The Jews had been first called into the Lord's vineyard, and because of this they were proud and self-righteous. Their long years of service they regarded as entitling them to receive a larger reward than others. Nothing was more exasperating to them than an intimation that the Gentiles were to be admitted to equal privileges with themselves in the things of God.

Jøderne var de første, der blev kaldet til at arbejde i Herrens vingård, og der for var de stolte og selvretfærdige. De mente, at de mange år de havde tjent Herren, gjorde dem berettigede til at få større løn end andre. Intet gjorde dem mere forbitrede end en hentydning til, at hedningerne skulle få adgang til de samme fordele som de med hensyn til det, der hører Gud til.