October 2023
The scene Jesus describes in the parable recorded in Matthew 20:1-16 is that of a farmer hiring day laborers throughout the day to work in his vineyard. For people not fortunate enough to own property or be regular workers for a property owner, finding employment was really difficult. The job market was very tough at Jesus time. Folks were desperate and would grab any work they could get. Someone who got hired and didn’t have to just stand around anxiously hoping for work was naturally grateful.
The farmer’s heart obviously went out to the many folks standing around without work. Every time he encountered a group of would-be-workers during the day, he had compassion on them and sent them to work the rest of the day in his vineyard. It became clear that he was concerned about more than just the work to be done in his vineyard. He generously desired to share with those in need.
The farmer’s generous nature showed itself at the end of the day. He paid each worker a day’s wage regardless of when they started. Some had worked all day, others just a while. And surprise, the workers who had been so grateful to have a day’s work at the beginning of the day were upset because the ones who hadn’t worked as long were paid the same amount as they were. They felt they were more deserving than the latecomers. They wanted separate treatment. They protested because they expected to get more than those who worked less time.
When one is down, one naturally looks for compassion, but as soon as one is partially back on his or her feet a different standard is often sought. There comes a desire to have things ranked and divided so that everyone has a clear idea of who is ahead of whom and who is more deserving. That became very important to these workers. It may not have been the money as much as the wish to be set off from those others who had come later. In order to feel more worthy, folks often look to discover others who seem less worthy and then point them out with scorn. Unfortunately, this desire to feel more worthy permeates most all of human society.
This craving for status and separate treatment is so intense that people who have been recipients of God’s mercy will actually turn around and point out others they don’t believe are as worthy of that same mercy. Jesus in His parable is showing how folks say to God, “Stop being so generous now that you have extended your mercy to me. By extending that mercy to others so indiscriminately you are violating the pecking order we have established among ourselves.” Of course, by definition, you can’t earn mercy. If you could earn it, it wouldn’t be mercy.
So, the argument of the day laborers, although it might be valid in a modern-day labor dispute, is irrelevant in a Christian context. We need always to remember that as we share the victory of Jesus with others, we are simply sharing something that has been so generously given to us.
Spreading, Serving and Sharing with You,
Pastor Carl