The Meaning of Matthew 20:14 Explained

Matthew 20:14

KJV: Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

YLT: take that which is thine, and go; and I will to give to this, the last, also as to thee;

Darby: Take what is thine and go. But it is my will to give to this last even as to thee:

ASV: Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Take  [that] thine  [is], and  go thy way:  I will  give  unto this  last,  even  as  unto thee. 

What does Matthew 20:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 20:1-16 - The Bargaining Spirit Rebuked
This parable originated in Peter's question. He had seen the rich young man go away sorrowful, because he could not meet the test which had been put to him; and he contrasted with that great refusal the swift willingness with which he and his fellow Apostles had left all to follow the Lord Jesus.
"Take care," said Jesus, "or your bargaining for the rewards of the Kingdom, will put you down among the lowest; while they who don't bargain will come out at the top." The last made no agreement; they came in at the eleventh hour, and were only too glad to take the vineyard path, leaving the vine owner to give what he thought right. The first "agreed," taking care to strike a bargain of so much money for so much work. But they would have done better if they had left the payment to the grace of their employer. "For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed," Romans 4:16, r.v. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 20

1  Jesus, by the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor unto no man;
17  foretells his passion;
20  by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be humble;
29  and gives two blind men their sight

Greek Commentary for Matthew 20:14

Take up [αρον]
First aorist active imperative of αιρω — airō Pick up, as if he had saucily refused to take it from the table or had contemptuously thrown the denarius on the ground. If the first had been paid first and sent away, there would probably have been no murmuring, but “the murmuring is needed to bring out the lesson” (Plummer). The δηναριυς — dēnarius was the common wage of a day labourer at that time. [source]
What I will [ο τελω]
This is the point of the parable, the will of the householder. With mine own (εν τοις εμοις — en tois emois). In the sphere of my own affairs. There is in the Koiné an extension of the instrumental use of εν — en f0). [source]
With mine own [εν τοις εμοις]
In the sphere of my own affairs. There is in the Koiné an extension of the instrumental use of εν — en f0). [source]
Take [ἆρον]
Lit., as Rev., take up, as if the money had been laid down for him on a table or counter. [source]
I will give [θέλω δοῦναι]
But, as in other cases in the A. V., this may be mistaken for the simple future of the verb; whereas there are two verbs. Therefore, Rev., rightly, It is my will to give. See on Matthew 15:32. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 20:14

Matthew 20:26 Will be great [θέλῃ εἶναι]
See on Matthew 20:14. Rev. would be. [source]
John 1:43 Would go forth [ἠθέλησεν ἐξελθεῖν]
Rev., better, was minded to go. On the construction see on Matthew 20:14. On the verb to be minded, see on Matthew 1:19. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 20:14 mean?

Take what [is] yours and go I desire now to this - last to give as also to you
ἆρον τὸ σὸν καὶ ὕπαγε θέλω δὲ τούτῳ τῷ ἐσχάτῳ δοῦναι ὡς καὶ σοί

ἆρον  Take 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: αἴρω  
Sense: to raise up, elevate, lift up.
τὸ  what  [is] 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
σὸν  yours 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Neuter 2nd Person Singular
Root: σός  
Sense: thy, thine.
ὕπαγε  go 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ὑπάγω  
Sense: to lead under, bring under.
θέλω  I  desire 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τούτῳ  to  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐσχάτῳ  last 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔσχατος  
Sense: extreme.
δοῦναι  to  give 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
σοί  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.