Read: “Matthew 20:1-16 ESV”
The parable of the workers in the vineyard illustrates the principle of God rewarding us not like humans. The landowner went to the market place which was the gathering place for the day laborers. A man who wanted to work came there first thing in the morning, carrying his tools, and waited until some hired him. These workers hired at the very beginning early in the morning at about 6:00H agreed to work for a denarius a day. This was a mutual agreement between the landowner and laborer.
As the landowner went out about the third hour, sixth hour, and the eleventh hour to the place where the laborers gathered. He was surprised that laborers were standing idle in the marketplace, so he decided to hire them to do the work in his vineyard. He promised them whatever is right they will receive it.
When it was already evening, it was time to pay the workers, the men hired last were paid first and paid in a full day of work even who only work for an hour. The laborers who work all day saw the men who worked for only an hour come away from the pay-table with a full day wage but when they received their pay, they were disappointed. The landowner did exactly as promised to pay them a denarius a day (Matthew 20:2).
The laborers who worked all day complained to the landowner. They were offended because the landowner gave them who worked less equal to the laborers who worked all day under the heat. The landowner reminded them that he had been completely fair to them. He did no wrong and had no broken no promise. The landowner rebuked the laborers for their jealousy and bitterness because of his generosity. He claimed his right to do what he wanted with what was his.
The application of this parable is the principle of God’s reward. God may not reward as man expects. This parable speaks of the way that people come to God at different stages of their life. They come at the beginning of their life, in youth, in adulthood, in old age, or at the very end. For example, the beginning of their life - children who were born and raised in a Christian environment; in youth - children who encounter God in youth camps; in adulthood - work environment where there is a bible study; in old age - where there is a spouse who goes to church or at the very end - people who are sick or bedridden that is the only time they met God.
The last will be the first and the first last is the essence of God’s grace, when He rewards and blesses man according to His will and pleasure, not necessarily according to what men deserve. The system of God’s grace is foreign to us. God deals with us according to who He is, not according to who we are.
It is important that the landowner did not treat anyone unfairly, though he was more generous to some than to others. God is never unfair to us, though He may because of his own purpose and pleasure. It may seem that greater blessing on someone else who seems less deserving than us. The point is that not all have the same reward but all God’s children do go to the same heaven where the principle of grace is given. Remember He will never be less than fair but reserve to be more than fair as pleased Him. God’s grace always operates righteously. The grace of God does not give us more blessings than we deserve - it gives blessing to us completely apart from the principle of deserving.
Grace should be manifested in our service; it is of grace, not works. All our service is already due to God; it belongs to Him. And every opportunity to serve is a gift of His grace with the right state of the mind is a success to His Kingdom. What matters is, after all, whether we are first or last, we should not dwell too much on it but be honored that we have received his grace to serve in our life as His children.
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