Gospel for Today

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Matthew 20:1-16a

Jesus said:

THE kingdom of heaven is like to a master of a family, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the market-place, And he said to them,

Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just.

And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour: and did in like manner. But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them:

Why stand you here all the day idle?

They say to him:

Because no man hath hired us.

He saith to them:

Go you also into my vineyard.

And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward:

Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first.

When therefore they came, who had come about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first also came, they thought that they should have received more: and they likewise received every man a penny. And receiving it, they murmured against the master of the house, Saying:

These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.

But he answering one of them, said,

Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee. Or is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Is thy eye evil, because I am good?

So shall the last be first, and the first last.