times of the day—some early in the morning, others at the end of the day. When it comes time to pay them, everyone receives the exact same wage: one full day’s pay.

The early workers complain because they worked longer in the hot sun. But the owner reminds them that he gave them what they agreed upon, and he has the right to be generous to the latecomers.

Main Points for Our Faith Community

• God’s Love is Grace, Not a Competition: God does not measure His love by how long we have been serving or how much work we do. God gives His mercy freely to everyone.

• Everyone Has Equal Value to God: The workers who came late still needed a full day’s pay to feed their families. God looks at what we need, not just what we produce. In God’s eyes, new members are just as valuable as long-time leaders.

• Avoid Envy in the Community: It is easy to feel jealous when others get blessed or recognized. Jesus asks us to celebrate God’s goodness to others rather than comparing ourselves.

Questions for Group Discussion

• Personal Question: Have you ever felt jealous or upset when someone who seems “less active” or new in the parish receives a special blessing or role? How can we ask God to make our hearts more generous?

• BEC Question: Who are the “eleventh-hour workers” in our neighborhood—the people who feel left out, quiet, or late to join our BEC? How can our group make them feel truly equal and welcome?