And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.
But when the first came,.... Who were early hired into the vineyard; and design either the first saints that were in the world; or the Jews that first believed in Christ, either really or nominally; or such, who were called by grace in their early days: they supposed, or "hoped", as the Syriac version renders it, that they should have received more; than a penny...
Verse 9. They received every man a penny. There was no agreement how much they should receive, but merely that justice should be done, . The householder supposed they had earned it, or chose to make a present to them to compensate for the loss of the first part of the day, when they were willing to work but could not find employment. (b) "eleventh hour"
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny--a full day's wages.