Matthew 20:1-16 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning..."

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 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.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I gave to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last'" (Mt. 20:1-16 NRSV).

Question:

 This is bothersome, and I experience guilt in thinking it seems unfair when God is fair in all of his dealings.

Comment:

It says so much about our human consciousness that we find this perhaps the most challenging of all Jesus' parables. Our sense of fair play is outraged, and we easily feel the indignation of those workers who toiled all day. There must be something more to the story – and indeed, there is.   Let's first put the parable into context. Jesus is teaching in Judea, beset by challenging questions from Pharisees and followers alike. Everyone wants to know what this kingdom of heaven he talks of will be like. A rich young man goes away grieving because Jesus tells him that his path to the kingdom is to sell his goods and give to the poor. His own disciples are equally uncertain about the kingdom; Peter challenges him directly: "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" (Mt. 19:27).   It's in response to these demands about who “deserves” the kingdom of heaven that Jesus tells this strong parable. What I think Jesus is saying, in essence, is that it isn't a question of “deserving.” No one truly deserves the kingdom. No one earns it according to who he is, or the work he does. The men in the parable all do one important thing: they accept the invitation of the landowner to labor in his vineyard. It's not the work that is rewarded; it's the choice to accept the invitation. (It's worth noting that the parable doesn't tell us that the men who were hired late in the day had refused to go to work earlier; they hadn't received the invitation before; as soon as they heard the invitation, they accepted it.)   Many people – then and now – believe that God maintains a kind of hierarchy. Those who are born into the right religion or class or family are entitled to more. Those who are religiously obedient for all their lives will be favored in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is saying that we have to leave those human concepts behind. When we once make the choice to enter into kingdom consciousness, our reward is full and complete. The Love of God is unconditional; none of the men is denied his share of the blessings, and none of the men receives more than another. All are rewarded for accepting the invitation. From a human perspective this may seem unfair; but it is very good news for those of us who have heard the "invitation to kingdom consciousness" rather late in life. There is no time in God; there is no hierarchy in the kingdom of heaven. There is only God's unconditional love, made available to all who accept the invitation.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed