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Scripture: Matthew 20.1-16 (NAB)
1"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' 5So they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. 6Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'7 They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'
8When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' 9When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage.10So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. 11And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner,12 saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.'13He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. 14Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? 15(Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' 16Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Comments
A neighbor was confused by the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard in the Gospel of Matthew. She told me it pictured God being unfair and that cannot be true. I reminded her that the story is a parable and not to be taken literally.
Now, I would respond differently to the neighbor. The parable does not depict the landowner acting unfairly. The story does the opposite. The unconventional fairness of the landowner is the irony Jesus uses to teach on how God works with human beings. Grace is ironic, for it does not fit our usual idea of fairness.
The divine economy of God, being based on grace, surprises and challenges us in its unconventionality. We live in a society that seeks to thrive economically by competition and merit. Generally, we assume a person should get only what she earns, and we speak of fair wages. In our economy grace seems impractical, maybe somewhat quirky.
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The parable teaches grace arises from the generosity of God, not the merit of persons. The landowner was not unfair to any of the workers, regardless of the hours of their workday. God chooses to give us each more than our merit warrants.
Paul, in Ephesians 1.7-8a, refers to the good news of this amazing grace. He informs us that grace is not only sufficient for salvation but abundantly poured out to us, for “in him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.”
The parable challenges us as much as it did those who first heard Jesus speak it. We are challenged to appreciate the unconventional nature of unconditional grace God offers to everyone. Thereby, the parable challenges us to cooperate together in the divine economy by approaching our relationships with that same grace of God. We, the Body of Christ, are to be means of the overflowing grace of God, lavishing kindness on all persons regardless of conventional views of merit or worthiness.
Suggested Meditation: Reflect on someone whom you struggle to express grace toward. Pray to God to help you to be gracious to that person, as God is gracious to you.
*Scriptures are from the New American Bible.
*OneLife writings are offered by Brian K. Wilcox, a United Methodist pastor serving in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He writes in the spirit of John Wesley's focus on the priority of inner experience of the Triune God; scriptural holiness; ongoing sanctification; the goal of Christian perfection (or, wholeness). Brian seeks to integrate the best of the contemplative teachings of Christianity East and West, from the patristic Church to the present. Brian lives a vowed contemplative life with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis, in North Florida. OneLife writings are for anyone seeking to live and share love, joy, and peace in the world and in devotion to God as she or he best understands God.
*Brian's book An Ache for Union, a book of poems on mystical union with God through love, can be ordered through major on-line booksellers.
The Grace of Christ be with All!
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