The key verses:

Mat. 19: "what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" 

Mat. 19:27b;"what shall we have therefore?" 

    This parable was spoken 
in reply to 2 questions posed to Jesus:

The first question was asked by the rich young ruler about salvation. 
"What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

The second question is asked by Peter who said to Jesus
“What shall we have therefore?” 
(Mat. 19:27). 

    The questions are answered in 19:26, 29: 
“With men this is impossible, 
but with God all things are possible”

and 

“every one that hath forsaken houses,
or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, 
or lands for my sake, 
shall receive a hundred fold and inherit everlasting life.” 

    Jesusthen spoke this parable,
to explain the spiritual significance of the 2 questions. 

The spiritual meaning of this parable, becomes clear as we read 
all verses that are connected to this parable. 

     Most of the Parables are about salvation and producing the abundant life,
and thus receiving rewards. 
Service is not the means, but the result, of knowing 
the deeper meaning of salvation and manifestation of the glory of God. 
The Cross of Christ is the focal point, 
and unless we understand the deeper
spiritual meaning of the Cross of Christ, 
service will be done in the flesh,
where pride and complaints will be the result. 

    The subject of this parable is about the Jews
who were under the law,
and they were  chosen first, but will be dealt with last,
as Grace and the Church has entered in. 
Many are called (hired) but few are chosen (saved). 
That salvation is not by man’s work,  but by God’s grace and mercy.

Man considers, that rewards, 
are according to the amount of time and vigor of his labor,
and what he thinks is right in his own eyes. 

God’s salvation, or reward, will be just, 
according to agreement by law or by grace,
and will be accordingly. 

If by law, all mankind will fail, and if by grace,
then we will receive His mercy and goodness. 
The law condemns the best;  and grace justifies the worst. 

The Parable of the Laborers 

MAT 20:1  "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, 
which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard." 

    The kingdom  of heaven, is the rule and realm of the heavens, 
or the sphere of the spiritual, the realm of God. 
The realm of the spiritual, is likened to 
a man that is the head of his house and owns a vineyard.
(Isa. 5:7) 
He is looking for the laborers to work in his vineyard. 
God is the householder and the vineyard is the house of Israel 
 
 

     The agreement was made EARLY IN THE MORNING
meaning the Old Testament times of Moses according to law. 
These are those that were first hired, according to agreement 
(early at the break of dawn, 6 a.m.). 
They represent the Jews of the Old Testament Covenant. 
The first are the Jewish nation, who are under the agreement of the law,
from the Old Testament times. 

MAT 20:2  And when he had AGREED with the labourers for a penny a day,
he sent them into his vineyard. 

    The vineyard is the house of Israel (Isa. 5:7).
The vineyard represents Israel’s religious  privileges. 
It depicts the law or religious rites of the Old Testament. 
The Old Testament is the agreement or covenant with the God and Israel. 
It is the dispensation of the law, and their compensation will be according to the laws,
in the Old Testament. 

MAT 20:3  "And he went out about the third hour 
(He was nailed to the cross at nine in the morning, which is the 3rd hour)
and saw others standing IDLE in the marketplace," 
MAT 20:4  "And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, 
and whatsoever is RIGHT (diakaios; equitable, just) I will give you. 
And they went their way." 
MAT 20:5  "Again he went out about the sixth hour,
(darkness fell upon the earth at noon, which is the 6th hour)
and ninth hour (Jesus gave up the Ghost at 3 in the afternoon) 
and did likewise." 

     Those that were called at the third, sixth and ninth hour, 
are referred to the Jews that were undecided as to the Cross. 
They were under the Cross, and did not make any decision as yet,
as their stand were IDLE .  Jesus was nailed to the Cross at the third hour, 
which is nine in the morning, 
darkness came over the land at the six hour, which is 12 noon till 3 in the afternoon,
and He died at the ninth hour, which is 3 in the afternoon. 

    All mankind today are standing idle, that is, not making any decisions. 
Many have heard the Gospel of God, but will not make any decisions. 
They need to go to the vineyard and 
take the grapes, (wine) which speaks of the blood of Jesus. 

     They did not agree to any payment, 
but were told to go to the vineyard,
and  receive according to what is right (1342 dikaio; just, righteousness). 
Salvation by Grace is a gift, and they received what is just or righteous
by the Cross of Christ. 

    In the Parable of the Ten Virgins,
the five with the oil, told those that were lacking in oil,
to go and buy for yourselves.  The Greek word for buy is agorazo.
What it means is go to the market place and be redeemed. 

    Those that were standing idle at the marketplace (agora), 
were told to go to the vineyard, and they will receive whatsoever is just. 
The Vineyard is God’s household. 
It is where wine is made, which is a symbol of the blood of Christ 

The Cross of Christ, His blood is our payment.(Luk. 22:20).
 The market is a place to purchase or sell something. 
It means to go and be bought or redeemed. 

    The picture of the 3, 6 and 9,
is the Gospel of God, and all mankind are standing idle under it. 
Some will make the decision to go to the vineyard
and pick the grapes, (wine, the blood of Jesus) 
and be save by grace, 
and others will work for it, according to the law. 
We will all receive accordingly. 

     The vineyard is a symbol of Israels religious privileges. 
It represents the O.T. laws of sacrifices which was fulfilled in Christ at the cross.

The grapes, (wines) is symbol of the blood of sacrifices. 
In the N.T. it represents the blood of Christ. 

The vineyard is an expression,
used to refer to the sacrifice,
according to the law which is fulfilled by the cross. 
 

    The first that were hired represent the Jews,
who fail to see that salvation is fulfilled in Christ. 
They thought  that keeping the law was the way. 
But the law was burdensome and hot , and causes complaints.

(v. 12). 
Those that were called later, were standing idle,
as no decisions were made as to Christ and his sacrifice. 
They were told to go and  receive according to what was right. 
According to God’s mercy and not by agreement or law, 
but by the Grace of God. 
 

MAT 20:6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out, 
and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, 
Why stand ye here all the day idle?" 
MAT 20:7  "They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us.
He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; 
and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 

     These are the Gentiles who had no agreement. 
The Old Testament was primarily an agreement between God and the Jewish nation. 
Jesus came unto His own (Jews) first.

Then He went to the Gentiles
at the eleventh hour
They said, “No man hath hired us.”
This means that there is no agreement; with the Gentiles.

Because the Jews rejected Christ,
the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles and we are under grace.
(Rom. 9:24-33; Acts 13:46). 
 

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