Hours and Wages
Sermon
Preaching the Parables
In 1988 my Seminary class celebrated its fiftieth reunion. Twenty-four of the original class of thirty-one were still alive. One passed away twenty-eight years ago. Another entered heaven twenty-five years ago. One died fifteen years ago. Another died last year. Can those of us celebrating fifty years of ministry expect more reward than those who served only half of the time we did? Would it be fair if the deceased classmates got as much reward as we who kept working for fifty years?
This is the question the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard raises. One man works twelve hours. Others work nine, six, and three, and one hour. At the end of the day, the employer gives to each an equal amount of wages. Was the first man justified in being upset enough to grumble and protest his wages?
But, Jesus says in today's parable that this is the kind of economics that prevails in the Kingdom of God. Every laborer for God gets the same pay regardless of the time, effort, and quality of work performed. How can preachers make this sound like good sense to a people who are convinced that people should be paid according to the quantity of hours and quality of work produced? That is our challenge and opportunity in preaching on this parable.
Context
Context of Matthew
The parable of the laborers in the vineyard is related to passages preceding and following the parable. It is a part of the general discussion of the place and rewards of those in the Kingdom.
1. Children belong to the Kingdom of Heaven - 19:13-15.
2. A rich youth refuses to give up his wealth to enter the Kingdom - 19:16-22.
3. Peter reminds Jesus that he and the other Disciples gave up everything to be disciples. But, he asks, "What then shall we have?" In answer, Jesus says they will receive a hundredfold and eternal life - 19:23-30.
4. To explain this reward, Jesus tells the disciples the parable of the laborers that they might know that the reward is the same for any and all workers regardless of the length or quality of their labor. One disciple will get no more than any other - 20:1-16.
5. The desire for rewards is later expressed when the mother of James and John asks Jesus to give her sons the two top positions in the Kingdom - 20:20-28.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Exodus 32:1-14) Moses pleads for the people who forsook the worship of Yahweh for a golden calf.
The series of fifteen lessons on the life and work of Moses continues. Moses returns to his people with the Decalogue and finds them worshiping a golden calf. In his wrath Yahweh is determined to obliterate the people, but his wrath is turned away by Moses' intercessory prayer which may be found in Deuteronomy 9:26-29.
The Second Lesson. (Philippians 1:21-27) For Paul life is Christ, and death is gain.
Today we begin a series of four selections from Philippians. Paul is contemplating death in an Ephesian prison. He is torn between living and dying. Since death for him is being with Christ, he would rather die. However, he knows that his continued existence on earth is better for his people who are to live lives worthy of the Gospel.
Gospel. (Matthew 20:1-16) The parable of the laborers in the vineyard.
Psalm. (Psalm 106:7-8, 19-23) The rebellious Israelites were saved by Moses' prayer of intercession. The Psalm harmonizes with Lesson 1.
Prayer of the Day. In keeping with today's parable, we pray to the Lord who called us to work in his vineyard and ask that he would set us to our tasks.
Hymn of the Day. "Salvation Unto Us has Come"
Salvation has come to us by God's grace and not by our good works. The hymn harmonizes with the generosity of God described in the parable.
Context of Related Scriptures
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 - Laborers are to be paid at the end of the day.
1 Samuel 30:21-25 - Both fighters and baggage tenders share alike in David's spoil.
Matthew 21:31 - "Tax collectors and harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you."
Luke 6:36 - "Your Father is merciful."
Luke 13:22-30 - Workers of iniquity will be thrown out of the Kingdom.
Acts 2:44-47 - The apostolic church had all things in common.
Matthew 5:12 - A great reward for persecution.
Philippians 1:15-18 - Preaching Christ from unworthy motives.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 - Paul's coming reward in heaven.
Content
Content of the Pericope
1. Origin. Only Matthew records the parable of the vineyard workers. Verse 16 ("The last will be first, and the first last"), according to most New Testament scholars, was not in the original parable. It is taken from Matthew 19:30 and Mark 10:31. The verse is not related to the central theme of the parable except possibly the last to be hired were the first to be paid, and the first hired were the last to be paid.
2. To whom addressed. The determination of the central message of the parable is influenced by the people addressed: the Disciples or the people. If the people were addressed, the parable applies to the scribes and Pharisees who have been in God's vineyard from the first hour. They complain that the publicans and sinners, with whom Jesus is friendly, get an equal wage for coming into the Kingdom at the last hour. According to this view, Jesus told the parable to defend his concept of God as a merciful and generous God to all people.
However, if the parable is addressed to the Disciples, the message is for those in the Kingdom to assure them of equal rewards. This seems to be the correct interpretation as given in 19:23 - "And Jesus said to his Disciples." The parable would be related to Peter's question, "What then shall we have?" (19:27) It emphasizes that each disciple will "receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life." (19:29) In the language of the parable, each disciple, regardless of time worked, will receive a "denarius, a full wage." (20:2) The parable, then, is addressed to those who "grumbled" (v. 11) about not getting enough pay for work performed. The first disciples to follow Christ will get no more than the last. First-comers and lastcomers get equal rewards.
Precis of the Parable
God's kingdom is like this. At six o'clock one morning a farmer goes out to hire some laborers for his vineyard. He and the laborers agreed on the pay, a silver coin worth a full day's labor. At nine o'clock he again goes to the marketplace and sees some men who are idle. He hires them and promises them a fair wage. Again at twelve and at three, he does the same. At five o'clock he goes once more to the marketplace and finds some not employed. He asks them, "Why are you standing here idle?" They explain, "Because no one hired us." Then he sends them into the vineyard. At the end of the day the farmer asks his manager to call the workers and to pay them beginning with the last ones hired. The last hired received a silver coin for one hour's work. When the first-hired see this, they think they should receive more. They complain to the employer, "The men hired last got the same as we who worked a whole day in the hot sun." The owner replies, "Listen, friend, I did not cheat you. You agreed to work for a silver coin. So, take your wages and go home. I want to pay the last man as much as I paid you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Because of my generosity, are you jealous of the other workers?" So Jesus concluded, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first."
Thesis: Because of God's grace, workers in God's Kingdom receive equal rewards.
Theme: God is good to all!
Key Words in the Parable
1. "Early." (v. 1) The timing is different in the parable from our counting hours. "Early" referred to the first hour of the workday - six a.m. The third hour was nine a.m., sixth was twelve noon, ninth was three p.m., and the eleventh hour came at five p.m. The close of the day was six p.m. In Jesus' day the workday was twelve hours unlike our eight hour day. Thus, the eleventh-hour workers put in only one hour.
2. "Vineyard." (v. 1) In the Bible the "vineyard" was Israel, God's chosen people. Jesus referred to himself as the vine. Today the vineyard is the Kingdom of God or the church. The laborers are working for the Lord and not for the world. This fact helps us to understand that the parable is not a lesson on modern labor relations nor on secular economics, nor on wages and hours. The parable is not applicable to today's world of labor and management. Accordingly, the parable does not deal with merit earned by works. God does not call for disciplined labor. It does not teach the reality of judgment. The parable is not saying that all workers should receive the same pay regardless of hours worked, nor that a workday should consist of twelve hours. The parable deals with workers' rewards for work in God's kingdom.
3. "Denarius." (v. 2) A denarius was a silver coin worth a day's labor. It was the normal day's wage for a full day's work. The owner was not out for cheap labor. The employer in the parable was an honorable person.
4. "Idle." (v. 3) The farmer-employer finds men idle. These men are day-laborers who wait for someone to hire them for the day and who expect to be paid at the end of the day. The farmer's need for workers to harvest grapes was apparently urgent, for repeatedly he went seeking additional workers even to an hour before quitting time. This reminds us that in God's vineyard the laborers are few but the harvest is plentiful. No one should be idle in God's kingdom because there is so much to be done and so little time in which to do it. Why are an average of sixty percent of church workers doing nothing to extend and build up God's kingdom? God asks, "Why are you idle?" When there is a world to be won for Christ and the Kingdom is to be brought on earth?
5. "Grumbled." (v. 11) The men who worked twelve hours and received the same pay as those who worked one hour bitterly complained. And they were justified in doing so! It was most unfair and unjust. But, we need to remember the parable is not about the world's wages but about the divine rewards for workers in the Kingdom. God does not use the same methods of payment as does the world. Christians have no reason to grumble but have every reason to be grateful for God's equal reward.
6. "Give." (v. 14) The employer told the first-hour men that he gave to those who worked less hours than they. It is an appropriate word. The twelve-hour men earned their silver piece. The others did not. The farmer went beyond the amount earned and supplemented it with a gift. The silver piece was not given for merit but out of grace.
7. "Generosity." (v. 15) Out of loving concern for the workers who did not fully earn the silver piece, the employer gives them a full day's wage. This generosity apparently aroused jealousy on the part of the twelve-hour men. God is so good, kind, merciful, and generous that he gives us more than we deserve. The parable is a witness to the abundant grace God has for everyone regardless of the time and quality of work rendered.
Contemplation
Insights
1. Work without wages. Slaves work without wages. Christians, according to Paul, are slaves of Christ. Christians work for God, not for wages. We cannot really and truly love because we are paid to do so. Church workers are not paid to preach and teach the Word. No amount of money could make a person tolerate some people and conditions in church work. Professional workers, indeed, receive salaries, but the money received is for living expenses. Otherwise, they would have to support themselves with secular employment. The church wants servants to give their full time to church work and therefore gives them salaries for them to meet their expenses. Sometimes churches take advantage of this fact and keep their workers at poverty level.
2. Service is the reward. If a Christian does not get wages for working in the Kingdom of God, he/she gets something better - a reward. The reward is the privilege of serving God. When we love someone, when we admire someone, when we are grateful for a gift or blessing, we want to do something good for that person. Do you remember when you were a child how honored you felt when your school teacher asked you to do something for her/him? When you fell in love, were you not thrilled to do or give something that pleased the one you loved? Because of our love for Christ, we count it all joy to further his cause, even to suffer for him. Service is its own reward. It brings joy and self-satisfaction that you were able to do some good. It is a reward to know you are doing God's will. It is a joy to know that in serving the needy you are at the same time serving Christ. Therefore, the person who begins work for God on the first hour of the day gets far more reward than the one who started to work on the eleventh hour. That is the point of today's parable.
3. A generous God. "God is great and God is good." A little child prays this before meals. We can also say, "God is generous and God is good." The parable of the laborers points to the kind of God we have in Christ. He is so good that he is concerned about men who are out of work, so concerned that he goes out to them and asks them to come to work. Normally the unemployed go to an employer to ask for a job. God is so good that he is concerned about the workers who work only a few hours. He knows that their pay will not be enough to provide for their families. Because he is so good, he is generous. He pays the full wage regardless how short a time the men worked. This extra pay was a gift to the needy. With God we always receive more than we deserve.
4. Full employment. God just can't stand for people to be idle! In the parable, the employer-farmer asks, "Why do you stand here idle?" Unemployment is a curse. Idleness is the "devil's workshop," the seedbed of crime. No work means no income to provide the necessities of life. Poverty is a resultant curse of no work. It deprives a person of personal worth and integrity. In God's Kingdom there should be no idleness. There is plenty of work to be done: souls saved, wrongs righted, people helped, the Gospel spread, and peace on earth. Yet, tragically a minority of church members do any work for the church other than attendance and contributions. Workers are needed to build a social order akin to God's kingdom.
5. Why work for God? The parable deals with motives in working for God. Whether our work deserves pay or reward depends on our motive for doing the work. In the parable the first-hour workers were angry over their pay. They were so angry that they protested and "grumbled." (v. 1) This showed a bad spirit and revealed that they worked only for money, not to serve. Also, they showed a poor spirit because the employer had to accuse them of jealousy. (v. 15 GNB) They resented that others got the same pay for doing less. It reminds one of Peter's asking Jesus what John was expected to do. Jesus put him in his place by saying, "What is that to you? Follow me." (John 21:20-22) For Christians the noblest motive for serving is love. Then it does not matter how long we have worked or whether there is any pay.
Homily Hints
1. Something Better than Pay. (20:1-15) Sometimes people feel that it is unjust for a dying repentant person, like the thief on the cross, to get the same reward, "Today you shall be with me in paradise," as one who was a Christian since infanthood. It is the same attitude held by first-hour workers in the parable toward the eleventh-hour workers. Truly, the first-hour workers were far more rewarded than the eleventh-hour workers because they had twelve times as much joy in working. Christians get something better than pay for their work in God's kingdom -
A. The privilege of serving God.
B. The joy of serving God.
C. The honor of fellowship with God.
2. Why Work for God? (20:1-15) The parable raises the question of motives for serving God in both the church and the world. In the parable there are a wrong and a right reason for serving God -
A. Wrong motive - contract (v. 2) - "agreeing for a denarius."
B. Right motive - trust (v. 4) - "Whatever is right I will give you."
3. Our Divine Employer. (20:1-15) The focus is upon the employer in the parable. He represents God who calls us to work in his vineyard, the Kingdom. What kind of an employer is he? Is he all he should be? Like the first-hour workers, should we grumble?
A. He is a God of justice - vv. 13-15.
He is honest, truthful, dependable, keeps his promises.
B. He is a God of love - vv. 9, 15.
He is generous, gives more than is deserved.
4. Three Kinds of Church Members. (20:1-15) In every church there are various kinds of members. Often they are classified as active or inactive, or as attending, communing, or contributing. The parable points to three types -
A. Charter members - vv. 1-2.
B. Contract members - v. 4.
C. Contented members - vv. 10, 14.
5. In God's Employment. (20:1-15) The parable gives us facts about working in God's kingdom -
A. Every one has a job - v. 7.
B. Never too late to get a job - v. 6.
C. The pay is equal - v. 9.
D. The pay is undeserved - vv. 14-15.
6. More than We Deserve. (20:1-15) The men who worked less than twelve hours did not deserve the silver coin, for they did not put in the full time. Likewise, we do not deserve God's generosity because we are not doing all for him that we should. This should make us -
A. Thankful for his blessings.
B. Humble in the realization of his goodness.
C. Eager to serve him.
7. Does God Have Rights? (20:1-15) The employer, speaking for God, asks, "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?" (v. 15) In our day we emphasize human or civil rights. Are there not also divine rights? In the parable we see that God has his rights -
A. The right to keep his promises - v. 13.
B. The right to do what he chooses - v. 14.
C. The right to be generous - v. 15.
Contact
Points of Contact
1. A worker deserves wages. The first-hour workers in the parable expected to be paid for a day's work. When others were paid the same as they for less hours, they protested that they were being unjustly treated. It is natural for all of us to expect pay or reward for work performed. "The labor is worthy of his hire." A person has a right to expect an honest wage for an honest day's work. This is the bone of contention in the parable, and most people in the pews would agree with the protesting workers. Jesus uses this case to teach that it is not that way when working in the Kingdom of God. The reward is the same for all regardless of time on the job.
2. Charter members. Charter members are those people who have organized a congregation. They were the first members who began their work, like the first men in the parable, at six a.m. and have continued until this day. They have attended the services faithfully, served in various capacities, struggled through hard times, financially supported the church, and led in the building program. Because of all these years, their faithfulness and sacrifices, charter members may think they deserve special honor, attention, and respect. Some may resent new members occupying their pews and being elected to top positions of leadership. Some do not like it. Others resent it. They object to every proposed change. They want their church to remain small. Charter members may complain about the injustice of deathbed converts receiving the same reward to entering paradise when they have served faithfully and worked hard for many years. Today's parable speaks to these people.
3. Jealousy. Members of a church may have the same failing as the worker who worked twelve hours. When others, who had worked only one hour, received the same pay, he was jealous of them. They received more than he. In every church there is the possibility that some will be jealous of other workers. Perhaps someone received more commendation, or received an award for a job well done. The jealous person may think, "I have done more or better than he/she did." Aware of this possibility a pastor is usually afraid of not mentioning a name in the list of those who deserve to be thanked. Woe to that pastor who inadvertently leaves out a name!
Points to Ponder
1. Saved by merit? It is a common feeling among church people that there is merit for rendering Christian service. They feel that attending worship services, contributing to the budget, teaching a class, baking a casserole, and so on should count for something to get into heaven. However, there is no question of merit in the parable. A person is paid not according to the amount of work but according to the generosity of God in giving to those who do not deserve it. It is hard for some to understand that the reward of a Christian is in being a member of God's family and doing his work whether the person comes early or late.
2. The Gospel of generosity. Since Christian preachers are called to preach the Gospel in every sermon, we ask, "Where is the Gospel in this parable?" In a strict sense the parable does not preach Christ nor focus on the cross. Nevertheless, we can see the Gospel in the generosity of the farmer-employer. His love and mercy went out to the idle men who needed work to make a living. Throughout the day he seeks laborers for his vineyard even to the last hour. When he realizes that the wage would be too small for those who worked part-time, he gives them a full day's wage. God, like this employer, is a concerned and compassionate God who gives what we do not earn nor merit. In keeping with this truth, we can easily see that his greatest gift to us is the mercy of forgiveness secured for us on the cross.
Illustrative Materials
1. Work for God. One time someone asked a cobbler what his business was. Without hesitation he replied, "My business is to serve God, and I make and mend shoes to pay expenses while so doing."
2. Jealousy. Oscar Wilde told the story of a hermit who was so holy that the evil spirits sent to tempt him were discouraged. Satan himself decided to take over. With scorn on his lips he said to the evil spirits, "Your methods are crude. Permit me one moment." Then he came to the hermit and opened up the conversation: "Have you heard the good news? Your brother has been made bishop of Alexandria?" It was too much for the holy man. Jealousy swept over him like a mighty flood.
3. Saved By Work? A common laborer was once asked whether he thought he had reason enough to get into heaven. He paused and looked down at his spade with its blade polished and sharpened with constant work until it looked like stainless steel. "I think," he said, "I'll just show Saint Peter my spade."
4. Service is the Reward. Ann Landers has the largest reading audience in the world. Daily she gives advice to people burdened with grief and trouble. In one of her columns she said, "There is no greater satisfaction than to serve, and I will continue to do my best."
For thirty years Karl Haas in his weekday radio broadcasts, Adventures in Good Music, has guided millions through the world of classical music. What does he get out of it? "I'm having fun doing what I'm doing and whoever is affected, fine."
5. God's Reward. One time Thomas Acquinas had a dream and heard God say to him, "Thomas, you have written much and well concerning me. What reward shall I give you for your work?" Thomas replied, "Nothing but yourself, Lord."
6. Reward of Doing God's Will. A prayer of Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order: "Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will."
7. Service without Price. "I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds: yet I willingly cure him for the love of God."
- Mother Teresa
This is the question the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard raises. One man works twelve hours. Others work nine, six, and three, and one hour. At the end of the day, the employer gives to each an equal amount of wages. Was the first man justified in being upset enough to grumble and protest his wages?
But, Jesus says in today's parable that this is the kind of economics that prevails in the Kingdom of God. Every laborer for God gets the same pay regardless of the time, effort, and quality of work performed. How can preachers make this sound like good sense to a people who are convinced that people should be paid according to the quantity of hours and quality of work produced? That is our challenge and opportunity in preaching on this parable.
Context
Context of Matthew
The parable of the laborers in the vineyard is related to passages preceding and following the parable. It is a part of the general discussion of the place and rewards of those in the Kingdom.
1. Children belong to the Kingdom of Heaven - 19:13-15.
2. A rich youth refuses to give up his wealth to enter the Kingdom - 19:16-22.
3. Peter reminds Jesus that he and the other Disciples gave up everything to be disciples. But, he asks, "What then shall we have?" In answer, Jesus says they will receive a hundredfold and eternal life - 19:23-30.
4. To explain this reward, Jesus tells the disciples the parable of the laborers that they might know that the reward is the same for any and all workers regardless of the length or quality of their labor. One disciple will get no more than any other - 20:1-16.
5. The desire for rewards is later expressed when the mother of James and John asks Jesus to give her sons the two top positions in the Kingdom - 20:20-28.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Exodus 32:1-14) Moses pleads for the people who forsook the worship of Yahweh for a golden calf.
The series of fifteen lessons on the life and work of Moses continues. Moses returns to his people with the Decalogue and finds them worshiping a golden calf. In his wrath Yahweh is determined to obliterate the people, but his wrath is turned away by Moses' intercessory prayer which may be found in Deuteronomy 9:26-29.
The Second Lesson. (Philippians 1:21-27) For Paul life is Christ, and death is gain.
Today we begin a series of four selections from Philippians. Paul is contemplating death in an Ephesian prison. He is torn between living and dying. Since death for him is being with Christ, he would rather die. However, he knows that his continued existence on earth is better for his people who are to live lives worthy of the Gospel.
Gospel. (Matthew 20:1-16) The parable of the laborers in the vineyard.
Psalm. (Psalm 106:7-8, 19-23) The rebellious Israelites were saved by Moses' prayer of intercession. The Psalm harmonizes with Lesson 1.
Prayer of the Day. In keeping with today's parable, we pray to the Lord who called us to work in his vineyard and ask that he would set us to our tasks.
Hymn of the Day. "Salvation Unto Us has Come"
Salvation has come to us by God's grace and not by our good works. The hymn harmonizes with the generosity of God described in the parable.
Context of Related Scriptures
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 - Laborers are to be paid at the end of the day.
1 Samuel 30:21-25 - Both fighters and baggage tenders share alike in David's spoil.
Matthew 21:31 - "Tax collectors and harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you."
Luke 6:36 - "Your Father is merciful."
Luke 13:22-30 - Workers of iniquity will be thrown out of the Kingdom.
Acts 2:44-47 - The apostolic church had all things in common.
Matthew 5:12 - A great reward for persecution.
Philippians 1:15-18 - Preaching Christ from unworthy motives.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 - Paul's coming reward in heaven.
Content
Content of the Pericope
1. Origin. Only Matthew records the parable of the vineyard workers. Verse 16 ("The last will be first, and the first last"), according to most New Testament scholars, was not in the original parable. It is taken from Matthew 19:30 and Mark 10:31. The verse is not related to the central theme of the parable except possibly the last to be hired were the first to be paid, and the first hired were the last to be paid.
2. To whom addressed. The determination of the central message of the parable is influenced by the people addressed: the Disciples or the people. If the people were addressed, the parable applies to the scribes and Pharisees who have been in God's vineyard from the first hour. They complain that the publicans and sinners, with whom Jesus is friendly, get an equal wage for coming into the Kingdom at the last hour. According to this view, Jesus told the parable to defend his concept of God as a merciful and generous God to all people.
However, if the parable is addressed to the Disciples, the message is for those in the Kingdom to assure them of equal rewards. This seems to be the correct interpretation as given in 19:23 - "And Jesus said to his Disciples." The parable would be related to Peter's question, "What then shall we have?" (19:27) It emphasizes that each disciple will "receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life." (19:29) In the language of the parable, each disciple, regardless of time worked, will receive a "denarius, a full wage." (20:2) The parable, then, is addressed to those who "grumbled" (v. 11) about not getting enough pay for work performed. The first disciples to follow Christ will get no more than the last. First-comers and lastcomers get equal rewards.
Precis of the Parable
God's kingdom is like this. At six o'clock one morning a farmer goes out to hire some laborers for his vineyard. He and the laborers agreed on the pay, a silver coin worth a full day's labor. At nine o'clock he again goes to the marketplace and sees some men who are idle. He hires them and promises them a fair wage. Again at twelve and at three, he does the same. At five o'clock he goes once more to the marketplace and finds some not employed. He asks them, "Why are you standing here idle?" They explain, "Because no one hired us." Then he sends them into the vineyard. At the end of the day the farmer asks his manager to call the workers and to pay them beginning with the last ones hired. The last hired received a silver coin for one hour's work. When the first-hired see this, they think they should receive more. They complain to the employer, "The men hired last got the same as we who worked a whole day in the hot sun." The owner replies, "Listen, friend, I did not cheat you. You agreed to work for a silver coin. So, take your wages and go home. I want to pay the last man as much as I paid you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Because of my generosity, are you jealous of the other workers?" So Jesus concluded, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first."
Thesis: Because of God's grace, workers in God's Kingdom receive equal rewards.
Theme: God is good to all!
Key Words in the Parable
1. "Early." (v. 1) The timing is different in the parable from our counting hours. "Early" referred to the first hour of the workday - six a.m. The third hour was nine a.m., sixth was twelve noon, ninth was three p.m., and the eleventh hour came at five p.m. The close of the day was six p.m. In Jesus' day the workday was twelve hours unlike our eight hour day. Thus, the eleventh-hour workers put in only one hour.
2. "Vineyard." (v. 1) In the Bible the "vineyard" was Israel, God's chosen people. Jesus referred to himself as the vine. Today the vineyard is the Kingdom of God or the church. The laborers are working for the Lord and not for the world. This fact helps us to understand that the parable is not a lesson on modern labor relations nor on secular economics, nor on wages and hours. The parable is not applicable to today's world of labor and management. Accordingly, the parable does not deal with merit earned by works. God does not call for disciplined labor. It does not teach the reality of judgment. The parable is not saying that all workers should receive the same pay regardless of hours worked, nor that a workday should consist of twelve hours. The parable deals with workers' rewards for work in God's kingdom.
3. "Denarius." (v. 2) A denarius was a silver coin worth a day's labor. It was the normal day's wage for a full day's work. The owner was not out for cheap labor. The employer in the parable was an honorable person.
4. "Idle." (v. 3) The farmer-employer finds men idle. These men are day-laborers who wait for someone to hire them for the day and who expect to be paid at the end of the day. The farmer's need for workers to harvest grapes was apparently urgent, for repeatedly he went seeking additional workers even to an hour before quitting time. This reminds us that in God's vineyard the laborers are few but the harvest is plentiful. No one should be idle in God's kingdom because there is so much to be done and so little time in which to do it. Why are an average of sixty percent of church workers doing nothing to extend and build up God's kingdom? God asks, "Why are you idle?" When there is a world to be won for Christ and the Kingdom is to be brought on earth?
5. "Grumbled." (v. 11) The men who worked twelve hours and received the same pay as those who worked one hour bitterly complained. And they were justified in doing so! It was most unfair and unjust. But, we need to remember the parable is not about the world's wages but about the divine rewards for workers in the Kingdom. God does not use the same methods of payment as does the world. Christians have no reason to grumble but have every reason to be grateful for God's equal reward.
6. "Give." (v. 14) The employer told the first-hour men that he gave to those who worked less hours than they. It is an appropriate word. The twelve-hour men earned their silver piece. The others did not. The farmer went beyond the amount earned and supplemented it with a gift. The silver piece was not given for merit but out of grace.
7. "Generosity." (v. 15) Out of loving concern for the workers who did not fully earn the silver piece, the employer gives them a full day's wage. This generosity apparently aroused jealousy on the part of the twelve-hour men. God is so good, kind, merciful, and generous that he gives us more than we deserve. The parable is a witness to the abundant grace God has for everyone regardless of the time and quality of work rendered.
Contemplation
Insights
1. Work without wages. Slaves work without wages. Christians, according to Paul, are slaves of Christ. Christians work for God, not for wages. We cannot really and truly love because we are paid to do so. Church workers are not paid to preach and teach the Word. No amount of money could make a person tolerate some people and conditions in church work. Professional workers, indeed, receive salaries, but the money received is for living expenses. Otherwise, they would have to support themselves with secular employment. The church wants servants to give their full time to church work and therefore gives them salaries for them to meet their expenses. Sometimes churches take advantage of this fact and keep their workers at poverty level.
2. Service is the reward. If a Christian does not get wages for working in the Kingdom of God, he/she gets something better - a reward. The reward is the privilege of serving God. When we love someone, when we admire someone, when we are grateful for a gift or blessing, we want to do something good for that person. Do you remember when you were a child how honored you felt when your school teacher asked you to do something for her/him? When you fell in love, were you not thrilled to do or give something that pleased the one you loved? Because of our love for Christ, we count it all joy to further his cause, even to suffer for him. Service is its own reward. It brings joy and self-satisfaction that you were able to do some good. It is a reward to know you are doing God's will. It is a joy to know that in serving the needy you are at the same time serving Christ. Therefore, the person who begins work for God on the first hour of the day gets far more reward than the one who started to work on the eleventh hour. That is the point of today's parable.
3. A generous God. "God is great and God is good." A little child prays this before meals. We can also say, "God is generous and God is good." The parable of the laborers points to the kind of God we have in Christ. He is so good that he is concerned about men who are out of work, so concerned that he goes out to them and asks them to come to work. Normally the unemployed go to an employer to ask for a job. God is so good that he is concerned about the workers who work only a few hours. He knows that their pay will not be enough to provide for their families. Because he is so good, he is generous. He pays the full wage regardless how short a time the men worked. This extra pay was a gift to the needy. With God we always receive more than we deserve.
4. Full employment. God just can't stand for people to be idle! In the parable, the employer-farmer asks, "Why do you stand here idle?" Unemployment is a curse. Idleness is the "devil's workshop," the seedbed of crime. No work means no income to provide the necessities of life. Poverty is a resultant curse of no work. It deprives a person of personal worth and integrity. In God's Kingdom there should be no idleness. There is plenty of work to be done: souls saved, wrongs righted, people helped, the Gospel spread, and peace on earth. Yet, tragically a minority of church members do any work for the church other than attendance and contributions. Workers are needed to build a social order akin to God's kingdom.
5. Why work for God? The parable deals with motives in working for God. Whether our work deserves pay or reward depends on our motive for doing the work. In the parable the first-hour workers were angry over their pay. They were so angry that they protested and "grumbled." (v. 1) This showed a bad spirit and revealed that they worked only for money, not to serve. Also, they showed a poor spirit because the employer had to accuse them of jealousy. (v. 15 GNB) They resented that others got the same pay for doing less. It reminds one of Peter's asking Jesus what John was expected to do. Jesus put him in his place by saying, "What is that to you? Follow me." (John 21:20-22) For Christians the noblest motive for serving is love. Then it does not matter how long we have worked or whether there is any pay.
Homily Hints
1. Something Better than Pay. (20:1-15) Sometimes people feel that it is unjust for a dying repentant person, like the thief on the cross, to get the same reward, "Today you shall be with me in paradise," as one who was a Christian since infanthood. It is the same attitude held by first-hour workers in the parable toward the eleventh-hour workers. Truly, the first-hour workers were far more rewarded than the eleventh-hour workers because they had twelve times as much joy in working. Christians get something better than pay for their work in God's kingdom -
A. The privilege of serving God.
B. The joy of serving God.
C. The honor of fellowship with God.
2. Why Work for God? (20:1-15) The parable raises the question of motives for serving God in both the church and the world. In the parable there are a wrong and a right reason for serving God -
A. Wrong motive - contract (v. 2) - "agreeing for a denarius."
B. Right motive - trust (v. 4) - "Whatever is right I will give you."
3. Our Divine Employer. (20:1-15) The focus is upon the employer in the parable. He represents God who calls us to work in his vineyard, the Kingdom. What kind of an employer is he? Is he all he should be? Like the first-hour workers, should we grumble?
A. He is a God of justice - vv. 13-15.
He is honest, truthful, dependable, keeps his promises.
B. He is a God of love - vv. 9, 15.
He is generous, gives more than is deserved.
4. Three Kinds of Church Members. (20:1-15) In every church there are various kinds of members. Often they are classified as active or inactive, or as attending, communing, or contributing. The parable points to three types -
A. Charter members - vv. 1-2.
B. Contract members - v. 4.
C. Contented members - vv. 10, 14.
5. In God's Employment. (20:1-15) The parable gives us facts about working in God's kingdom -
A. Every one has a job - v. 7.
B. Never too late to get a job - v. 6.
C. The pay is equal - v. 9.
D. The pay is undeserved - vv. 14-15.
6. More than We Deserve. (20:1-15) The men who worked less than twelve hours did not deserve the silver coin, for they did not put in the full time. Likewise, we do not deserve God's generosity because we are not doing all for him that we should. This should make us -
A. Thankful for his blessings.
B. Humble in the realization of his goodness.
C. Eager to serve him.
7. Does God Have Rights? (20:1-15) The employer, speaking for God, asks, "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?" (v. 15) In our day we emphasize human or civil rights. Are there not also divine rights? In the parable we see that God has his rights -
A. The right to keep his promises - v. 13.
B. The right to do what he chooses - v. 14.
C. The right to be generous - v. 15.
Contact
Points of Contact
1. A worker deserves wages. The first-hour workers in the parable expected to be paid for a day's work. When others were paid the same as they for less hours, they protested that they were being unjustly treated. It is natural for all of us to expect pay or reward for work performed. "The labor is worthy of his hire." A person has a right to expect an honest wage for an honest day's work. This is the bone of contention in the parable, and most people in the pews would agree with the protesting workers. Jesus uses this case to teach that it is not that way when working in the Kingdom of God. The reward is the same for all regardless of time on the job.
2. Charter members. Charter members are those people who have organized a congregation. They were the first members who began their work, like the first men in the parable, at six a.m. and have continued until this day. They have attended the services faithfully, served in various capacities, struggled through hard times, financially supported the church, and led in the building program. Because of all these years, their faithfulness and sacrifices, charter members may think they deserve special honor, attention, and respect. Some may resent new members occupying their pews and being elected to top positions of leadership. Some do not like it. Others resent it. They object to every proposed change. They want their church to remain small. Charter members may complain about the injustice of deathbed converts receiving the same reward to entering paradise when they have served faithfully and worked hard for many years. Today's parable speaks to these people.
3. Jealousy. Members of a church may have the same failing as the worker who worked twelve hours. When others, who had worked only one hour, received the same pay, he was jealous of them. They received more than he. In every church there is the possibility that some will be jealous of other workers. Perhaps someone received more commendation, or received an award for a job well done. The jealous person may think, "I have done more or better than he/she did." Aware of this possibility a pastor is usually afraid of not mentioning a name in the list of those who deserve to be thanked. Woe to that pastor who inadvertently leaves out a name!
Points to Ponder
1. Saved by merit? It is a common feeling among church people that there is merit for rendering Christian service. They feel that attending worship services, contributing to the budget, teaching a class, baking a casserole, and so on should count for something to get into heaven. However, there is no question of merit in the parable. A person is paid not according to the amount of work but according to the generosity of God in giving to those who do not deserve it. It is hard for some to understand that the reward of a Christian is in being a member of God's family and doing his work whether the person comes early or late.
2. The Gospel of generosity. Since Christian preachers are called to preach the Gospel in every sermon, we ask, "Where is the Gospel in this parable?" In a strict sense the parable does not preach Christ nor focus on the cross. Nevertheless, we can see the Gospel in the generosity of the farmer-employer. His love and mercy went out to the idle men who needed work to make a living. Throughout the day he seeks laborers for his vineyard even to the last hour. When he realizes that the wage would be too small for those who worked part-time, he gives them a full day's wage. God, like this employer, is a concerned and compassionate God who gives what we do not earn nor merit. In keeping with this truth, we can easily see that his greatest gift to us is the mercy of forgiveness secured for us on the cross.
Illustrative Materials
1. Work for God. One time someone asked a cobbler what his business was. Without hesitation he replied, "My business is to serve God, and I make and mend shoes to pay expenses while so doing."
2. Jealousy. Oscar Wilde told the story of a hermit who was so holy that the evil spirits sent to tempt him were discouraged. Satan himself decided to take over. With scorn on his lips he said to the evil spirits, "Your methods are crude. Permit me one moment." Then he came to the hermit and opened up the conversation: "Have you heard the good news? Your brother has been made bishop of Alexandria?" It was too much for the holy man. Jealousy swept over him like a mighty flood.
3. Saved By Work? A common laborer was once asked whether he thought he had reason enough to get into heaven. He paused and looked down at his spade with its blade polished and sharpened with constant work until it looked like stainless steel. "I think," he said, "I'll just show Saint Peter my spade."
4. Service is the Reward. Ann Landers has the largest reading audience in the world. Daily she gives advice to people burdened with grief and trouble. In one of her columns she said, "There is no greater satisfaction than to serve, and I will continue to do my best."
For thirty years Karl Haas in his weekday radio broadcasts, Adventures in Good Music, has guided millions through the world of classical music. What does he get out of it? "I'm having fun doing what I'm doing and whoever is affected, fine."
5. God's Reward. One time Thomas Acquinas had a dream and heard God say to him, "Thomas, you have written much and well concerning me. What reward shall I give you for your work?" Thomas replied, "Nothing but yourself, Lord."
6. Reward of Doing God's Will. A prayer of Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order: "Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will."
7. Service without Price. "I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds: yet I willingly cure him for the love of God."
- Mother Teresa
