162. The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. Mt. 20:1–16

For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. And having agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace. And he said to them: “Go and you too into my vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.” And they went. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did the same. Finally, going out about the eleventh hour, he found others standing idle, and he said to them: “Why do you stand here idle the whole day?” They said to him: “No one has hired us.” He said to them: “Go and you too into my vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.”

When evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his steward: “Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.” And when those who were hired about the eleventh hour came, they received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but they also received a denarius. And when they received it, they began to murmur against the master of the house, saying: “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.” But he replied to one of them: “Friend! I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go; but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?”

So the last will be first, and the first will be last; for many are called, but few are chosen.