And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They say unto him, because no man hath hired us,.... This may be fitly applied to the Gentiles, who hundreds of years were neglected by God; he overlooked the times of their ignorance, took no notice of them in their state of stupidity, blindness, and irreligion; but suffered them to walk in their own ways, sent no prophets to instruct them, nor messages, nor messengers...
Verse 6. The eleventh hour. About five o'clock in the afternoon; or when there was but one working hour of the day left. (y) "all the day idle"
And about the eleventh hour--but one hour before the close of the working day; a most unusual hour both for offering and engaging and found others standing idle, and saith, Why stand ye here all the day idle?--Of course they had not been there, or not been disposed to offer themselves at the proper time; but as they were now willing, and the day was...