Matthew 20 — “The Last Are First: Grace, Service, and the Price of Glory”
Matthew 19 revealed the cost of discipleship.
Matthew 20 now reveals the logic of grace.
After speaking of reward,
Christ teaches how reward truly works in the Kingdom.
This chapter teaches one central truth:
The Kingdom is governed not by human merit but by divine generosity, and its glory is reached through humble service.
1. The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.” (Matt 20:1)
The vineyard is the people of God.
The master is God Himself.
The laborers are all who are called to serve Him.
St John Chrysostom writes:
“He goes out again and again, not because He lacks servants, but because His mercy is tireless in seeking them.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
The different hours represent different moments of calling:
some from youth, some from maturity, some from old age.
All are summoned by grace, not by accident.
2. The Agreement of the First Workers
“After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.” (v. 2)
The denarius signifies eternal life.
St Augustine explains:
“The wage is not a sum of works, but life everlasting, which is the same for all.”
(Sermons)
Those hired first represent Israel and those long faithful in the Law;
those hired later represent Gentiles and late converts.
God’s promise is sure,
but His generosity will exceed expectation.
3. The Repeated Call
“He went out about the third hour… the sixth… the ninth… and the eleventh hour.” (vv. 3–6)
God does not cease calling.
St Gregory the Great teaches:
“The first hour is childhood, the third youth, the sixth maturity, the ninth old age, the eleventh the end of life.”
(Homilies on the Gospels)
No hour is too late for grace.
As long as life remains, mercy calls.
The idle in the marketplace represent those not yet awakened to vocation.
4. “Why Do You Stand Here Idle?”
“Because no one has hired us.” (v. 7)
They are idle not from vice,
but from being overlooked.
St Ambrose comments:
“Many do nothing for God because they do not know they are wanted.”
(On Repentance)
Grace is invitation before it is command.
God first calls, then rewards.
5. The Evening and the Wage
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said… ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’” (v. 8)
The order is deliberate.
St Augustine says:
“He pays the last first so that envy may be revealed and pride corrected.”
(Sermons)
The last receive the full wage first,
revealing the scandal of grace.
Eternal life is not divisible.
It is either possessed or not.
6. The Murmuring of the First
“When those hired first came, they thought they would receive more.” (v. 10)
Their disappointment reveals hidden pride.
St John Chrysostom observes:
“They are grieved not by injustice, but by generosity.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
They measure goodness by comparison,
not by gift.
Thus, jealousy enters the vineyard.
7. The Master’s Reply
“Friend, I am doing you no wrong… Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?” (vv. 13–15)
God is just to all
and generous beyond measure.
St Gregory the Great writes:
“He renders what is due and gives what is not due.”
(Homilies on the Gospels)
The complaint reveals a heart still working for wages, not for love.
The Kingdom is not a marketplace,
but a household.
8. “The Last Will Be First”
“So the last will be first, and the first last.” (v. 16)
This is the law of grace.
St Ambrose writes:
“He humbles the proud and raises the lowly, that no flesh may glory before God.”
(On the Duties of the Clergy)
Those who trust in their length of service
may lose the joy of the gift.
Those who trust in mercy
enter in peace.
9. The Third Prediction of the Passion
“And Jesus was going up to Jerusalem…” (v. 17)
Now Christ speaks plainly:
“He will be delivered… mocked… scourged… crucified… and on the third day raised.” (vv. 18–19)
St Leo the Great comments:
“He foretells His Passion so that the Cross may be seen as choice, not accident.”
(Sermon 55)
Glory will not come by ascent,
but by descent into suffering.
10. The Request of the Sons of Zebedee
“Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left.” (v. 21)
They seek thrones
while Christ speaks of a cross.
St John Chrysostom remarks:
“They heard of a kingdom but did not yet understand its price.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
Ambition has not yet been purified into love.
11. “Can You Drink the Cup?”
“You do not know what you are asking.” (v. 22)
The cup signifies suffering.
St Augustine writes:
“The cup is the Passion; the throne is the Resurrection.”
(Sermons)
They say, “We can.”
They do not yet know
how heavy the cup will be.
12. The Baptism of Suffering
“You will drink my cup.” (v. 23)
James will be martyred.
John will suffer exile.
St Bede notes:
“They asked for glory, and were promised suffering first.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Sharing Christ’s life
means sharing His Cross.
13. The Anger of the Ten
“When the ten heard it, they were indignant.” (v. 24)
Ambition breeds division.
St Gregory the Great observes:
“Where humility is lacking, rivalry enters.”
(Moralia)
Even among the apostles,
the disease of pride must be healed.
14. True Greatness Defined
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them… It shall not be so among you.” (vv. 25–26)
Christ overturns political models.
St Ambrose writes:
“He forbids tyranny and commands ministry.”
(On the Duties of the Clergy)
Authority in the Church
is not domination
but service.
15. “Whoever Would Be Great Must Be Your Servant”
“And whoever would be first among you must be your slave.” (v. 27)
Slavery here means total self-gift.
St Augustine comments:
“To rule is to serve; to be great is to be lowly.”
(Sermons)
Christ does not abolish leadership —
He transforms it.
16. The Son of Man’s Mission
“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (v. 28)
This is the heart of the Gospel.
St Gregory of Nazianzus writes:
“He who needed nothing took the form of a servant, that we who were slaves might become sons.”
(Orations)
The Cross is not tragedy.
It is ransom.
Life is given
so life may be restored.
17. The Healing of the Two Blind Men
“As they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed Him.” (v. 29)
They cry:
“Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” (v. 30)
Though blind, they see more clearly than the crowd.
St Jerome says:
“They could not see His body, but they saw His kingship.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Faith perceives what eyes cannot.
18. The Cry That Will Not Be Silenced
“The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent.” (v. 31)
The world resists faith.
St Augustine writes:
“They were rebuked by men but heard by God.”
(Sermons)
Persistence proves belief.
19. “What Do You Want Me to Do for You?”
“Lord, let our eyes be opened.” (v. 33)
Their prayer is simple
and pure.
St Ambrose remarks:
“They asked not for gold, but for light.”
(On Luke)
Their desire matches the gift.
20. Sight and Following
“Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed Him.” (v. 34)
Healing leads to discipleship.
St Bede writes:
“Those who receive sight must walk after Him whose light they received.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
The chapter ends as it began:
with workers in the vineyard —
now seeing clearly
and walking the road to Jerusalem.
Christ in Matthew 20
Jesus is:
• the Lord of the Vineyard
• the Giver of Grace
• the Suffering Servant
• the Ransom for Many
• the Teacher of Humility
• the Healer of the Blind
• the Way to Glory
Spiritual Application
Do not envy God’s generosity.
Rejoice in mercy given to others.
Serve rather than seek rank.
Accept the cup Christ gives.
Cry out in faith.
Follow after receiving sight.
Trust grace more than merit.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
Master of the vineyard and Servant of all,
You call each of us at the hour You choose
and reward us by Your mercy, not our merit.
Free us from envy and pride.
Teach us to serve rather than to rule,
to rejoice in Your generosity,
and to drink the cup You give with faith.
Open our eyes to Your truth,
strengthen us to follow You on the road of sacrifice,
and lead us at last to the joy of Your Kingdom,
where the last are made first
and love is crowned forever.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 