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Matthew 20:2

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 20:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Matthew 20:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
2And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
4and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
← Matthew 20:1Matthew 20:3 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, etc.] These labourers were of that sort that were called µwy rykç, “hired for a day”; concerning whom is the following rule f1051: “he that is hired for a day, may demand it all the night; and he that is hired for a night may demand it all the day: he that is hired for hours, may demand it all the night, and all the day; he that is hired for a week, he that is hired for a month, he that is hired for a year, he that is hired for seven, if he goes out in the day, may demand all the day; and if he goes out in the night, he may demand it all the night, and all the day.” And the wages of a day were usually rnyd “a penny”; which, if…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny--a usual day's hire. he sent them into his vineyard.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A penny a day - The coin here referred to was a Roman coin, equal in value, at different periods, to 15 cents or 17 cents (7 1/2 d. to 8 1/2 d.) (circa 1880’s). The original denotes the Roman denarius δηνάριον dēnarion, a silver coin, which was originally equivalent to ten ases (a brass Roman coin), from which it gets its name. The consular denarius bore on one side a head of Rome, and an X or a star, to denote the value in ases, and a chariot with either two or four horses. At a later period the casts of different deities were on the obverse, and these were finally superseded by the heads of the Caesars. Many specimens of this coin have been preserved. It was probably at that time the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Roman penny was about seven pence halfpenny. \[About thirteen and three quarter cents, American.\] This was then the usual price of a day's labour. Matthew 20:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he had: Mat 20:13; Exo 19:5, Exo 19:6; Deu 5:27-30 a penny: "The Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which after five shillings the ounce is sevenpence halfpenny." Mat 18:28, Mat 22:19 \*marg. Luk 10:35; Rev 6:6 he sent: Sa1 2:18, Sa1 2:26, Sa1 3:1, Sa1 3:21, Sa1 16:11, Sa1 16:12; Kg1 3:6-11, Kg1 18:12; Ch2 34:3; Ecc 12:1; Luk 1:15; Ti2 3:15 Matthew 20:3”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification