Definition: Saying, These last have wrought [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Matthew 20:12. It's a really important and slightly complex idea, so we’ll go slowly! Here’s what it means in plain language: The Basic Idea: This verse is about fairness and respect. Jesus is saying that some people were working hard and putting in effort – they were doing something. But he's pointing out that these same people are being treated differently than those who have been resting and conserving energy all day. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “These last have wrought [but] one hour…” This is the key part. “Wrought” means to create or build something. "One hour" refers to a specific time of day – likely midday, when the sun was at its highest point. “…and thou hast made them equal unto us…” This is where it gets interesting. Jesus isn’t saying they were equal in importance . He's saying they were treated with different levels of respect and opportunity. He’s highlighting that those who worked hard were given special consideration. “Which have borne the burden and heat of the day.” This refers to the physical effort – the sun, the work, the strain – that people put in throughout the entire day. It's emphasizing the effort involved. So, what’s the overall message? Jesus is teaching us to be kind and generous to those who are working hard. We shouldn’t dismiss their efforts or treat them as less important than others. We should give them respect and opportunity because they’ve put in a lot of effort. Think of it like this: It's about recognizing the value of hard work and treating people with dignity, regardless of how long they've been working. In short, Jesus is saying that those who are actively involved and putting in effort deserve special consideration and respect. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse further? Give you a different example of how this principle applies to real life?