The Vineyard Workers – Parables Part 9

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16 1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. (At nine, noon, three, and five PM he hired more workers) 8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ 13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ 16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” (Matthew 20:1-2, 8–16 NLT) At the end of the day, the workers who were hired at six o’clock in the morning received the same pay (which they had agreed to) as the workers hired at nine, noon, three and even five o’clock. Twelve hours hard work, nine hours hard work, six hours hard work, three hours hard work, and one hour hard work—all received the same pay! When those hired first complained, the vineyard owner asked them: “Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my own money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?” This story is directed towards the religious Jews who felt that they had been faithful followers of the letter of the law, and yet Jesus was opening the Kingdom of Heaven to sinners, to foreigners, to all sorts of people who hadn’t “paid their dues.” This story is also directed to us when we feel: “I’ve sacrificed so much and others seem to get blessed more than me! I do all the work and they get all the credit.” It’s all by grace. God is free to be kind to everyone. We’re free to be thankful for God’s faithfulness and graciousness to us all!

Prayer: Father, I thank you for your faithfulness and blessing. Please help me never to be jealous of others to whom you are kind, gracious, and merciful. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. Your grace is abundant to us all!