52 Eric R. Naizer groups who were at that point working in the vineyard (vv. 1.3.5). The perfect tense introduces and accentuates the laborers hired last who are again referred to in vv. 8.12.14. This supports the understanding that the author chooses to employ the stative aspect in order to give added prominence to the group and their condition. Further, the use of the two perfect tense verbs in vv. 6-7 in the context of four present tense verbs (λέγει in v. 6b; λέγουσιν in v. 7a; λέγει and ὑπάγετε in v. 7b) is done so amidst the most frequent use of the present tense in the narrative. Thus, the use of the imperfective aspect foregrounds the dialogue while the perfect tense is used to frontground the critical characteristic of the second group (ἑστῶτας) and last group of laborers hired (ἑστῶτας and ἑστήκατε). When recompense is given to the laborers, those who were working in the vineyard rather than standing idle (ἑστῶτας ἀργούς) are paid the same amount as those who did not work the same span on time. This in turn prompts the grumbling by the laborers who were hired first (vv. 11-12) and thus the subsequent response by the landowner (vv. 13- 15). The verb ἵστημι is used three times in the pericope and in each occasion is in the stative aspect which signifies its critical role in the narrative. The author describes the second and last group of laborers hired as standing idle (ἑστῶτας ἀργούς) emphasizing their contrasting condition with those laborers who were previously hired and therefore working for a longer period of time (v. 3). The focus of the laborers as ἑστῶτας ἀργούς in contrast to those who were working yet everyone receiving equal pay is the crux of the narrative. Further, the author's choice to identify the last group of laborers hired with two verbs in the stative aspect specifies the importance of this group to the story. Thus, discourse prominence provides a paradigm through which the author uses ἵστημι to reveal the critical characters and features of the narrative. As noted above, both Luz and Nolland recognize the author’s inten- tion to accentuate the importance of vv. 6-7. Luz believes that the author intends that the reader pay close attention to the laborers hired last based on the dialogue in vv. 6-7, stating that it “carries significant weight” because of the length of the exchange in relation to the rest of the para- ble32. Nolland argues that there are a number of “emphatic features” that indicate “these workers hired at the eleventh hour are of particular signi- ficance for the story”33. Both Nolland’s and Luz’s position are supported aspectually by the author’s use of the present tense which highlights the exchange between the landowner and the last group of laborers hired. 32 Luz, Matthew, 525.531. 33 Nolland, Matthew, 808-9.