Jesus tells the parable of the workers paid equally Matthew 20:1-16 Here is another illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven. The owner of an estate went out early one morning to hire workers for his harvest field. He agreed to pay them 20 a day and sent them out to work. A couple of hours later he was passing a hiring hall and saw some men standing around waiting for jobs, so he sent them also into his fields, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. At noon and again around three oclock in the afternoon he did the same thing. At five oclock that evening he was in town again and saw some more men standing around and asked them, Why havent you been working today? Because no one hired us, they replied. Then go on out and join the others in my fields, he told them. That evening he told the paymaster to call the men in and pay them, beginning with the last men first. When the men hired at five oclock were paid, each received $20. So when the men hired earlier came to get theirs, they assumed they would receive much more. But they, too, were paid $20. They protested, Those fellows worked only one hour, and yet youve paid them just as much as those of us who worked all day in the scorching heat. Friend, he answered one of them, I did you no wrong! Didnt you agree to work all day for $20? Take it and go. It is my desire to pay all the same; is it against the law to give away my money if I want to? Should you be angry because I am kind? And so it is that the last shall be first, and the first, last. Who Deserves It? This parable is not about rewards but about salvation. It is a strong teaching about grace, Gods generosity. We shouldnt begrudge those who turn to God in the last moments of life because, in reality, no one deserves eternal life. Many people we dont expect to see in the Kingdom will be there. The criminal who repented as he was dying (Luke 23:40-43) will be there along with people who have believed and served God for many years. Do you resent Gods gracious acceptance of the despised, the outcast, and the sinners who have turned to him for forgiveness? Are you ever jealous of what God has given to another person? Instead, focus on Gods gracious benefits to you, and be thankful for what you have. Jesus further clarified the membership rules of the Kingdom of Heaven—entrance is by Gods grace alone. In this parable, God is the landowner, and believers are the laborers.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:53:45 +0000
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