Let's Be Generous With Grace!

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

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.”

As you know Jesus taught the secrets of how God's kingdom works in parables.  He used everyday life situations to teach spiritual truths.  In today's parable a landowner hires day laborers at different times during the day based on their availability.  Apparently there was plenty of work, because every time the landowner went into the marketplace, where apparently such workers were hired, there were people waiting for work.  The first workers were hired very early during they day, presumably at sunrise.  Then, two more shifts were brought in at noon and three o clock.  Finally, at the end of the day, workers were hired for the last shift of the day.  So note they worked during the coolest part of the day, and also worked the least amount of hours.  

The tension builds when the landowner goes to pay the workers.  He calls the late crew in and pays them a denarius.  A denarious was what was paid for one day's work.  Roughly equivalent to 8 hours of work at minimum wage today.  The drama begins when the ones hired early in the morning came to receive their wages.  Of course, they were expecting much more than a denarius, but received the same wages as the late crew.  Understandly they grumbled about the landowner's compensation package.  Wouldn't you?  

When the early workers complain the landowner says, "Didn't I pay you what you agreed to work for.  Why are you worrying about what I chose to pay the others? Isn't that my perogative?"

This is a story about grace.  Grace is getting what you don't deserve.  The late workers deserved less wages than the ones who had been there all day in the heat of the day.  Yet they still got paid the same.  The story is a reference to salvation.  It could possibly represent the Jews who were the first to be called, whereas the Gentiles were called to Christ later.  The bottom line is when you receive a gift who are you to complain?  Some people are resentful about the thief on the cross who received salvation at the last hour.  They might say, "That's not fair the thief on the cross was a sinner his whole life and just because he repents on the cross, Jesus grants him paradise with him."  I imagine there will be people in heaven that we might think, "How did they get in?"  Maybe others will wonder, "How do you get in?'  

The amazing thing about grace is there is no logic to it.  It is based on love.  It is based on forgiveness.  It shows God's love is unconditional love, as he welcomes all who are willing to come to him and receive the gift He chose to give to all people, His Son Jesus Christ.  We often underestimate our own sin and overestimate others.  Let's be thankful for grace and extend it to others like Jesus did.  Let's be generous with grace!