Single lesson
The Workers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1–16
Jesus told a parable about workers hired at different times who all received the same pay. This lesson helps children notice the complaint in the story and explain what the parable says about the master’s goodness and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Before you teach
In this passage, Jesus says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like” a master hiring labourers for his vineyard. The story follows the workers from early morning to evening, then focuses on the pay, the complaint from the first workers, and the master’s answer. The final saying sums up the parable’s message.
Students will be able to retell the pay dispute in the parable and explain that Jesus uses it to show the master’s right to be generous and his goodness.
Welcome: Fair or unfair?
5 minShow five counters or coins and say that today’s parable is about workers, wages and a complaint. Ask children for quick reactions to this situation: some workers start early, some late, and all are paid one denarius. Explain that Jesus told this story about the Kingdom of Heaven, so we will listen carefully before deciding what it means.
Matthew 20:1, Matthew 20:2, Matthew 20:8, Matthew 20:9, Matthew 20:10, Matthew 20:16
Read and explain: Who was hired, and when?
8 minRead the passage aloud. As you read, list the times the master went out: early morning, third hour, sixth, ninth and eleventh hour. Point out that the first workers agreed to a denarius, while later workers were told they would receive what was right. Note that this is an illustration Jesus told, introduced with, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like”.
Matthew 20:1, Matthew 20:2, Matthew 20:3, Matthew 20:4, Matthew 20:5, Matthew 20:6, Matthew 20:7
Discuss: What caused the complaint?
7 minFocus on the evening payment. The last workers receive a denarius first. The first workers then suppose they will receive more, but they also receive a denarius. Help children identify the situation behind the complaint: the first workers compare themselves with the last workers and grumble about being made equal after bearing the day’s burden and heat.
Matthew 20:8, Matthew 20:9, Matthew 20:10, Matthew 20:11, Matthew 20:12
Make and respond: Vineyard pay line
6 minChildren make a simple scene showing five groups of workers arriving at different times and the manager paying from last to first. As they build it, ask them to place speech labels such as “agreed”, “what is right”, “a denarius”, and “I am good”. Then compare two responses: grumbling like the first workers or recognising the master’s generosity.
Matthew 20:2, Matthew 20:4, Matthew 20:8, Matthew 20:13, Matthew 20:15
Closing: What does Jesus want us to notice?
4 minReview the master’s reply. He says he did no wrong because he paid the agreed wage, and he asks whether the workers are upset because he is good. Finish with Jesus’ closing line, “the last will be first, and the first last”. Invite each child to say one sentence explaining the parable’s main teaching from the passage.
Matthew 20:13, Matthew 20:14, Matthew 20:15, Matthew 20:16
Questions to explore
Why did the first workers begin to murmur against the master?
Use the order of payment and their expectation in the story: they saw the last workers receive a denarius and supposed they would receive more.
Matthew 20:8, Matthew 20:9, Matthew 20:10, Matthew 20:11, Matthew 20:12
What answer did the master give to the worker who complained?
Look for two parts in his reply: he had kept the agreed wage, and he chose to give generously to the last worker as well.
Matthew 20:13, Matthew 20:14, Matthew 20:15
How does the final sentence help explain the parable?
Connect Jesus’ words about the last and the first with the order of payment and the surprise in the story.
Matthew 20:8, Matthew 20:9, Matthew 20:10, Matthew 20:16
Make, think or respond
Vineyard Pay Line
What you’ll need
- paper
- pencils or markers
- scissors
- glue or sticky tape
- 5 small counters or coins
Try it together
- Draw or cut out five small groups of workers and label them early morning, third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hour.
- Place the groups in a line and add one vineyard owner or manager figure at the end.
- Use the counters or coins to show each group receiving one denarius, beginning with the last group.
- Add short speech bubbles from the passage such as “a denarius”, “what is right”, and “I am good”.
- Use the finished scene to retell the complaint and the master’s answer in order.
This activity helps children see the order of hiring and payment that leads to the complaint and highlights the master’s own explanation of his goodness.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, shorten the reading by pausing after each hiring time and letting them place one worker card on the table before continuing.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to sort words from the passage into two columns: what the workers expected and what the master actually said.
An optional closing prayer
“Lord Jesus, thank you for this parable. Help us listen carefully to your words, turn away from grumbling, and recognise goodness in what you show us.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 20
1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
4 He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’
7 “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’
8 “When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’
9 “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
10 When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.
11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,
12 saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?
14 Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.
15 Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
These activities connect with the passage. Choose one that suits your group and the time you have.
