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Matthew 20

Matt. 20:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
For
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
the kingdom
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
basileia (Greek #932)
properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: kingdom, + reign.
Pronounce: bas-il-i'-ah
Origin: from 935
of heaven
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ouranos (Greek #3772)
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)
KJV usage: air, heaven(-ly), sky.
Pronounce: oo-ran-os'
Origin: perhaps from the same as 3735 (through the idea of elevation)
is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
like
homoios (Greek #3664)
similar (in appearance or character)
KJV usage: like, + manner.
Pronounce: hom'-oy-os
Origin: from the base of 3674
unto a man
anthropos (Greek #444)
man-faced, i.e. a human being
KJV usage: certain, man.
Pronounce: anth'-ro-pos
Origin: from 435 and ὤψ (the countenance; from 3700)
that is an householder
oikodespotes (Greek #3617)
the head of a family
KJV usage: goodman (of the house), householder, master of the house.
Pronounce: oy-kod-es-pot'-ace
Origin: from 3624 and 1203
f, which
hostis (Greek #3748)
which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same
KJV usage: X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever). Compare 3754.
Pronounce: hos'-tis
Origin: ἥτις (hay'-tis), and the neuter ὅτι (hot'-ee) from 3739 and 5100
went out
exerchomai (Greek #1831)
to issue (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad.
Pronounce: ex-er'-khom-ahee
Origin: from 1537 and 2064
early
hama (Greek #260)
properly, at the "same" time, but freely used as a preposition or adverb denoting close association
KJV usage: also, and, together, with(-al).
Pronounce: ham'-ah
Origin: a primary particle
in the morning
proi (Greek #4404)
at dawn; by implication, the day-break watch
KJV usage: early (in the morning), (in the) morning.
Pronounce: pro-ee'
Origin: adverb from 4253
to hire
misthoo (Greek #3409)
to let out for wages, i.e. (middle voice) to hire
KJV usage: hire.
Pronounce: mis-tho'-o
Origin: from 3408
laborers
ergates (Greek #2040)
a toiler; figuratively, a teacher
KJV usage: labourer, worker(-men).
Pronounce: er-gat'-ace
Origin: from 2041
into
eis (Greek #1519)
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
KJV usage: (abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ice
Origin: a primary preposition
his
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
vineyard
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ampelon (Greek #290)
a vineyard
KJV usage: vineyard.
Pronounce: am-pel-ohn'
Origin: from 288
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f
Song of Sol. 8:11‑12•  (Song of Sol. 8:11‑12)

More on:

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Heaven,
Kingdom; Kingdom of God; Kingdom of Heaven,
Vineyard

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-16:  Christ, by the similitude of the labourers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor unto no man;
17-19:  foretells his passion;
20-28:  by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be lowly;
29-34:  and gives two blind men their sight.
the kingdom.This parable was intended to illustrate the equity of God's dealings, even when "the first are placed last, and the last first."
Matt. 3:2• 2{i}and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.{/i} (Matt. 3:2)
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Matt. 13:24,31,33,44‑45,47• 24{i}Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens has become like a man sowing good seed in his field;{/i}
 31{i}Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens is like a grain of mustard [seed] which a man took and sowed in his field;{/i}
 33{i}He spoke another parable to them: The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until it had been all leavened.{/i}
 44Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid, and for the joy of it goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth the field.
 45Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a man of merchandise seeking goodly pearls;
 47Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet cast into the sea and having brought together of every sort; (Matt. 13:24,31,33,44‑45,47)
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Matt. 22:2• 2The kingdom of the heavens is likened to a king which made a marriage-feast for his son, (Matt. 22:2)
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Matt. 25:1,14• 1Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be likened to ten virgins, the which took their torches and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
 14For [it is] as [if] a man going abroad, called his own bondmen and delivered to them his goods. (Matt. 25:1,14)
a man.
Matt. 9:37‑38• 37{i}Then saith he to his disciples, The harvest [is] great and the workmen [are] few;{/i}
 38{i}supplicate therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth workmen unto his harvest.{/i} (Matt. 9:37‑38)
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Matt. 21:33‑43• 33Hear another parable: There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and made a fence round it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and left the country.
 34But when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his bondmen to the husbandmen to receive his fruits.
 35And the husbandmen took his bondmen, and beat one and killed another and stoned another.
 36Again he sent other bondmen more than the first, and they did to them likewise.
 37And afterward he sent to them his son, saying, They will feel respect for my son.
 38But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and get his inheritance.
 39And they took and cast him forth out of the vineyard and killed [him].
 40When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do to these husbandmen?
 41They say to him, He will wretchedly destroy those wretches, and let out the vineyard to other husbandmen who shall render him the fruits in their season.
 42{i}Jesus says to them,{/i} Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, this was made the corner-stone: of Jehovah this is, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
 43Therefore I say to you that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits of it. (Matt. 21:33‑43)
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Song of Sol. 8:11‑12•  (Song of Sol. 8:11‑12)
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Isa. 5:1‑2•  (Isa. 5:1‑2)
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John 15:1• 1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (John 15:1)
early.
Matt. 23:37• 37{i}Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [the city] that kills the prophets and stones those that are sent unto her, how often would I have gathered thy children as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!{/i} (Matt. 23:37)
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Song of Sol. 8:11‑12•  (Song of Sol. 8:11‑12)
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Jer. 25:3‑4•  (Jer. 25:3‑4)
labourers.
Mark 13:34• 34[it is] as a man gone out of the country who left his house and gave authority to his bondmen, {i}and{/i} to each his work, {i}and commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch.{/i} (Mark 13:34)
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1 Cor. 15:58• 58Wherefore, my brethren beloved, be firm, immoveable, abounding in the work of the Lord always, knowing that your toil is not empty in [the] Lord. (1 Cor. 15:58)
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Heb. 13:21• 21perfect you in every good work unto the doing of his will, working in you what is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] the glory unto the ages of the ages. Amen. (Heb. 13:21)
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2 Peter 1:5‑10• 5But for this very thing also, bringing in besides all diligence, in your faith supply virtue, and in virtue knowledge,
 6and in knowledge temperance, and in temperance endurance, and in endurance godliness,
 7and in godliness brotherly affection, and in brotherly affection love:
 8For these things being in you and abounding make [you] not idle nor unfruitful for the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ:
 9for he with whom they are not present is blind, shortsighted, having forgotten the cleansing of his old sins.
 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, use diligence to make your calling and election sure; for in doing these things ye shall never stumble. (2 Peter 1:5‑10)
• a parable is added with a totally different principle, in which the prominent thought is the sovereignty of God, for the express purpose, I think, of guarding against such effects. For God is not unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love which we may have shown toward His name: but there is a danger for us in it. (“Remarks on Matthew 20:1-29” by W. Kelly)
• In order to keep us in this sense of grace, the Spirit of God recurs in this chapter to the sovereignty of God, the counteractive to the self-righteousness that is to be found even in the heart of a disciple. (“Remarks on Matthew 20:1-29” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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1
For the kingdom of the heavens is like a householderc whob went out with the early morn to hire workmen for his vineyard.

JND Translation Notes

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c
Lit. "a man, a householder."
b
As ch. 7.24, "he who is such as."

W. Kelly Translation

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1
For the kingdom of the heavens is like a householdera which went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard;

WK Translation Notes

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a
The addition of "that was" or "is" is alike uncalled for. Are we to say in {vi 24989}{/vi} "the men the shepherds"? In chap. 13:23, 45, 52, 28:23, it is simply an enemy, a merchant, a householder, the shepherds. In fact, it was not emphatically a man that was hostile, but the devil, and a King who in truth was not a mere man.