Hireling

Hireling (שָׂכַיר, sakir'; μισθωτός), a laborer who, is employed on hire for a limited time (Job 12:1; Job 14:6; Mr 1:20). By the Mosaic law such a one was to be paid his wages as soon as his work was over (Le 19:13). The little interest which would be felt by such a temporary laborer, compared with that of the shepherd or permanent keeper of the flock, furnish a striking illustration in one of our Lord's discourses (Joh 10:12-13). The working day in the East begins with the rising of the sun, and ends when it sets. The parable in Mt 20:1-14, is interesting, not only as showing what were the day's wages of a laborer at this period in Judaea, "a penny," i.e. the Roman denarius, about fifteen cents of our money, but also as showing that the salvation of the Gentiles can in itself become no impediment to the Jews; and as eternal life is the free gift of God, he has a right to give it in whatever proportions, at whatever times, and on whatever conditions he pleases. SEE SERVANT; SEE WAGES, etc.