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 20:13-16
This parable deals with the mind of Christ concerning how He values you in relationship to others.
There was a landowner who owned a vineyard. He went out in the morning and found workers and agreed to pay them all the same amount of wages.
Later in the morning he found others who were idle in the marketplace and asked them to work for him for the same wages as the other workers.
He repeated this three more times during the day recruiting many new workers for the vineyard. They were all paid the same wages regardless of the hours worked.
All of the workers hired by the landowner were standing around doing nothing. When asked by the landowner why they were idle they replied because no one has hired us. The landlord was not pleased with their idleness and said go work in my vineyard.
At the end of the day, the landowner asked the foreman to pay the workers beginning with the last ones hired and ending with the first ones hired.
The workers who were hired first grumbled at the landowner complaining they had worked longer hours under a hot sun and should be paid more than those who worked fewer hours.
The landowner responded that he was not being unfair to them. They agreed to work for a specific wage and he paid them.
He went on to say I want to give to the last one hired the same as I have given to you. It is my money and I can do with it as I please.
Then he accused them of being envious of his generosity. He concluded by saying the last will be first.
There is a wealth of truth in this parable dealing with those who belong to Christ.
Christ is relentless to find more workers for the kingdom of God. He never is satisfied with the present and is always looking for new workers.
God detests those with an idle lifestyle and who lack the initiative to be a light for Christ.
The gift of salvation comes without partiality. God does not show favoritism.
The newest believer to the kingdom of heaven is entitled to the same privileges as all others. God does not discriminate between believers.
God controls all the treasures in heaven and gives to you as He pleases
You can’t compare yourself to other believers. God measures you individually and rewards you according to your diligence in seeking Him out.
There is no variation or shadow of turning in Christ. He never changes.
In concluding, the Holy Spirit used this simple proverbial metaphor in explaining this parable. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
In God’s eyes, one person should be treated the same way as another person is treated.
This is the will of Christ!
Hal Hollister Ministry 