Matthew 20:3 - He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
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What does "Matthew 20:3" mean?
This verse is part of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Understanding the context of the parable is crucial to understanding this specific verse.
Here's a breakdown:
"He went out about the third hour..." This refers to the landowner (who represents God in the parable) going out to the marketplace. "The third hour" was roughly 9:00 AM (Jewish timekeeping started at sunrise).
"...and saw others standing idle in the marketplace." He found people who were unemployed and waiting for work. The "marketplace" was the central place where people gathered, hoping to be hired for the day. "Idle" emphasizes that they weren't working, likely because no one had hired them yet.
In the context of the parable, this verse means:
Opportunity for Work: The landowner represents God's willingness to offer opportunities for service and reward to people at different stages of life or belief.
Unemployment/Lack of Purpose: The idle laborers symbolize people who may be ready and willing to serve but haven't yet found their place or been called to a specific task.
God's Initiative: The landowner takes the initiative to seek out workers, demonstrating that God actively seeks people to participate in His work, not just waiting for them to come forward.
Symbolic Interpretation:
Many interpretations exist, but here are some common ones:
Stages of Life: Some interpret the different times of day (3rd, 6th, 9th, 11th hour) as representing different stages of life. People might come to faith or service at various points.
Gentiles: Some see the later hires (especially the 11th hour) as representing the Gentiles, who were later included in God's plan.
Various callings: It can be seen that God can call anyone at anytime in his own time and it is up to us to answer the call, no matter the time.
The verse is not just a historical observation; it's a symbolic representation of God's grace and the invitation to participate in His work, regardless of when one enters the "vineyard." It sets the stage for the central question of the parable: is it fair for those who worked less to receive the same reward as those who worked longer?
Matthew 20:3 - He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
What does "Matthew 20:3" mean?
This verse is part of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Understanding the context of the parable is crucial to understanding this specific verse.
Here's a breakdown:
"He went out about the third hour..." This refers to the landowner (who represents God in the parable) going out to the marketplace. "The third hour" was roughly 9:00 AM (Jewish timekeeping started at sunrise).
"...and saw others standing idle in the marketplace." He found people who were unemployed and waiting for work. The "marketplace" was the central place where people gathered, hoping to be hired for the day. "Idle" emphasizes that they weren't working, likely because no one had hired them yet.
In the context of the parable, this verse means:
Opportunity for Work: The landowner represents God's willingness to offer opportunities for service and reward to people at different stages of life or belief.
Unemployment/Lack of Purpose: The idle laborers symbolize people who may be ready and willing to serve but haven't yet found their place or been called to a specific task.
God's Initiative: The landowner takes the initiative to seek out workers, demonstrating that God actively seeks people to participate in His work, not just waiting for them to come forward.
Symbolic Interpretation:
Many interpretations exist, but here are some common ones:
Stages of Life: Some interpret the different times of day (3rd, 6th, 9th, 11th hour) as representing different stages of life. People might come to faith or service at various points.
Gentiles: Some see the later hires (especially the 11th hour) as representing the Gentiles, who were later included in God's plan.
Various callings: It can be seen that God can call anyone at anytime in his own time and it is up to us to answer the call, no matter the time.
The verse is not just a historical observation; it's a symbolic representation of God's grace and the invitation to participate in His work, regardless of when one enters the "vineyard." It sets the stage for the central question of the parable: is it fair for those who worked less to receive the same reward as those who worked longer?