Matthew 19:1-15; Mark 10:1-16; Luke 18:15-17;
Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30;
Matthew 20:1-16
Let’s think about the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. (Matthew 20:1-16) Most of us have little difficulty in identifying with those laborers hired at the beginning of the day, who complain of unfairness. We can envision these laborers bringing a class-action lawsuit against their employer for unfair labor practices. And given our current legal system, we might even imagine those laborers winning the case. Such is our sense of fairness.
But, of course, this story isn’t really about picking grapes (or whatever else one might do in a vineyard). It’s about the Kingdom, and God is the vineyard owner. Given the original audience, we can see this parable as directed (at least somewhat) at the Jewish people, with the Jews represented by those hired at the start of the day, and the Gentiles by those hired later, even at the eleventh hour. (That the Gentiles would be treated like the Jews would be shocking to Jesus’ audience.) Or, like the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), we can see this parable directed against the Pharisees (et al) with their notions of deserving greater reward than all those low-lifes. (Shocking again.) Or we can alternatively interpret the laborers as individual life-spans, some who come to Christ early in life, others in midlife, and still others late in life, even through “deathbed conversions”. Regardless, the point is the same: God surprises us with the last first and the first last.
But here’s the thing: Even when we know that the parable is about the Kingdom, and even when we know that God has every right to be as generous as He chooses to be, do we still sympathize with those early laborers and feel like they are getting gypped? If we do, what does that say about our own view of salvation? Yes, we may readily say that eternal life is a free gift (Romans 6:23), but do we nevertheless think that we are more deserving of that life than the murderer who turns to Christ the night before his lethal injection? (In that case, we do not really think the gift is free…) Or are we jealous of those who indulge in all sorts of sinful pleasures for years before repenting late in life, thinking that we are “missing out” on the fun? (In that case, our view of sin is radically different from God’s…) Do we consider following God to be drudgery, like bearing the burden of the day and the scorching heat? (Mt. 20:12 — In that case, we’re clearly missing the joy of the Lord here and now…)
So give this parable a few more minutes of thought and look within yourself to see where your sympathies lie. You might just be in for a revelation.
See also: