So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.

“When He says, The first shall be last, and the last first, He alludes secretly to such as were at the first eminent, and afterwards set at nought virtue; and to others who have been reclaimed from wickedness, and have surpassed many. So that this parable was made to quicken the zeal of those who are converted in extreme old age, that they should not suppose that they shall have less than others.”

“Above, the Lord treated of arriving at the kingdom by the way of common salvation, and by the way of perfection; and because certain ones believe they arrive there undeservedly, they are therefore repelled. And first those who intend to come on account of the antiquity of time; second, those on account of the origin of the flesh. The second is there: "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem," etc. The first, therefore, is set forth under the parable of the householder and of the hired laborers. First he sets down the parable; second he concludes to that for which the parable is useful, there: "So the last shall be first, and the first last." The parable has two parts. First he treats of the hiring; second of the reward. The second is there: "But when evening was come," etc. Concerning the first, four hirings are set down, which are invitations of the laborers to work. The second is there: "And going out about the third hour," etc. The third is there: "Again he went out about the sixth hour," etc. The fourth is there: "But about the eleventh hour he went out." Concerning the first he touches on three things. First the one hiring is touched upon; second the ones hired are set down; third the manner of hiring. The second is there: "who went out at the first hour of the morning to hire laborers." The third is there: "And having made an agreement," etc. This householder is God, whose household is the whole world, but especially the rational creature; and he is called householder from the likeness of governance; Wisdom 14:3: "But thou, Father, governest all things by wisdom." "Who went out at the first hour of the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard." Here he treats of those hired. First it is asked what the vineyard is, who the laborers are, why they are hired. What this vineyard is: according to Chrysostom it is justice, and as many virtues as it produces, so many branches it puts forth; Song of Songs 8:12: "My vineyard is before me." Gregory: by the vineyard the holy Church is signified. Isaiah 5:7: "The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel." And there are diverse branches. But the laborers are those who descended from Adam, that is, all men; Genesis 2:15: "The Lord put Adam in Paradise, to dress it and keep it." For each one ought to work justice, and cultivate it, and have care of his neighbor; Ecclesiasticus 17:12: "God gave to every one commandment concerning his neighbor." Likewise prelates are laborers; Isaiah 61:3: "And they shall be called in it the mighty ones of justice, the planting of the Lord to glorify him." But they are called hired, who ought to work for a reward, and are as it were hirelings; Job 7:1: "The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling." For just as the hireling does not immediately receive his wage, but waits, so do we in this life. But in order to be a good hireling, it is necessary that he labor for the advantage of his lord: so if we labor in the vineyard of the Church, we ought to refer everything to God. Whence 1 Corinthians 10:31: "Do all things for the glory of the Lord." Again, first he cultivates, and afterward eats: and so it is fitting that we first cultivate and prepare the salvation of others, and afterward seek temporal things; above, chapter 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you"; Luke 17:8: "Gird thyself, and serve me, till I eat and drink, and afterward thou shalt eat and drink." Again, thirdly it is required that he be occupied the whole day in labor: thus let the cultivator of the Lord's vineyard spend but little time on those things which pertain to himself, but it is necessary that we spend the whole time in the service of God; 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Abounding always in the work of the Lord." Again, he is ashamed to appear before his lord unless he has done well; so also here one ought not to appear before the Lord except with a good work; Exodus 23 and 34:20: "Thou shalt not appear before me empty." But let us see what the morning is. The whole time of this age is one day; Psalm 89:4: "A thousand years are as yesterday, which is past." The diverse hours are the diverse ages. The first is from Adam to Noah, and in that time the Lord admonished, both through messengers and through apparitions, to go into the vineyard of justice. Or it can be said that the whole life of man is one day. The morning of this day is boyhood. For boyhood is green like the grass; whence some are called from boyhood, just as Jeremiah, Daniel, and John the Baptist were called from boyhood. Therefore he says, "who went out at the first hour of the morning," etc. Next the manner of the hiring is determined, whence he says: "And having made an agreement with the laborers for a penny a day." By this penny is signified eternal life, because that penny was worth ten ordinary pennies. Again, it had the likeness of the king impressed upon it. Whence what is signified by this penny consists in the observance of the Decalogue; above, chapter 19:17: "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Again, it has the likeness of God; 1 John 3:2: "When he shall appear, we shall be like to him." Next he treats of the second hiring: "And going out about the third hour," etc. If we take the one day as the whole age, just as the first hour signifies the time from Adam to Noah, so the second signifies from Noah to Abraham. Before the promises concerning Christ were made, then through angels he admonished many, and he also had many who admonished others. But if we take the life of one man, the third hour is adolescence, for just as at the third hour of the day the sun begins to grow warm, so in adolescence the sun of understanding begins to shine forth. Again, then it begins to grow warm; James 1:11: "It has risen with burning heat." And he found these in the marketplace, and idle. This marketplace is the present life. Now the marketplace is called the place in which there is litigation; it is called the marketplace in which buying and selling takes place, and it signifies the present life, which is full of litigation, of buying and selling; 1 John 5:19: "The whole world is seated in wickedness." And these were idle, because they had already lost a part of their life: for not only those who do evil are called idle, but also those who do not do good. And just as the idle do not attain the end, so neither do these. The end of man is eternal life; he therefore who works in the manner in which he ought will have it, if he has not been idle; Ecclesiasticus 33:29: "Idleness hath taught much evil." And he says to them: "Go you also into my vineyard." Because God rewards according to justice; 1 Kings 26:23: "The Lord will render to every man according to his justice." With these he did not agree about the penny. Why with the first, and not with these? The reason is, according as it is referred to the age of the world. Because Adam was going to sin, he could therefore be excused if he had not known his reward; but he knew it, because he tasted. Again, to him who has his senses better, the truth becomes more known. Since therefore Adam had better senses, the truth became more truly known to him. But with the others he did not agree, because he always pays more than he promises. Isaiah 64:4 and 1 Corinthians 2:9: "The eye hath not seen, besides thee, what things thou hast prepared for them that love thee." Again, the first were hired for the whole day. Therefore they ought to have the whole wage; hence a day's penny is promised to them, which will be the full reward. But another does not give the whole to God; therefore he does not agree with him, because it could be that he will work more fervently, and thus be rewarded more; or so negligently, that he will not merit. Therefore he says: "And whatsoever shall be just, I will give you," because if they recover the time that was lost, they will have the full reward; 1 Corinthians 3:13: "Every man's work shall be manifest, the day of the Lord shall declare it." Again, he invited the first to go, but these went of their own accord; because in children there is no discretion, therefore if they do any good, it seems to be more from the Holy Spirit than from discretion; but in adolescence a man is moved by his own counsel. Again, of the first it is said that he sent them; of these, that they went of their own accord. "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour." According as the day is called the age, so the sixth hour was from Abraham to David, and the ninth from David to Christ. But why does he join the two hours together? Because then the people was distinguished, namely the Jewish and the gentile. Whence it can be said that the sixth hour is youth, because just as at midday the sun is at its perfection, so is man in youth. But the ninth hour is old age; and he joins these two together, because the manner of living is the same in both. "But about the eleventh hour he went out." The fourth hiring is set down; and he does three things. First he reproves; second he excuses; third they are invited. The second is there: "They say to him: Because no man hath hired us." The third is there: "Go you also into my vineyard." He says therefore: "But about the eleventh hour he went out." The ninth hour is the time of Christ. Whence it is said in 1 John 2:18: "Little children, it is the last hour." And Hebrews 1:1: "God, speaking of old to the fathers in the prophets, has spoken to us in the Son in these last days." Isaiah 52:6: "Behold I myself that spoke, behold I am here." Or it can be called old age, or decrepit age, because some persist in sin even to a decrepit age. Psalm 89:6: "In the evening let it fall down, grow hard, and wither." "And he found others standing." The others he found in the marketplace; these he did not. The reason is, according to the Philosopher, that there is a difference between the young and the old, because the young are wholly in hope, the old not in hope, but in memories. Whence the first are found in the marketplace as it were wishing to acquire; but these are found standing, as it were not wishing to acquire, but to preserve what has been acquired. Again, he saw the first, and did not rebuke them; but these he saw, and rebuked them, because at first they are still weak, and the passions dominate in them, therefore they are to be excused for not spending their time in the service of God; but the old abound in senses, therefore he rebukes them: "Why stand you here all the day idle?" Proverbs 12:11: "He that followeth idleness is very foolish"; and 28:19: "He that followeth idleness shall be filled with poverty." Their excuse follows: "They say to him: Because no man hath hired us." If we refer this to the state of the age, then these signify the gentile people, who serve not God, but idols. But they are excused, because they did not have prophets as the Jews did; whence Psalm 147:20: "He hath not done in like manner to every nation, and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them." Or, according as it is referred to the age of man, it is signified that to some the occasion of returning to God is not given until old age. And the reason is, because all things have their time. Or it can happen from the divine dispensation, because to them that love God, all things work together unto good, Romans 8:28. Whence the Lord knew that if he had called them earlier, they would not have stood firm. They are hired, then, when they consent, and rise again more effectively; whence he says: "Go you also into my vineyard." Whence although they be decrepit, yet he wills all to be saved, 1 Timothy 2:4. Again, to the first he promised a reward, to these he did not, because to those it was owed, since they had served him from the morning; but to these it is owed from mercy alone. Wisdom 4:13: "Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time." "Now when evening was come," etc. Here he treats of the reward. And first the reward is set down; second the murmuring; third the response. Concerning the first he does two things. First the time is set down; second the person committing; third the person to whom it is committed. The time is set down: "When evening was come," etc. And it can be understood either of the end of a lifetime, or of the end of the age. Psalm 29:6: "In the evening weeping shall have place," because the light of the world fails. And it is called evening, because in this world the judgment shall come to pass. "The lord of the vineyard said to his steward." The lord is the whole Trinity. He said to the steward, that is, to Christ. And to him is given the power of raising up, the power of judging, and the order of judgment is touched upon. The power is touched upon: "Call the laborers," that is, raise up the dead; John 5:28: "All that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God." The power of judging: "Give them their hire," that is, be a judge; whence he gives him the power of judging; John 5:27: "He hath given him power to do judgment, because he is the Son of man." Next the order is touched upon, "beginning from the last even to the first." And this can be turned back to the age of the world. "Beginning from the last," namely from those who have been imbued with the sacraments. Whence a greater grace was given to them than to the first; Ephesians 3:5: "In other generations it was not known, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles." Whence it was conferred upon them more abundantly, although some person in the Old Testament may have had, as to some particular, a greater grace; John 7:39: "The Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" — not because the Holy Spirit had not been given at all, but because then it was given more abundantly. Or it can be turned back to the age of man, because those who are of decrepit age die more quickly, and are rewarded more quickly. Or it can be that from fervor they recover the thing previously lost, as is read of the thief. As to both, Chrysostom says that a man does more liberally what he does out of mercy than what he does in another way; therefore a certain gratification and joy is designated; Luke 15:10: "There is joy in heaven upon one sinner doing penance." Then follows the execution: "When therefore they were come that came about the eleventh hour" — whether Christians, or men in decrepit age — they received each a penny. The Apostle, 1 Corinthians 3:8: "Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor." "But when the first also came" (do not turn this back to the time of the age, for they were the Jews) "they thought that they should receive more," because they had more in the other age. "But they also received each a penny," because they each had their own robe. But what is this? Shall not all have glory equally? I say that as to one respect the reward will be equal, as to another it will not: because beatitude can be considered as to its object, and thus the beatitude of all is one; or as to the participation of the object, and thus not all will participate equally, because they will not see so clearly; John 14:2: "In my Father's house there are many mansions." And it is like as if many go to the water, and one carries a larger vessel than another: the river presents the whole of itself, yet not all draw off equally; so he who has his soul more widened by charity will receive more, etc. Ecclesiasticus 11:24: "The blessing of God hastens unto the reward of the just, and his advancement bears fruit in swift honor." "And receiving it, they murmured against the master of the house, saying: These last have worked but one hour," etc. Above the reward was set down; here the murmuring of certain ones is set down. But here there is a twofold question, because it says that receiving each his penny, they murmured. By the penny is understood eternal life. Is it then to be believed that anyone, having received the reward, murmurs? For it does not seem so, because then there would be sin there, as is had in 1 Corinthians 10:10: "Neither do you murmur." Chrysostom says that force is not to be put upon what is said, but upon that for the sake of which it is said. Whence it is to be understood that the reward will be so great that, if it were possible, they would murmur. Or it can be understood as taking place in this world. Gregory says that this reckoning is nothing other than the reward being deferred, because the saints who came last immediately received the prize, but the first waited long; whence 2 Corinthians 6:13: "Having the same recompense, I speak as to my children, be you also enlarged," etc. Whence those murmur, because they did not receive it immediately; but these do not, because they received it immediately. Hilary and Jerome say thus: sometimes Scripture speaks of the whole number of the people, sometimes in the person of the good, sometimes of the wicked, as it is said in Jeremiah 26:8, that all the people rose up against him, and all the people delivered him. Here "all the people" is taken for a part of the people. So in the first time some were good, and not all; therefore something is attributed by reason of the good, something by reason of the wicked — not that they murmured then, but before, because the Jewish people murmured against the gentile, that he should be made equal to them. There is also another question. What is it that he says: "who have borne the burden of the day and the heats"? For they did not bear it, except so much as they lived, and likewise the moderns. What then is it that is said? A threefold answer is given. The first answer is, that hope which is deferred afflicts the soul. There were some at the beginning of the world who bore the burden, because they knew their reward was deferred; therefore they are said to have borne the burden of the day. Or it can be referred to the Jews, who bore the burdens of the law, of which burden Peter says, Acts 15:10: "This is the burden which neither we, nor our fathers, were able to bear." But the gentiles did not bear such a burden, because they were not subject to the law. Or, according to Gregory, because the first men lived a longer time, whence they lived nine hundred years, therefore they bore a heavier burden. "But he answering, said to one of them." Here the reproof is set down. And first he shows his justice and his mercy; second, the equity of the reward. Concerning the first, three things. First he denies injustice; second he brings in the pact; third he brings in the reward that was made. He says therefore: "But he answering, said to one of them" — and add: and to all, because they all had one cause — he said, "Friend." He calls him friend, because he had drawn him to himself. Deuteronomy 4:37: "He chose their seed after them." "I do thee no wrong," because what is mine I give to this one, not what is thine; therefore I do thee no wrong. Job 8:3: "Doth God pervert judgment?" Then he calls to mind the pact: "Did not thou agree with me for a penny?" That is, for obtaining salvation. Genesis 15:1: "I am the Lord... thy reward shall be exceeding great." "Take what is thine," that is, what thou hast from my promise, "and go" — into glory; 2 Timothy 1:12: "I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." Some expound it thus: "Take what is thine," that is, damnation for thy murmuring, "and go," into eternal fire. But this cannot be, because it says that they received each a penny. Next he sets down the mercy bestowed, saying: "But I will also give to this last, even as to thee." And concerning this he does two things. First he sets down the mercy; second the faculty of showing mercy. "But I will" to this last, that is, to the gentile, "give even as to thee." Romans 3:9: "What then? Do we excel? Not at all." But these might say, thou canst not. But rather he says: "Or is it not lawful for me to do what I will?" Because it is lawful for each one to do his will with what is his own. For if he were the debtor of another, it would not be lawful for him to do so; likewise if he were under another; but he himself is lord, therefore he can give more. For a bailiff cannot give anything, except according to merits; but a king can, without merits; so God, who is the lord of all, can, Psalm 113:11: "He hath done all things whatsoever he would"; Romans 9:19: "Who resisteth his will?" Here it should be noted that in that which is given out of mercy, there is no acceptance of persons, because of that which is purely mine, I can give to whom I will, without acceptance of person. Whence he says: "Is thy eye evil, because I am good?" It is clear that the preceding murmur was not from any defect of the lord, but arose because mercy had been bestowed on another — therefore it arose from mercy and goodness; but he is properly evil who grieves at goodness. Therefore he says: "Is thy eye evil, because I am good?" — in that toward thee I have shown justice, toward another mercy? But it is clear that this is from goodness. And above, 6:22: "If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be lightsome." Of the goodness of the Lord, in Psalm 72:1: "How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart." "So shall the last be first, and the first last." Here he concludes that for which the whole parable was brought forward. And first he sets down the conclusion; second he removes a false opinion. He says: "So shall the last be first." This can be read in two ways, according to Chrysostom: that is, the last shall be made equal to the first, so that there will be no difference; and this corresponds to what was said, that each received his own penny, nor will there be a difference according to time. Or otherwise, that is, those who are last will be first; Deuteronomy 28:44: "The stranger shall be over thee, and he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail." Or some who were first will become last on account of negligence; and this corresponds to what preceded, because they began from the last. But someone might say: shall not all the first be saved? He says: "Many are called, but few are chosen," because all who believe by faith are called; but those are chosen who do good works, and these are few, as above, 7:14: "Narrow is the way that leadeth to life, and few there are that find it."”

“And Jesus going up to Jerusalem,.... Which was situated (f) in the highest part of the land of Israel: the land of Israel, is said to be higher than any other land whatever; and the temple at Jerusalem, higher than any part of the land of Israel; wherefore Christ's going to Jerusalem, is expressed by going up to it. Whither he came either from the coasts of Judea, from beyond Jordan, Mat 19:1 where he had been some time healing diseases, disputing with the Pharisees, discoursing with the young ruler, and instructing his disciples; or from a country near to the wilderness, from a city called Ephraim, Joh 11:54 where he continued some time with his disciples, after the sanhedrim had took counsel to put him to death; for this was his last journey to Jerusalem. Took the twelve disciples apart in the way: into some private place, which lay near the road; for it seems that there were others that followed him, besides the twelve; when he was not willing they should hear what he had to say to them, concerning the issue of this, journey; lest either they should be discouraged and desert him, or it should be made public, and methods be used to prevent it: and said unto them; the disciples, whom he thought fit once more to remind of his sufferings and death, and to prepare them for the same; and though they would not so thoroughly understand all that he should say, yet when it was come to pass, they would remember it, and which would be of service to confirm their faith in him, as the true Messiah. See Gill on Mar 10:32. (f) T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 87. 1.”

“Few chosen: only such as have not despised their caller, but followed and believed him; for men believed not, but of their own free will. (St. Augustine, lib. i, ad Simplic. q. ii.) (Bristow) — Hence the rejection of the Jews and of negligent Christians, and the conversion of strangers, who come and take their place, by a conversion both of faith and morals. On the part of God all are called. (Matthew xi. 28.) Come to me all, &c. In effect, many after their call, have attained to faith and justification; but few in comparison are elected to eternal glory, because the far greater part do not obey the call, but refuse to come, whilst many of those who come fall away again; and thus very few, in comparison with those that perish, will at the last day be selected for eternal glory. (Tirinus)”

“So the last shall be first, and the first last--that is, "Take heed lest by indulging the spirit of these murmurers at the penny given to the last hired, ye miss your own penny, though first in the vineyard; while the consciousness of having come in so late may inspire these last with such a humble frame, and such admiration of the grace that has hired and rewarded them at all, as will put them into the foremost place in the end." for many be called, but few chosen--This is another of our Lord's terse and pregnant sayings, more than once uttered in different connections. (See Mat 19:30; Mat 22:14). The "calling" of which the New Testament almost invariably speaks is what divines call effectual calling, carrying with it a supernatural operation on the will to secure its consent. But that cannot be the meaning of it here; the "called" being emphatically distinguished from the "chosen." It can only mean here the "invited." And so the sense is, Many receive the invitations of the Gospel whom God has never "chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (Th2 2:13). But what, it may be asked, has this to do with the subject of our parable? Probably this--to teach us that men who have wrought in Christ's service all their days may, by the spirit which they manifest at the last, make it too evident that, as between God and their own souls, they never were chosen workmen at all. Next: Matthew Chapter 21”

“Or; He says the first shall be last, and the last first, not that the last are to be exalted before the first, but that they should be put on an equality, so that the difference of time should make no difference in their station. That He says, For many are called, but few chosen, is not to be taken of the elder saints, but of the Gentiles; for of the Gentiles who were called being many, but few were chosen.”