The workers of the vineyard

The workers of the vineyard

Scripture:-

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16

Observation:

In yet another amazing parable, the Lord gives us a picture of the landowner of a vineyard hiring workers at a denarius for the day. The workers are hired at different times, but each are promised the same pay and receive the same at the end of the day. Those who came first grumbled that the landowner had made them equal to those who worked only the last hour. However, the landowner reasoned with them that they had agreed to work for a denarius. Ultimately, it was the prerogative of the landowner to pay each worker whatever he wanted. It was his money, his call, nothing to do with them how he wished to use it.

Studying this parable, we can easily deduce that God is the landowner of the vineyard and the workers are those that He calls for His work. What is the meaning of the work and the pay? At first, there seems to be an allusion to working for salvation, which is contrary to the clear Scripture that salvation is only by grace, through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast. However, as James pointed out, faith without works is dead, so true faith will naturally result in good works.  

In a sense, comparing the Jews to the Gentile believers, the Jews are in a way like the workers who started work earlier since they had known God for so long while the Gentile believers are those who only just knew God. However, their reward is the same as the Jews. Both Jew and Gentile are given salvation purely on the same basis, which is through faith in Jesus Christ. A Jews should not be jealous of a Gentile who receives the same gift of salvation. It is God’s prerogative, based on His grace and mercy and generosity. In the same way, a Christian of many years should not despise another who received Christ at his deathbed. Each one should be content with whatever the Lord gives us. At times, new Christians may grow quickly and become more prominent than Christians of many years. Even then, we are not to cast an “evil eye” and be covetous of their success. Each one should look towards himself and serve God faithfully according to His calling and accept humbly whatever reward the Lord gives, which may not be according to what we may expect from a human way of thinking.

Application:-

Thank God for His call to us, that we may come and join Him in His work. Praise God for His amazing grace that extends salvation to all, regardless of when they receive Him. Pray to God that we may be content with what He gives us, not casting evil eyes on those appearing more successful than us. Ask the Lord for mercy and grace to be faithful and fulfill the calling He has given us.

Prayer:-

We praise You, Lord, for Your perfect grace, and Your generosity to all men. We thank You, Lord, that Your ways are higher than our ways, and Your thoughts than our thoughts. Forgive us Lord for the times we have been ungrateful, or looked with jealousy at the success of others. Let us be content with all You give us, and give us the grace to be faithful, and stedfast in fulfilling the calling You give us. In Jesus name, Amen.