My Walk Through the Book of Matthew by Annette Godtland

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)

1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4and said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. 5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day?' 7They said to him, "Because no one hired us.' He said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.'

8"So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, "Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.' 9And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12saying, "These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' 13But he answered one of them and said, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' 16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."

This is such a direct continuation of the previous verse that I'm surprised it is the start of a new chapter. In the previous verse, Jesus explained how no one is able to enter the kingdom of heaven of themselves, but with God all things are possible. And many who are first will be last and the last first. The more obvious point of this parable is that the reward in heaven will be the same for all those who enter, regardless how late in life they started to let God direct their lives. But there are several other interesting points in this parable.

Here Jesus goes on to explain how those who come to work in the vineyard, enter the kingdom of heaven, are gathered by the landowner, by God. No one is able to work in the vineyard without the landowner sending them there. We could not enter the kingdom of heaven, without God sending us there.

Is this saying that God looks for the idle to do his work? No, in this story Jesus made it clear that the landowner wasn't just looking for idle people, but the people who were wanting work. They were standing idle because no one had hired them yet. God puts to work those who are wanting to do His work.

It is such good news for me that the reward in heaven is the same for those who worked less. I know there are others who deserve it more than me. And it is so amazing that I will receive the same reward as them. But that still doesn't explain why He would purposely do it beginning with the last to the first. He would have known it could only cause problems. We all have experienced what it is like to wait in a line. But when someone who seems to have no good reason to do so cuts in at the front of the line, we get upset.

I remember when I was a confirmation mentor and we were discussing God's forgiveness. Someone asked me that if someone was a mass murderer and did so many evil things but then asked God for forgiveness would he be forgiven and have as much right to get into heaven as those who never would have done such evil things? They thought that was extremely unfair, that the mass murderer should still get some sort of punishment. Why should those who tried to be good all their lives be made equal to anyone who simply asked for forgiveness?

I think this initial attitude that was expressed by my confirmation students is exactly the reason God said the last shall be first and the first last. When He says the last shall be first He is not saying the last shall get a higher reward. Everyone gets the same reward. I think it is done to humble those who feel self righteous. The landowner asked the laborers "Is your eye evil because I am good?" Does the one who tried to do good all his life actually give himself too much credit for what he did? Can he accept the fact that his reward will be the same as those who seem less deserving, even though he is getting the exact reward he was promised? Or does he see this as a bad thing, seeing with an evil eye?

Yes, we are all supposed to try to do good all our lives. But our reasons for doing it is not for the reward, eternal life. Rather we should be doing it for the glory of God. Otherwise, we may end up feeling self righteous, superior to others. And none of us is righteous. Only God can make us so. And the reward we will receive is exactly what everyone is promised, eternal life, no more, no less.

I am surprised that this verse ends with "For many are called, but few chosen." I am not sure where to apply it to the rest of the story. Were the ones who labored in the vineyard the ones who were called or the ones who were chosen? Or are the many called the ones who the steward was to call for giving their wages with the last first and the first last? If so, then who are the chosen? The ones who didn't balk about the wages? For that matter, what does it mean to be called? Called to labor for the kingdom of heaven? Or simply called to be good?

I think everyone is called to God. God wants us all to come to Him. We are all given different tasks He wants us to do for Him. And when we step forward to do God's will, we must make sure we are doing it for His good and not for our reward. He will help us see our imperfect spirit as the last go first and the first last. For He will weed out the self righteous. Few are chosen.