This parable is added to illustrate what was said just before, in the last chapter. A man that is a householder. The householder represents God, the vineyard is the kingdom of Christ, the laborers his disciples. Went out early in the morning to hire. Said to be a common custom in the East.
Unemployed laborers gather in the market place of the villages, waiting for an employer.
Agreed with the labourers for a penny a day. A denarius, about sixteen cents, the usual full price of a day's labor at that time. It would buy then more than a dollar will now. About the third hour. The hours were counted from six o'clock.