The 11th hour Bible refers to a parable told by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew about laborers hired at different times throughout the day to work in a vineyard. The parable appears in Matthew 20:1-16 and tells the story of a landowner who hires workers at various points in the day, agreeing to pay them each one denarius for their labor. Some workers are hired early in the morning, some are hired later in the day, and others are hired just an hour before the end of the workday, which was typically 12 hours. When it comes time to pay the workers at the end of the day, the landowner pays all the workers the same wage, regardless of how many hours they worked, which upsets those hired earlier in the day.
What is the meaning of the parable?
This parable is meant to illustrate several spiritual truths:
- God’s grace is available to all, whenever they choose to accept it. It does not matter when someone comes to faith in their life – early or late – God accepts all who repent.
- Heavenly rewards are not earned by our own goodness or works. Salvation is a free gift from God that no one deserves or earns.
- God’s ways are not man’s ways. His grace and generosity often seem unfair from a human perspective.
- No one should be jealous or envious of the blessings given to others. We should rejoice when anyone enters God’s kingdom.
The 11th hour workers represent those who come to faith late in life, on their deathbeds, or at the “last hour.” Yet God still graciously welcomes them into His kingdom and grants them eternal life, just as He does those who have believed in Him their whole lives. This demonstrates that it is never too late to accept God’s free gift of salvation through Christ.
What is the significance of the 11th hour?
In the parable, the 11th hour represents the last hour of the typical 12-hour workday at that time. Workers who were hired at the 11th hour had only worked for one hour before it was time for all the workers to be paid. Yet the landowner remarkably pays them the same full day’s wage as those who worked all day long.
More broadly, the 11th hour has come to signify a late point in time before a deadline or the close of an opportunity. It conveys the urgency of taking action before it is too late. The message is that there is still hope of salvation, even if a person has put off faith until the last minute of life’s “workday.” While we may not merit God’s grace, it is still available to us if we accept it, even at the 11th hour.
Where does the parable appear in the Bible?
The parable of the workers in the vineyard is found in Matthew 20:1-16. Here is the full text of the parable from the New International Version (NIV):
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
“’Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.
When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
What is the main message of the parable?
The key message of this parable is that God’s grace and salvation are available to anyone who repents and believes in Christ, regardless of when they come to faith in their lives. No one deserves salvation – it is an undeserved gift from God. So there is no place for those who have long served God to feel superior or be envious of new converts who receive the same eternal rewards.
Another takeaway is that it is never too late to accept God’s gift of salvation, even at the 11th hour. God rejoices over every sinner who repents, whenever that may happen.
How has the 11th hour concept been used in culture?
The 11th hour has become an idiom and cultural reference to last-minute saves, reprieves, conversions, or revelations. Some examples include:
- 11th hour pardon – Criminals receiving pardons just before execution
- 11th hour stays of execution – Legal interventions postponing an execution
- 11th-hour repentance – Last minute conversions on deathbeds
- 11th hour epiphanies – Finally understanding something at the last possible moment
- “Eleventh Hour Rescue” – Charitable organizations saving animals about to be euthanized
The 11th hour is often used in suspenseful stories where salvation comes just in time, or in tales of personal transformation right before it’s too late. It adds drama and emotional power.
How do some people interpret the 11th hour differently?
While mainstream Christianity sees the 11th hour as representing the urgency of salvation before death, some groups interpret it quite differently. For example:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses believe we are living in the 11th hour prior to Armageddon. The last days began in 1914, so this is the final period before God’s judgment.
- The Latter-day Saints or Mormons see the 11th hour as the Second Coming of Christ, which will happen very soon on the prophetic timetable.
- Some New Age groups view the 11th hour as a period of spiritual awakening and enlightenment happening now.
So the 11th hour has been applied to various endtime prophecies, the urgency of getting right with God before it’s too late, and a current period of spiritual transformation leading to a new age.
How might we live differently in light of the 11th hour message?
If we take the 11th hour message seriously, here are some ways it could impact how we live:
- We would value each day as an opportunity to grow spiritually and share God’s love.
- We would frequently examine our lives and repent of sins.
- We would avoid putting off faith and salvation until old age or our deathbeds.
- We would share the gospel urgently and compassionately with unbelievers.
- We would live with our end in mind, knowing life is fleeting.
- We would avoid envying the blessings, talents, or salvation of others.
Overall, the 11th hour reminds us that life is short and we must be ready at any moment to meet God. This should give us an eternal perspective and motivate us to live focused, repentant, grateful lives full of good works for God’s glory.
Conclusion
The 11th hour is a powerful biblical concept originating from Jesus’ parable about workers paid the same wages no matter when they began laboring in the vineyard. While the 11th hour represents the urgency of accepting God’s grace before it’s too late, the parable also conveys God’s radical generosity and the danger of resentment, entitlement, or envy in those serving Christ long-term. This timeless story continues to challenge believers to live in the light of eternity and share the gospel with great compassion until the true 11th hour when Christ returns.