Pentecost Season · Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A
Matthew 20:1-16a
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
September 20, 2026
Overview & Insights
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16)
Peter’s initial question in this passage about the rewards that he and the rest of the Twelve will have for leaving everything to follow Jesus (19:27) connects directly with the previous passage, in which a rich man chooses his wealth over the chance to follow Jesus (19:21–22). Although Jesus answers that there will be reward for leaving all to follow him (19:28–29), his words turn to warning at 19:30–20:16. His admonitions against status presumption echo across this section of Matthew (see 18:1–5; 20:20–28). The dual refrain about the inversion of the first and the last frames the parable of the first and last day laborers (19:30; 20:16) and will find an echo in 23:12, where the places of the humble and the exalted are reversed.
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Commentary
Commentary on Matthew 20:1-16 Working Preacher
A named seminary scholar's exegesis reframing the parable around God's generosity.
Matthew 20:1-16 Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on grace, envy, and the goodness of the owner.
Matthew 20 - Laborers in the Vineyard Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical study of the equal wage and grumbling.
Matthew 20 Commentary Precept Austin
An inductive study page with Greek word notes and cross references on the chapter.
Matthew 20:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the parable of the workers.
The Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A) Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
Brant Pitre explains the Sunday readings in their Jewish and Catholic context.
Sunday Connection, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Catholic background and reflection questions linking the day's readings to daily life.
Background & Word Study
Matthew 20 (Matthew Henry Complete) Bible Study Tools
Matthew Henry's full exposition of the chapter for a classic devotional reading.
Matthew 20:1 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek word by word with parsing for the denarius and the hiring language.
Enter the Bible: Matthew Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to Matthew and its kingdom parables.
Gospel of Matthew Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Matthew's literary design and themes.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why does the landowner pay everyone the same wage?
The parable turns on grace, not fairness: the denarius is what a laborer needed to feed a family for a day, and the owner gives it to all. The early workers are not underpaid; the point is that they resent the owner’s generosity to the last-hired (Matthew 20:13–15).
Where does this fall in the Catholic lectionary?
This is the Gospel for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, in the Roman Catholic lectionary (the Sunday whose date falls between September 18 and 24).
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