Ελληνικό Site“The first shall be last…â€
The parable of Matthew 20 should be connected with the end of Chapter19 for it illustrates the point that rewards in heaven are disbursed as God wills, and not based on any human perception of fairness.
Matthew 20:1-16
- The householder, the lord of the vineyard, contracts for day laborers, early in the morning (v. 1-2).
- Later in the day, he hired more laborers, but the salary was not confirmed. In good faith, he offered a fair wage; and in good faith the additional laborers agreed to his terms as set about working the rest of the day. Some of them worked 3 hours less than the original crew; some worked 6 hours less; some worked 9 hours less; and some worked only 1 hour that day (v. 3-7).
- According to law, day wages were paid at the end of the workday. But the law did not dictate any order in which to pay the laborers. The owner decided to pay the most recently hired first, paying those who worked the longest last. He decided to pay everyone the same amount, a penny for the day (v. 9).
- Those hired earliest in the day, those who worked the most hours, being paid last saw that all the partial day laborers received equal payment, and they felt cheated (v. 11-12).
- The owner argues that they received everything they agreed to, and that he had not cheated them. Moreover he contends that as the landowner, he has every right to do what he will with his money and his business (v.13-15).
- This illustrates the principle that the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. Many are called, but few are chosen.
Meditation Points:
Does God use some men for only a brief period of time on earth? Are some of God’s workers signally blessed for only a brief service? Is God unfair to anyone?
Long life? Less useful? Yet every one of the elect shall be saved. And none dishonored.
Many are the workers in God’s kingdom. But few are the choice servants who receive special recognition and reward.
[print_link]
Matthew 20:1-16
1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny 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 unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.