Matthew 20:3-7 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He went out about the third hour, &c.— The hiring of labourers at the subsequent third, sixth, and ninth hours, signifies the various interpositions of Providence, by which many of the Gentiles in the different ages of the world were converted, either in whole or in part, to the knowledge of the true God; becoming some proselytes of righteousness, others proselytes of the gate. The invitation given at the eleventh hour signifies God's calling the Gentiles to the Gospel dispensation, when the Gospel was preached in every civilized nation of the world.—The Jews were ready to look upon themselves with complacency, as a people who had for manyages adhered to the worship of the true God, and in some periods had endured great extremities out of a regard to it: and it seems natural to interpret what is said, Matthew 20:12 of bearing the burden and heat of the day, with a reference to this, rather than to any peculiar hardship which the earlier converts among the Jews might have endured, more than the believing Gentiles, many of whom met with much the same treatment on their embracing Christianity. See 1 Thessalonians 2:14. The hours are mentioned according to the ordinary division of the day among the Jews, the third hour being nine in the morning, and so on. The word δικαιον, Matthew 20:4 rendered right, signifies not only what a person may legally claim, but what he might equitably expect from a person of honour and humanity; whatsoever is reasonable. See Macknight, and Doddridge. The word αργους, rendered idle, Matthew 20:6 should rather be rendered unemployed; for they were willing to work.