Matthew 20 - Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard and Jesus Defines True Greatness!

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The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

This is another one of the those parables that does not seem to make a lot of sense from a human standpoint. Human nature teaches us that each worker in the story should have been paid for the amount of hours they had worked. After all isn't that what the "human resources" department what tell us to do. 

The owner of the vineyard decided to pay each of the workers "one denarius", which was the daily rate for day laborers.  He paid them the same no matter when they started their shift. Some came early in the morning, some at 9am, some at noon, and some at 3pm. But when he finally got around to paying out the wages those who came work at 5pm got the same pay as the ones who were hired early in the morning. What gives? 

The bottom line is the owner paid each person what they had been promised, so they didn't have a reason to complain. They should have just been grateful they were hired and paid. Where they got in trouble is that they started comparing themselves with the other workers. They started thinking they should be paid relative to the others. This caused them resentment, but it was based on their own thinking and feelings. 

So what does this mean? Some of us come to receive God's gift of grace early on in our lives, some during mid-life, and others are converted on their death bed, like the thief on the cross. The thief said to Jesus, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." To which Jesus replied, "Today you will be with me in paradise." 

God the Father gives the same opportunity to every one regardless of the day or hour they come to faith. We should be grateful we have been given this great gift and also rejoice with others who accept this gift regardless of when they do so. 

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

Make no doubt about it, Jesus told the disciples no less than three times he would die and also how he would die at the hands of the religious leaders. We will see that though they may have heard it three times, they had a hard time believing it. They were in "denial". 

A Mother’s Request

Every mom thinks their son is the best and the brightest, and the mother of James and John was no different. 

 She “was a regular member of the disciple group who accompanied Jesus (Matthew 27:56), so her involvement in her sons’ ambitious ideas is hardly surprising.” (France)

The problem was that their mom did not know what Jesus would have to do to be seated at the right hand of the Father. They did not realize the way to the Father was the way of the cross. She was still under the impression that Jesus was bringing in an earthly kingdom, so she wanted her sons to be on top when he conquered the Romans. 

Finally, Jesus gives the true definition of greatness. "Whoever wants to be the greatest in God's kingdom must be servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many." 

My old pastor said we need to "descend into greatness". Jesus taught that greatness came while being on one's knees and washing your brother or sister's feet. 

Who or where is God calling on you to serve following his example? Does Jesus' definition of greatness challenge you? Where are you putting your effort into "being great"? 

Two Blind Men Receive Sight

Matthew concludes the chapter with Jesus healing two blind men who called out to him saying, "Lord, Son of David have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them, but they cried out the same thing again. Curiously Jesus asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" When they ask for healing, he has compassion on them and heals them. 

I love that Jesus says, "What do you want me to do for you?" If Jesus asked you this question, what would you say? What do you want Jesus to do for you? Have you told him yet?