Scripture: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Matthew 20:1-16 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, after exposing the rich young ruler’s idolatry of material wealth, Jesus turns to his disciples and cautions them that one’s possessions could prove to be a stumbling block toward entering his kingdom. His disciples, having associated material prosperity with God’s favor, express their dismay and question who could then find salvation in God. Thus, Jesus assures them that all things are possible with God. And Peter, true to his bold personality, declares they have left everything to follow their Master. Jesus graciously acknowledges their sacrifice and directs their thoughts to his consummation at the end of the age when he will return to judge the world. And those who have faithfully served him will receive a hundredfold reward that includes eternal life and honor (the last will be first).
Without a time or location marker, Matthew next chronicles Jesus’ telling of a parable (found only in his Gospel) about the Father’s generosity towards all who come to faith and engage in kingdom-building, regardless of the days that remain in their earthly life. As Jesus presents the parable, the master (God) of his vineyard (kingdom of heaven) equally rewards those he hires toward the end of the workday with those who labored all day. At the day’s end, he instructs his foreman to settle their wages, starting with those who worked the least hours. The others assume they will receive more than the agreed amount since they worked longer hours than those at the eleventh hour, but when paid the same, they grumble. Thus, the owner asks, “…do you begrudge my generosity” (v.15 ESV).
Takeaway: The “vine” is a predominant metaphor in the prophetic writings of the Old Testament. Not surprisingly, Jesus draws on this tradition in telling two parables involving a vineyard, here and in The Parable of the Tenants found in Mark 12:1-11 and Luke 20:9-16. And Jesus refers to himself as the vine and his disciples as the branches in John 15:1-7. The vine, the conduit for growing grapes that produce fermented wine, symbolizes prosperity. And its fruit is often associated with celebrations, like the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-12).
In this parable, the focus is on the attitude of the grumbling workers. Thus, Jesus holds them accountable. In Hebrew, “Do you begrudge” literally renders, “Is your eye evil?” According to theologian Michael Wilkins, the evil eye in the ancient Middle East stood for one who was greedy or jealous of what belonged to another. As applies to all who profess faith in Jesus, Wilkens adds, “If a disciple’s eyes are fixed on earthly, material treasure as his or her value, personal significance, and earthly security, then the darkness of that evil value is the state of that person’s heart. When we focus on something evil, the eye becomes the conduit by which the evil fills the inner person” (NIV Application Commentary: Matthew, p.665). Here, Wilkins provides us with a stern but necessary warning.
Our takeaway? Here, Jesus’ parabolic lesson corroborates his warning from Sermon on the Mount: “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness” (6:22-23a ESV). Jesus builds on this contrast of light and darkness with the root cause, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (6:24 ESV). Hence, the core issue in both of these passages is idolatry.
Our part? How do we avoid the pitfall of idolatry that leads to jealousy? By focusing on the One who labored extraordinarily for us in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension to his heavenly throne, where he continues to intercede for us (Romans 8:34). When we do, we will find the grace to set aside our feelings of jealousy or resentment and celebrate with all the body of Christ.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son who faithfully served you and us in bringing us salvation and eternal life. So, please help us to resist begrudging others whose spiritual journey may appear to be more favorable than ours and instead trust you, who generously rewards all your children, and focus instead on your Son, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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