Matthew 20 · Verse 15

Matthew 20:15

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Matthew 20:15, King James Version

Matthew 20:15 in other translations

BSBDo I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
WEBIsn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
ASVIs it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?
YLTis it not lawful to me to do what I will in mine own? is thine eye evil because I am good?
DARBYis it not lawful for me to do what I will in my own affairs? Is thine eye evil because I am good?
BBEHave I not the right to do as seems good to me in my house? or is your eye evil, because I am good?
WebsterIs it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? is thy eye evil because I am good?

What does Matthew 20:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?--that is, "You appeal to justice, and by that your mouth is shut; for the sum you agreed for is paid you. Your case being disposed of, with the terms I make with other laborers you have nothing to do; and to grudge the benevolence shown to others, when by your own admission you have been honorably dealt with, is both unworthy envy of your neighbor, and discontent with the goodness that engaged and rewarded you in his service at all."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. Is thine eye evil because I am good? The Hebrews used the word evil, when applied to the eye, to denote one envious and malicious, De 15:9, Prov 23:6. The eye is called evil in such cases, because envy and malice show themselves directly in the eye. No passions are so fully expressed by the eye as these. "Does envy show itself in the eye; is thine eye so soon turned to express envy and malice, because I have chosen to do good?"

(f) "Is it not" Rom 9:15-24, Jas 1:18 (g) "Is thine eye" Mt 19:30

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Is it not lawful for me - As eternal life is the free gift of God, he has a right to give it in whatever proportions, at whatever times, and on whatever conditions he pleases. Is thine eye evil - An evil eye among the Jews meant a malicious, covetous, or envious person. Most commentators have different methods of interpreting this parable. Something was undoubtedly designed by its principal parts, besides the scope and design mentioned at the conclusion of the last chapter. The following, which is taken principally from the very pious Quesnel, may render it as useful to the reader as any thing else that has been written on it. The Church is a vineyard, because it is a place of labor, where no man should be idle. Each of us is engaged to labor in this vineyard - to work out our salvation through him who worketh in us to will and to perform. Life is but a day, whereof childhood, or the first use of reason, is the day-break or first hour, Mat 20:1, in which we receive the first Call. The promise of the kingdom of glory is given to all those who are workers together with him, Mat 20:2. The second call is in the time of youth, which is most commonly idle, or only employed in dissipation and worldly cares, Mat 20:3. The third call is at the age of manhood. The fourth, in the decline of life, Mat 20:5. The fifth, when sickness and the infirmities of life press upon us. How many are there in the world who are just ready to leave it, before they properly consider for what end they were brought into it! Still idle, still unemployed in the things which concern their souls; though eternal life is offered to them, and hell moving from beneath to meet them! Mat 20:6. Others consider the morning the first dawn of the Gospel; and the first call to be the preaching of John Baptist. The second call, the public preaching of our Lord; and that of the apostles when they got an especial commission to the Jews, Mat 10:5, Mat 10:6, together with that of the seventy disciples mentioned Luk 10:1. The third call, which was at mid-day, represents the preaching of the fullness of the Gospel after the ascension of Christ, which was the meridian of evangelic glory and excellence. The fourth call represents the mission of the apostles to the various synagogues of the Jews, in every part of the world where they were scattered; the history of which is particularly given in the Acts of the Apostles. The fifth call, or eleventh hour, represents the general call of the Gentiles into the Church of Christ, when the unbelieving Jews were finally rejected. What makes this interpretation the more likely is, that the persons who are addressed at Mat 20:7, say, No man hath hired us, i.e. We never heard the voice of a prophet announcing the true God, nor of an apostle preaching the Lord Jesus, until now. The Jews could not use this as an argument for their carelessness about their eternal interests.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 20:1-16

The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the Jews were first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews. The parable may also be applied more generally, and shows, 1. That God is debtor to no man. 2. That many who begin last, and promise little in religion, sometimes, by the…

Read the full comment on Matthew 20:1-16 →

Matthew 20:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἢēOrG2228
οὐκouksurelyG3756
ἔξεστίνexestinit is lawfulG1832
μοιmoifor meG3165
ὃhowhatG3739
θέλωthelōI wantG2309
ποιῆσαιpoiēsaito doG4160
ἐνenwithG1722
τοῖςtoisthat which [is]G3588
ἐμοῖς;emoismine?G1473
ἢēOrG2228
ὁhotheG3588
ὀφθαλμόςophthalmoseyeG3788
σουsouof youG4771
πονηρόςponērosenviousG4190
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
ἀγαθόςagathosgenerousG18
εἰμι;eimiam?G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 20:15

  • Romans 9:15-24

    For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. …

  • Deuteronomy 15:9

    Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

  • Mark 7:22

    Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

  • Exodus 33:19

    And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

  • Matthew 6:23

    But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

  • Jonah 4:1-4

    But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?

  • John 17:2

    As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

  • Deuteronomy 7:6-8

    For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

  • Romans 11:5-6

    Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

  • Ephesians 1:11

    In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

  • Matthew 11:25

    At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

  • Ephesians 2:1

    And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
it.
11:25; Ex 33:19; De 7:6-8; 1Ch 28:4,5; Jer 27:5-7; Joh 17:2
Ro 9:15-24; 11:5,6; 1Co 4:7; Eph 1:11; 2:1,5; Jas 1:18
Is thine.
6:23; De 15:9; 28:54; Pr 23:6; 28:22; Mr 7:22; Jas 5:9
because.
Jon 4:1-4; Ac 13:45

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 20:14

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

  • Matthew 20:15

    Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

  • Matthew 20:16

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

Read all of Matthew 20

Matthew 20:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
¿No me es lícito á mí hacer lo que quiero con lo mío? ó ¿es malo tu ojo, porque yo soy bueno?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ne m’est-il pas permis de faire ce que je veux de ce qui est mien? Ton œil est-il méchant, parce que moi, je suis bon?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Ist es mir nicht erlaubt, mit dem Meinigen zu tun, was ich will? Blickt dein Auge böse, weil ich gütig bin?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Aut non licet mihi quod volo, facere? an oculus tuus nequam est, quia ego bonus sum?