Matthew 20 - Does God Pay Well?

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

Click Here to Read the Whole Chapter

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Jesus used parables to illustrate what the kingdom of God was like.  Meaning they were the principles in which God operates when his kingdom comes to earth as it is in heaven.  In this case, Jesus tells what is called "The Parable of the Vineyard", where a landowner sent out workers at various times of the day to work the land.  He went out to hire early in the morning (6 am), late morning (9 am), lunchtime (12 pm), last afternoon (3 pm), and even at the end of the day (5 pm). There was sure a lot of work to do. And yet some sat idly by, and we can only assume they didn't feel like working. For each person who did the work, the owner promised one denarius for their work, which was the common daily wage for a laborer.

But the problem came when the ones who were hired early got upset that those hired late in the day got paid the same as they did.  It seemed unfair to them, especially since they worked during the heat of the day.   

Here is what one commentator says about this, 

"It is important to see that the landowner did not treat anyone unfairly, though he was more generous to some than to others. We can be assured that God will never, ever be unfair to us, though He may – for His own purpose and pleasure – bestow greater blessing on someone else who seems less deserving."

So what do you think Jesus was getting at? What principle is he illustrating about the kingdom of God? I think it is all about grace.  Grace is getting what you don't deserve.  The early workers were jealous of the late workers because they seemed to get a free lunch, literally.  But the landowner, who represents God says, "Didn't I give you the same opportunity as I gave them?"  I did not have to hire you either, but I did so freely!  

Fast forward to the New Testament.  Jesus is on the cross and the thief rebukes the other thief for accusing Jesus and says, "We are getting what we deserve and this man deserved nothing."  Then he turns to Jesus and says, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom".  And Jesus says, "Today you will be with me in paradise!"  Someone might say, "What gives? I lived my whole life following Jesus and trying to live a good life, and this person repents at the last minute and he gets to go to heaven?"  I think it is a very similar analogy.  

Bottom line, we should be grateful that God offered us the free gift of eternal life, even when we did not deserve it.  Instead of being ungrateful that God gives the same free gift to others, we should rejoice that God loves to give grace to all who would receive it!