Matthew 20:12 - Exposition

These last have wrought but one hour ; μι ì αν ὡ ì ραν ἐπσι ì ησαν : una hora fecerunt (Vulgate); have spent but one hour (Revised Version). The verb ποιεῖν is used with nouns of time in the sense of "spend," "pass," as in Ruth 2:19 ; Acts 15:33 , etc. They speak of the late workers contemptuously ( οὑτοι οἱἐ ì σχατοι ) , "these fellows who are last." They do not allow that they laboured—they "made" one hour nominally. Equal unto us. Bengel notes, "Envy does not demand more for itself, but wishes that others should have less." Their complaint is that others who have worked less are not docked of their wages in due proportion. Burden and heat of the day; το ì βα ì ρος τῆς ἡμε ì ρας και Ì το Ì ν καυ ì σωνα : the burden of the day and the scorching heat (Revised Version). The latter word is used for the hot dry wind which, blowing from the east, was fatal to vegetation and prejudicial to human comfort, if not to life. The remonstrance of these men may be compared with that of the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son ( Luke 15:29 , Luke 15:30 ). They how somewhat of the spirit of the apostles when they asked, "What shall we have therefore?" ( Matthew 19:27 ).