“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

At first glance, this story about what seems like an injustice seems out of place, we might say. Jesus is facing the Cross, only a few days left.  What is he getting at?  Is this story about wages important?  It must be or Jesus would not have said, “The kingdom of heaven is like (this).”  Once again, he speaks and teaches about this new thing, the kingdom of heaven that he came to establish.

In this kingdom, or scenario, we hear the owner say, “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” 

First, if we discern the Lord’s word, his grace does not work like one might expect.  When we think of getting paid, it is for our work.  Grace is different. It is a free gift, based on one’s relationship with God.

We receive our reward without judging others.  I can see the disciples expecting something for their efforts.  They have given up three years of their lives to minister with Jesus.  It seems right that they should be paid for that.

Their thinking indicates that they believe that they should be rewarded for their work.  In the kingdom of heaven reward is in the hands of the One who is full of grace and is not pay for work we have done.

As I read this story I am confused – it seems so wrong to pay one person a dollar, so to speak, for day’s work and another a dollar for only one hour’s work.  Yet, that is exactly what this story wants to make clear.  In the kingdom of heaven each worker is loved by the king.  That love is for all, equally.

The truth of this comes out as Jesus establishes the kingdom of heaven.  Had I been a Jew at the time I would have reminded God that we Jews have labored for two thousand years.  Just read the Old Testament to see that. Is it fair that Gentiles who give their hearts to Jesus are just as beloved as the Jews?

I am not sure if Jesus had this in mind at all, but it is a major issue in his teaching about the kingdom of heaven.  All believers are rewarded, old ones and new ones, Jews or Gentiles, rich or poor.  I believe that is what Jesus is preparing his disciples to experience, which, of course, they did!