ESOCS Devotional 28 January 2025 – Labourers in the Vineyard
MEMORY VERSE: ““When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner.” Matthew 20:11
TEXT: MATT. 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’
8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
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Unlike the parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-9; 18-23), Jesus does not give us an explicit interpretation. As a result, scholars have offered many interpretations. Because the people in the story are labourers and managers, some assume it is about work. In that case, it seems to say, “Don’t compare your pay to others” or “Don’t be dissatisfied if others get paid more or work less than you do in a similar job.”
Moreover, paying people the same regardless of how much work they do is a questionable business practice. Wouldn’t it give a strong incentive to all workers to show up at five o’clock in the afternoon the next day? And what about making everyone’s pay public? It does reduce the scope for interest. But is it a good idea to force those working longer hours to watch while those who worked only one hour are paid an identical wage? It seems calculated to cause labour strife. Pay for non-performance, to take the parable literally, doesn’t seem to be a recipe for business success.
The context is that Jesus is giving surprising examples of those who belong to God’s Kingdom: for example, children (Matt. 19:14) who legally don’t even own themselves. He is clear that the Kingdom does not belong to the rich, or at least not to very many of them (Matt. 19:23-26). It belongs to those who follow Him, in particular if they suffer loss. “Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first” (Matt. 19:30). The present parable is followed immediately by another ending with the same words, “… the first will be last, and the last will be first” (Matt. 20:16). This suggests that the story is a continuation of the discussion about those to whom the Kingdom belongs. Entry into God’s Kingdom is not gained by our work or action, but by the generosity of God.
God is the giver of all good. He is the giver of all grace, mercy, blessings, reward, forgiveness, eternal life, love for all that is good. He doesn’t owe us anything. We are the creature; He is the Creator. Yet, God in His grace has shown us unmerited favour. His love for us is unfair because we don’t deserve it. If you’ve experienced God’s grace, live in gratitude, celebration, and faithfulness. If you’ve not experienced God’s grace, He’s extending that unfair offer of grace to you today. He wants you to follow Him and His reward for you is beautiful and eternal.
CHALLENGES
- What is your usual reaction when God blesses or promotes others better than yourself?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord Jesus, may we never be so foolish to say to God that we want Him to give us what we deserve. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 40:1-end; Matthew 19:13-end
ESOCS Devotional 28 January 2025
