Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 20:16

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last, for many be called, but few chosen.

We f[illegible: 1 letter]nd this Parable only recorded by St. Matthew; nor have [illegible: 1 letter]ny thing to guide us in understanding the Scope of our Sav[illegible: 1 letter]our in it, but the 16. v. So the last shall be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen. Some here by First, understand such as are of greatest Repute and Estimation in the World: or who have the highest Opinion of themselves. By Last, they understand Persons who are of meaner Note and Reckoning in the World, and have lowest opinion of themselves. The former shall be last as to the Love and Favor of God, and any Reward from him: and the other shall be first. Others by the First, understand the Iewes, who were the first People God had in the World, and more dignified than any other by Priviledges: By the Last, the Gentiles, who came last into the Church of God. This seems to be directly intended by our Saviour, who perfectly knew the Pride and invidious Temper of the Jews, who valued themselves upon their Prerogative, that they were the Church of God, when the World lay in Wickedness; and were apt to resent as an Indignity, that the Gentiles should be called into the Church, and be made equally Partakers of Spiritual Priviledges with them. Having now fixed the Scope of the Parable, the Interpretation is easy. The Kingdom of Heaven, that is the soveraign Dispensation of God in calling Nations or Persons to partake of spiritual Benefits in his Church, and consequently of eternal Blessedness; is like unto a Man that is a Housholder, which went out early in the Morning to hire Labourers into his Vineyard. The Housholder is God the Father, compared by Christ to an Husbandman, with respect to the Culture of Vines. Ioh. 15.1. to one that hath a Vineyard, Isa. 5.1, 2. &c. The Vineyard is the Church: the Work is that which concerns eternal Salvation, both of our own Salvation, and of others that are committed to our Charge, or that are within the Compass of our Activity to do them spiritual good. The Labourers, are eminently, Persons in Office, and generally, all that are called by the Gospel. The hiring of them imports, the gracious Promise of the Reward publish'd in the Gospel to those who will work. The Peny, is the Reward comprehensive of the spiritual Priviledges, that Persons in the Church are made Partakers of. Men standing idle in the Market-place: signifies their neglect of the great and proper Work for which they came into the World, to glorify God, and save their Souls▪ His going [illegible: 1 letter]ut at several times, and calling in some to the Vineyard, at the third, sixth, and ninth hours, implys the Calling of the Jews in the early Age of the World, and his sending the Prophets in sundry times, when they were degenerated, to return to his Service. The calling some at the tenth hour, particularly respects the bringing in the Gentiles by Preaching the Gospel, who before were without the Knowledg of God and the way to Life. The Even, is the time of Accounts and Recompence. The Murmuring of some, that they received no more than those that came later into the Vineyard, primarily and immediately signifys the Envy and Vexation of the Jews, that the Gentiles should be equal Partakers, of the Grace of God, with themselves, who for so many Ages had been his peculiar People. The Housholder's vindicating himself, is from two Considerations: wherein it appears, that his Liberality to some is perfectly consi[illegible: 2 letters]ent with his Justice to all. 1. That he agreed with them for a Peny, which they received: The Jews enjoyed those external Priviledges of Gods Covenant which they so much valued themselves for, till they cut themselves off by their obstinate rejecting [illegible: 1 letter]is Grace. 2. That he might do what he pleased with his own. He was Master of his own Favors, and it was malignity to tax his Bounty to others, which was nothing prejudicia[illegible: 1 letter] to what was due by Agreement to them. Our S[illegible: 1 letter]viour concludes the Parable, that the Last shall be First: The Gentiles shall be made Partakers of the Gospel with the blessed Priviledges attending to it: And the First shall be Last: That is, the Jews should be deprived of those Priviledges. And analogically in every age, some who are first, in Presumption of their own Merit, in Profession, and Reputation, but not in real Holine[illegible: 1 letter]s, shall be last in Gods Account; and those who were sincere and diligent in the Christian Calling, tho disvalued by the World, shall be preferred before them: For many are called, but few are chosen. This is the Reason of what is said before: Many are called by the external Preaching of the Word, into the visible Communion of the Church; this is the evident meaning by the reading of the Parable, wherein 'tis said, Persons were called at several Hours, Comprehending the Ministry of the Prophets and the Apostles, and all the succession of Preachers in every Age: and few are chosen; That is by the free and unchangeable Decree of God ordained to eternal Life, and to partake of saving Grace in order to the obtaining it. This is the main Scope of the Parable.

Marginal references: Chap. 19.30.; Chap. 22.14.