The Vineyard

A number of years ago, my dad painted a picture of men working in a vineyard. He told me that his inspiration had been Jesus’ parable of the vineyard workers. My parents currently have the painting sitting on their hearth, and during my recent visit with them, I found myself thinking again of the parable.

Jesus wanted his disciples to see the difference between this world and the kingdom of heaven, and the illustration that he used was a vineyard. He said that the owner of a vineyard went to the marketplace at the beginning of the day to find workers. The wage he offered was generous, one denarius, and the workers who he hired were more than happy to work for him.

As the day progressed, the owner went back to the marketplace and hired more workers. While the specific wage was not mentioned to the later groups, the landowner promised to pay “whatever is right.” (Matthew 20:4) Altogether, four groups of workers were hired, but the last group did not start working until the very end of the day.

When the time came for the wages to be paid, the first group of workers saw the last group being paid a denarius and were naturally thinking they would be paid more since they had worked the longest.  However, they began to grumble when they saw that they would all receive the same wage even though they were being paid exactly what they had agreed upon when they were hired. The landowner was forced to defend his actions even though he had dealt with them fairly. He said, “Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?” (Matthew 20:15)

Jesus then wrapped up the parable with a very pointed statement, “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16)

I have learned that nothing in the Bible is random. The writers, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were very specific in how they wove the stories together, and when I read a passage like this one, I like to look back at the preceding verses to see what might have prompted Jesus to teach this particular lesson. I found what I was looking for in Matthew 19:27: “Then Peter said to him, ‘We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?’”

Peter’s question comes on the heels of Jesus’ discussion with the rich young ruler. You may remember that he was the young man who asked Jesus what he needed to do to get eternal life. Jesus told him he needed to keep all the commandments, which the young man assured him that he had done since he was a boy. Jesus then told him to sell everything he had and give the money to the poor, “Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21).

Matthew tells us that on hearing this, the young man went away sad because he was not willing to give up his great wealth. Jesus then told the disciples:

“I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” (Matthew 19:23-24).

As we have discussed before, the common thought at this time was that great wealth equaled favor with God. Thus, for Jesus to say it was hard for the rich to get into heaven would have been interpreted by his disciples as “crazy talk.” That was not what society would have said was true, and the statement left them astonished and wondering, “Who then can be saved?” (19:25) Their minds could not comprehend Jesus’ logic, which is why Peter asked, “What will there be for us?” (Matthew 19:27)

In their defense, unlike the rich young man, this group of men had left everything to follow Jesus. They burned their plows and walked away from their former lives; however, now Jesus was making them nervous. They needed some reassurance, which he gave them. He assured the disciples that those who left everything for his name’s sake would be repaid a hundred times over. They would sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, and they would also receive eternal life (Matthew 19:28,29). However, Jesus also said, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (19:30) This should catch our attention that Jesus repeated this same statement at the conclusion of the parable.

The disciples would have what the rich young man was seeking – eternal life - but Jesus also knew what was lurking in their hearts. They were more concerned with what their reward and status would be in God’s kingdom than serving others. We know that James and John were always angling to be Jesus’ right-hand men when he came into his glory (Mark 10:37,38), and the entire group argued as to who was the greatest among them as they gathered for that last Passover meal (Luke 22:24).

What matters in heaven, though, is a person’s commitment to Jesus, and he knew they needed to understand what it meant to pick up their cross and follow him:

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” (Matthew 16:25-27)

Power and position are what the world desires, but followers of Jesus are called to live differently. We are to serve others just as he did: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

I have to admit, though, as you read the parable, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking the landowner mistreated the workers he hired first. Let’s face it, we would be incensed if we had worked the entire day picking grapes only to see the jokers hired at the last possible moment receive the same pay. I would be filing a complaint with the employment commission and demanding my rights! But look back at the story, they agreed to work the entire day for one denarius. Also, the landowner could pay whatever he chose as long as he cheated no one – it was his money.

What, then, was the real problem? Could it be that the early workers were envious that the landowner had been generous with everyone and not just them? The takeaway then for Peter and the other disciples was to stop arguing and worrying about what position and prestige they would have and simply trust in God’s goodness. Like the landowner in the parable, God would treat them fairly.

So, what about us? Is lurking in our souls the thought that we deserve more than others? Do we also think that we should be first? And are we ready to die to our selfish desires every day and follow Christ?

In his book, Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer wrote:

Of course, the great paradox of Christian spirituality is that it’s in dying that we live, it’s in losing our (false) self that we discover our (true) self, and it’s in giving up our desires that our deepest desires are finally sated.

Friends, peace is only found on the other side of obedience, and what Jesus wants us to understand is that not following him is what makes life hard. The world will tell you that all these other things will make you happy, but it’s a lie. True joy and contentment are found only in Christ; therefore, we need to be willing give up everything and follow him. We need to rejoice that eternal life is available for all who accept Christ as their Savior, even if that moment of salvation comes at the last hour. We should also be grateful that God does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he gives us mercy and grace.

I guess the old saying is true…. A picture does paint a thousand words.

ad gloriam Dei… For the glory of God!  Lisa

Discussion Questions

If you had been working in the vineyard that day, how would you have reacted when you saw that everyone was receiving the same pay?

Are there certain situations where you find it hard to apply Jesus’ teaching that the last will be first, and the first last?

How easy is it for you to surrender everything to Christ?