Matthew 20:7 (KJV)

What does Matthew 20:7 mean?

Matthew 20:7 shows workers explaining to the landowner that no one had hired them, and the landowner inviting them to work in his vineyard, promising to pay them whatever is fair. This verse highlights the landowner's willingness to include even those who were left out earlier and assures them of just treatment.

In this scene, Jesus is telling a parable where a landowner hires laborers throughout the day. The workers in Matthew 20:7 are those found late in the day, still waiting for work. The landowner’s response, “Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive,” emphasizes his fairness and generosity, setting up the lesson about God’s grace in the verses that follow.

The Greek behind Matthew 20:7

• The word "right" is δίκαιον (dikaion), which means "just" or "fair." The landowner promises to pay what is just, underlining the idea of fairness rather than a set wage.
• The phrase "whatsoever is right" uses ὃ ἐὰν ᾖ (ho ean ē), which is an open-ended way of saying “whatever may be right.” This leaves the amount up to the landowner’s judgment, not a contract, which is important for the parable’s message.
• The verb "receive" is λήμψεσθε (lēmpsesthe), meaning "you will receive." It’s a future tense, pointing to a promise that will be fulfilled.

Why Matthew 20:7 matters

• Matthew 20:7 clears up that the late workers were not lazy, but simply not chosen earlier, which helps the reader see the landowner’s compassion rather than favoritism.
• The verse emphasizes the landowner’s initiative to seek out and include those left behind, which sets up the parable’s teaching about God’s generosity and the unexpected way He gives grace.
• This moment prepares the reader for the surprise ending of the parable, where all workers receive the same reward, challenging common ideas about fairness and merit.