Last Saturday, in Stories Jesus Told, Part 5, we saw how much effort God puts into bringing wandering sheep—the believers who have fallen away—back to Him. And since He works so hard to restore the lost, shouldn’t we put just as much effort into helping them return?
Jesus’ next parable, in Matthew 20, compares the kingdom of heaven to a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard. Early in the morning, he and the laborers agree they will work for “a denarius for the day…” (v.2b NRSVUE). He then goes back four more times to hire more workers, with the last bunch being hired only an hour before quitting time. The only difference is that to the later workers, he simply says, “I will pay you whatever is right.” (v. 4b NRSVUE).
At day’s end, the owner pays the last group first—and to everyone’s surprise, each receives a full denarius. I think these workers must have shared a bit of our modern mentality—or perhaps our modern mentality is based on centuries of the same attitude, because those who had started work at the beginning of the day got excited. If these men who had only worked one hour received a denarius, then those who had labored all day in the sun should receive more, right? Unfortunately for them, “…each of them also received a denarius.” (v. 10b NRSVUE). Needless to say, there was grumbling in the ranks: “And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'” (vv.11-12 NRSVUE). The landowner should have immediately realized his mistake, right?
Well… Not this landowner. He stood by his word and he wouldn’t back down: “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (vv. 13b-15 NRSVUE).
Many sermons on this parable emphasize that everyone’s reward for following Christ is the same: salvation! This is a true and comforting message, but there is a problem: this isn’t the context of Jesus’ story! Just before this story, in Matthew 19, we see the disciples turning children away from Jesus, and Jesus’ response is this: “Let the children come to me…for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Matthew 19:14 NRSVUE). Immediately after, the rich young ruler walks away sorrowful when Jesus tells him to give away his wealth. Jesus then uses this incident to teach an important kingdom principle: “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” (Matthew 19:30 NRSVUE).
How do we know that Jesus’ Parable of the Vineyard Laborers is an extension of this same teaching? Besides, Jesus concludes this parable with the same words He used after the incident with the rich young ruler: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16 NRSVUE)!
In context, Jesus’ real reason for the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard is to teach us a vital truth: Our works cannot earn us a better place in Heaven! The work we do doesn’t necessarily equal the reward. If it did, we would serve for what we can gain instead of out of love! But God wants us to serve out of love for those around us, without expecting any particular reward! What’s important is the state of our hearts! Didn’t Jesus say in Matthew 18:4, “Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (NRSVUE)?
What does this mean for each one of us?
It means we must examine our hearts! Are we working for the Lord in order to earn a greater reward? Or are we working for the Lord out of love and humility? If it’s the former, we will be disappointed. But if it’s the latter, if we humble ourselves before the Lord and do His bidding because of our love for Him, then our reward will be, “so the last will be first…”
Please join us next Saturday as we continue to find hidden truths in the “Stories Jesus Told!”
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
(To access the entire “Stories Jesus Told” mini-series, please click here!)
