The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 276

the minds of commentators in all ages of of all this, and would need much alteration the Ohurch, ancl various have been the view1 to make it speak so. There is another with which its bearing has been regarded, difficulty which has to be met, if the above We may, however, select two exposition■ interpretation ie adopted. How are we te which seem to embody most of the sugges- explain the murmuring of the discontented tions advanced, and are in themselves most labourers? There can be no envy and dis- reasonable. The first considers it as of in- pleasure in heaven. It is not conceivable dividual application-the call of God coming that any who have obtained the gift of to the soul at different ages of life. Th us eternal life should be dissatisfied with their the householder is God, the market-place the reward or jealous of others, This ie not a world, the vineyard the visible Ohurcb, the mere accessory which is outside the spirit labourers are men who have to do their work of the story, and adds no item to its mystical therein, the steward is Christ, who super- signification; it is really the lee.ding feature, intends and rewe.rds the faithful workers. and the householder'~ own interference and The honrs of the day represent the various reproof are based entirely on this behaviour periods of men's life at which they hear and of the first called. If the " penny " signifies answer God's ce.11 to a closer walk with him, eternal life, and the labourers are all the when, as modem theology terms it, they are called, there is no satisfactory explanatioa converted. .Some, at the first honr, from of this part of the parable. The murmur their very infancy, live a pure and holy is heard after the reception of the reward, life; some at the third boor, in early yonth, and is censured accordingly ; these things begin to serve God effectually ; otLers at could not be fonnd in the Church trium- midday, in full maturity; others ;at the phant; none can murmur there; if they did ninth honr, when old age is creeping on feel envy and discontent, they would not be them; and lastly others obey the ce.ll only worthy of a place in the kingdom. There- at the eleventh honr, at the very approach fore another interpretation must be ad ve.nced of death. And all who he.ve laboured e.t all, which will allow the proper importance to without regard to the length of service, this detail of the parable. The only one receive the "penny," i.e. not some indefinite that does this is that which gives a. national. temporal benefit, but eternal life, which In not simply an individual, bee.ring to the a general sense (without considering the story. According to this exposition, it difference of degrees which shall exist) is applies to the calling of the Jews and the the same for all, The apparent unfairness Gentiles, though there are still particulars of this recompense, if we take a merely which do not entirely or without some vio- human view of the transaction, is obvious. lence suit the application. The "penny" They who have lived a life of holiness, and which all receive is the favour of God, the they who have given to God only the dregs privileges that crown and reward the of their ill-spent days, receive the same members of his kingdom. God's ancient salvation. The difficulty is removed in two people were first called to work in his vine- ways. We may say that the capacity for yard. The various ho1ll'8 of the day cannot receiving and enjoying the reward depends be accurately explained. Many interpreters on the recipient, and the.t what to one would follow St. Gregory in defining the first hoar be infinito bliss and satisfaction, to another as extending•from Adam to Noah, the third would olfer far inferior enjoyment. Or we from Noah to Abraham, the sixth from me.y take refuge in the myijteriousness of Abraham to Moses, the ninth from Moses to God's arrangements, and hold that the con- the coming of Christ, the eleventh from the siderations in e.ccorde.nce with which God coming of Christ to the end of the world. apportions his rewards are known only to During all the day, up to the eleventh hour, him, and are truly, and are intended to be, the call was confined to the J ewe and their beyond human understanding. Further, if progenitors; in the eleventh hour tho Gen- the hours represent the stages of human tiles are called, and, accepting the call, life at which Christians are called, surely, receive the same privileges as the Jowe. It to make the parable concinnous, they:ought is better to forego e.ny attempt to interpret to be the same persona who are invited on the various hours e.nd the various sets of each occasion, not different ones. We should labourers definitely, except to observe that be told, not that the householder found the first called, with whom e. covenant was othef'B wanting work, and sent all thus fonnd me.de, plainly represent the Jews, the people into the vineyard; but that some of those called nnder the covenant of works, who called at the various hours refused the work were to be rewarded according to their and scoffed at his offer, while others after a servico; the other workers a.re not paid time accepted it, and at the approach of the etipulated we.gee; they roceive (" I will night all tho idle remne.nt consented to give") rowo.rd of free grace in accord:J.nce labour, thankful at last to win wages for with God's inscrutable appointment. That little trouble. But the parable says nothing the Jews m1Umured a.t the adwissi.011 of tho 280 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [OB. u.1-84.-.