Last First, First Last

2. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 Today, we are beginning the 20^th chapter of Matthew.  Here is our text:Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny 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 unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Today lesson is a parable.   Parables are fictional stories that Jesus used to demonstrate kingdom principles.   This parable is not the only one that Jesus used to describe aspects of the kingdom but this one focuses on the mindset of people who labor in the kingdom.

Let’s now look at the story.   The man goes out early in the morning and hires laborers to work his vineyard.  The first set of laborers that he gets he negotiates with them for a penny a day which is the day’s wages for that time.  The workers agree to work for that amount and show no discontentment with the verbal contractual agreement. 

 The man goes out again at the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hour of the day which is probably about 9am, 12noon, 3pm, and 5pm and he finds some other workers.  In the case of these workers he does not negotiate a price with them he simply tells them to go into the vineyard and at the end of the day he will give them what is right.  The workers agree with no discussion of how much they will get.  They simply trust that the man will do the right thing by them.   

When the end of the day came and the man called his steward to pay the workers, he instructed him to pay the last people first and they were to all receive a penny even the ones that came at the eleventh hour or at the end of the day.   Now, the problem comes when the first workers come for their pay which had been hired early that morning and had agreed upon their pay.   When they saw the workers that started late (some who only worked an hour) get the penny that they were promised, they naturally assumed that their pay was going to be raised because they had been working since the start of the day.  To their surprise the steward gives them a penny also. They complain to the man who hired them and wanted to know why their pay was the same when they did more work. 

The man responds to the disgruntled workers that he did them no injustice.  He paid them according to what he had agreed.  He rebuked them for complaining about what he does with his money and tells them that he has the right to do whatever he wants with his money.   Then the man makes a profound comment.  He says: “Is thy eye evil because he is good?”  In other words, the man was saying because I chose to be kind to these men who were looking for work all day but could not find it and no one would hire them then your complaint is about my generosity and kindness.    Our agreement was for one penny and you have been paid what is agreed.   There was no injustice done.  

The parable ends by saying that the last shall be first and the first shall be last.  Many are called but few are chosen.  We know that in the kingdom that the call is made out for many but when we begin the work, it actually manifests what is really in our hearts and only few will be chosen from the call.  

 I read one commentator describe this as a finish line.  When  you run a race, some may have started at the beginning of the race and then others were put in at different times of the race and they all ended up crossing the finish line at the same time, thereby the last ones are the first ones to cross and the first ones are the last ones to cross.  They all technically crossed at the same time or got paid the same wages no matter at what point they began the race or the work.   

What I usually take away from this parable is the following:(1)   It doesn’t matter when you begin this journey, we will all be rewarded the same at the end of the day.  God does not punish us for beginning late in life with our acceptance of him nor does he reward us more because we started earlier in life.   (2)   It is totally up to God as to how he wants to bless and have mercy.  It has nothing to do with the quantity of work we have done.  Salvation is a gift from God and it is by his grace that we are saved.  (3)   We should not murmur and complain about how God blesses people.  We should be happy with whatever the Lord gives us especially if we were told what it would be in the beginning. There is no injustice with God.(4)   We should be grateful if we were one of the recipients who got blessed the same as someone else who we know has labored harder and longer than we have.   We should be humbled by the goodness of God.   

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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