MATTHEW 20:1-16
THE PARABLE OF THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD

In our last lesson, we discussed the meaning of Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:30: But many who are first will be last, and the last first. This statement is cited again a few verses later, in Matthew 20:16. Sandwiched between these two verses, we find a story called the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. I believe that the parable has been inserted there as an illustration of the ‘first and last’ saying. Let’s look at this story.