And on receiving is more naturally “When they received” or “When the owner gave them.” In Greek receiving has no expressed object, but most English translations supply it (so New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible); Good News Translation has “took their money.”

Grumbled may legitimately be translated “started grumbling” (Good News Translation) or “began to grumble” (Barclay). “Complained” or “criticized” are other words for grumbled.

Householder refers to the owner of the vineyard who has hired the men to work for him (see Matthew 20.1); Good News Translation, New English Bible, and An American Translation have “employer,” New American Bible prefers “owner,” and in New Jerusalem Bible and New International Version “landowner” is used.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .