Matthew 20:14 Meaning: Why the Landowner's Generosity Is Fair
Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.
Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.
take that which is thine, and go; and I will to give to this, the last, also as to thee;
Take what is thine and go. But it is my will to give to this last even as to thee:
Meaning in one sentence
In the parable, the landowner defends giving the same wage to latecomers, revealing God's sovereign grace and generosity to all who come to Him.
Context
Jesus has just told Peter that those who leave everything for His sake will receive a hundred times as much and inherit eternal life. Then He tells a story to make the point clearer. A landowner hires workers at different hours of the day, yet pays them all the same wage. Those hired first grumble. The landowner's reply to one of them is our verse. Jesus is explaining how the kingdom of heaven works: God's generosity does not follow human ideas of fairness. The chapter goes on to include Jesus predicting His own death and healing two blind men. This parable sits at the hinge between discipleship and suffering, reminding us why we can trust the Master with what He gives.
Key Words
Two Greek words give the landowner's reply its weight. The first is aron, 'take up' (the same word used when Jesus takes up a loaf to bless it). The workers are not reaching down for a coin; the master is placing it before them. They receive what he sets out, not what they grab. The second word is thelō, 'I desire, I will.' It is the same verb Jesus uses in the garden, 'not my will, but yours.' The master is not grudgingly paying the latecomers. He is acting from deep, personal desire. His generosity is not an oversight or a negotiation. It is what he wanted all along. That changes how we hear the whole exchange. The master is not being talked into fairness; he is acting out of his own free, generous heart.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in different lights. Wesley saw it as the master giving to the last called (the Gentiles) the same as to the first (the Jews), and to late-converted sinners the same as to lifelong believers. Gill understood the dismissal 'go your way' more sternly: a removal from privilege for those who only outwardly served. Barnes focused on the justice of taking what is yours by agreement. None of these readings disagree on the core point: the master owns what he gives and chooses to be generous. Whether you see the first workers as Israel, longtime Christians, or simply those tempted to compare, the landowner's reply stands: he is good, and he has the right to be.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this as the master being unfair or even spiteful, as if he is punishing the early workers for complaining. In fact, he calls them 'friend' in verse 13 and insists he has done them no wrong. They received exactly what they agreed to. The issue is not injustice but envy: their 'evil eye' toward the master's goodness. The parable does not deny justice; it expands it into grace. The master gave what he promised, and then gave from his own abundance to others.
Living This Out
When someone gets something you wanted, a promotion, a healing, a second chance, your heart may murmur. This verse asks you to stop and look at what you actually received. Was it what you agreed to? Was it fair? The landowner did not cheat the early workers. He was generous to the others. This week, when envy whispers, try naming what you have that came from the Master's hand. Not to compare it to anyone else's, but to see it as His gift. Gratitude for what is yours keeps the focus on the Giver, not on the other workers.
Main takeaway: God's grace is not a wage earned by hours served but a gift freely given to everyone who responds to His call.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The boss paid all the workers the same, even the ones who started late. The first workers got what they were promised. The boss just wanted to be kind to everyone.
For ages 9, 12
It is easy to feel upset when someone else gets something good that we think they do not deserve. In the parable, Jesus shows that God is like the generous boss. He gives good things to people who come to Him at different times in their lives. We are not supposed to compare. We are supposed to trust that He knows what He is doing and that He is kind.
Questions People Ask
Why does the landowner pay everyone the same wage even though some worked longer?
He had agreed with the first workers to pay them one denarius, which was a fair daily wage. He chose to be generous to the others and give them the same amount. The parable shows that God's grace is not calculated by effort but given freely according to His will.
Is the landowner being unfair to the workers who worked all day?
He is not unfair. He gave them exactly what they agreed to. The problem is not the payment but the attitude of comparison. The landowner asks, 'Is your eye evil because I am good?' He has the right to do what he wants with his own money.
Does this parable mean it does not matter when someone becomes a Christian?
Yes, in terms of receiving salvation, it does not matter whether you follow Jesus from childhood or come to faith later in life. Both receive the same gift of eternal life. The parable celebrates God's generosity to all who respond to His call.
Who do the workers represent in this parable?
Many Christians see the first workers as those who have served God for a long time, perhaps the Jewish people or lifelong believers. The later workers represent Gentiles or those who come to faith late. Jesus told this parable to warn against pride and envy among His disciples.
What does 'Take that which is yours' mean practically?
It means receive what was agreed upon and do not complain about what others receive. The master honours the contract but insists on his freedom to be generous. For us, it is a call to be content with what God gives, trusting that He is good.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study