Matthew 20:16 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For many are called, &c.— A proverbial expression, which, as it is here stated, imports that the Jews should all be called by the Apostles and first preachers to receive the Gospel;—"They shall have the Gospel preached to them;" but that few of them, in comparison, would obey the call or become chosen servants, the generalityof the nation wilfully remaining in infidelity and wickedness: wherefore, this branch of the parable very fitly represents the pride of the Jews in rejecting the Gospel, when they found the Gentiles admitted to its privileges without becoming subject to the institutions of Moses. In the mean time, we must not urge the circumstance of the reward so, as to fancy that either Jew or Gentile merited of the blessings of Gospel by their having laboured faithfully in the vineyard, or having behaved well under their several dispensations. The Gospel, with its blessings, was bestowed of God's free grace, and without any thing in man meriting it: besides, it was offered promiscuously to all, whether good or bad, and was embraced by persons of all characters. See Macknight, Wetstein, and the Inferences.