The following article was written for the 2004 Bellview Lectures

"WHY STAND YE HERE ALL

What does the word "all" mean? The word which is translated "all" (hol’os) is found one hundred twelve times in the New Testament (Smith, 246). It is translated "all" sixty five times, "whole" forty three times, "every whit" two times (John 7:23; 13:10), "altogether" one time (John 9:34) and "throughout" one time (John 19:23). The men to whom the householder directed the question had not been working from the first hour of the day (6:00 A.M.) until the eleventh hour of the day (5:00 P.M.).

What does the word "day" mean? The word which is translated "day" (hemer’a) in the New Testament has different meanings depending upon the context of the word. This word is translated "day" three hundred fifty five times, "daily" fifteen times, "time" three times, etc. (Smith, 167). In this context the word "day" would mean the natural work day.

What does the word "idle" mean? The word that is translated "idle" (argos’) is found eight times in the New Testament (Smith, 40). This word is translated "idle" six times (Matt. 12:36; 20:3,6,6; 1 Tim. 5:13), "slow" one time (Tit. 1:12), and "barren" one time (2 Pet. 1:8). This word means "inactive, idle...free from labor, at leisure (Matt. 20:6; 1 Tim. 5:13)...lazy shunning the labor which one ought to perform...idle gluttons (Tit.1:12)...of things from which no profit is derived, although they can and ought to be productive, unprofitable" (Thayer, 72).

What does the word "labourers" mean? The word that is translated "labourers" (ergat’es) is found sixteen times in the New Testament (Smith, 149). This word is translated "labourer" ten times (Matt. 9:37-38; 20:1-2,8; Luke 10:2,7; 1 Tim. 5:18; Jas. 5:4), "workman" three times (Matt. 10:10; Acts 19:25; 2 Tim. 2:15), and "worker" three times (Luke 13:27; 2 Cor. 11:13; Phi. 3:2) (Smith, 149). This word usually means "one who works for hire" (Thayer, 248).

What answer did the men give who had been idle for eleven of the twelve working hours of the day? These men said, "because no man hath hired us" (Matt. 20:7). Was their answer acceptable to the householder? If these men had been prepared to work the first hour of the day, why were they still standing idle at the eleventh hour? Were these men prepared to work each time the householder went to hire laborers or were they merely giving an excuse for not working? The householder had been to the market place four times previously and these men were not called to work or they were not available. Their answer would imply that they had been ready to work, but had not been called to work for the day. After being hired with only one hour left in the day, they worked and were rewarded for their labor at the end of the day. This would seem to indicate that they had been ready to work but did not have the opportunity. Where there still others who were waiting to work? If there were others that were not hired to work, what would happen to them?

In the parable the workers went and worked in the correct vineyard. How does that apply today? What is the vineyard in which one is to work? Does it make a difference where one works? The vineyard represents the church for which Jesus died. Instead of standing idle all day one must be working in the Lord’s church.

What is the church? The word "church" in the original language is "ekklesia." This word is a combination of two words to make one distinct idea. The word means to call out, or "that which is called out." This originally was a common term for a congregation of God’s people. The called out people then were the "ekklesia," the church. The calling power and the thing out of which one is called are not inherent within the word. These facts must be learned from the context. The word "ekklesia" is translated church one hundred twelve times and assembly three times (Smith, 116). This word is used for the first time by our Lord (Matt. 16:18) and the last time by our Lord (Rev. 22:16).

Since the church is composed of those who are called out, what is the calling power? Jesus is the calling power (Matt. 16:18). Christ has the authority to call men to follow Him (Matt. 28:18-20). He has the authority by virtue of His being God’s Son (Matt. 16:16; Rom. 1:4; John 3:16). He has the authority by virtue of His being the Savior (Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:11; Tit. 1:4). He has the authority by virtue of the fact that He is the head of the church, the builder and foundation (Col. 1:18; I Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:20; Isa. 28:16; Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11). He has the authority by virtue of His death, burial and resurrection (Acts 2:22-36). But the question to ask is "How does Jesus call today?" Jesus uses the gospel as His instrument for calling (Rom. 1:16,17). Today men are called unto salvation only by the gospel of Christ (2 Thes. 2:13,14). Those who heed the call are added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:41,47). The men that were called by the household the first hour answered the call to work in the householder’s vineyard, as did those who were called the third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hours. These men were called from the market place to the vineyard.

The church is the called out, therefore, from what is one called? One is called out of sin (Matt. 9:13). One is called out of the snare of the devil (2 Tim. 2:26). One is called from his trespasses (Eph. 2:1,5). One is called from the old things of the world (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:12; 4:18). One is called out of darkness (Col. 1:13,14; Eph. 4:18).