The Parable Of The Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16

Today, as we continue on with our Gospel readings from Matthew, we have a parable that Jesus gave, which concerns those who have worked and served the Lord all of their lives, versus those who accept Him right before their death.  Let’s take a look at what Jesus has to say about this matter.

Jesus told the parable of a man who owned a large vineyard, who needed men to work the land for him.  In the early morning, around dawn, he would go into town to hire day laborers (vs. 1-2).  These day laborers would stand in the marketplace from dawn until they would be hired for work.  This vineyard owner came back later at around 9:00, then again at noon, and later at 3:00, each time looking for more workers (vs. 3-5).  Finally, around 5:00 pm, just an hour before the end of the work day, the vineyard owner went out one more time, and hired a last group of workers (vs. 6-7).  At quitting time, the workers line up to be paid, and the vineyard owner pays them all the same amount (vs. 8-10).  This did not go over too well with those who were hired earlier, who expected to be paid more.  If we are honest with ourselves, most of us might agree with the laborers hired at dawn.  “We worked hard all day, out in the hot sun!  We deserve more than those who came at 5:00 and only worked an hour, as the sun was setting, after it was getting cooler!”, they were likely saying (vs. 11-12).  The vineyard owner was gracious.  Everyone received a full day’s pay.  This was not a slight to those hired earlier.  They received what they had agreed on (vs. 13-15).

What was the purpose of this parable that Jesus told?  This wasn’t just a story about farmers, laborers, and their pay squabbles.  This was another parable Jesus told of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.  This parable is for those who feel superior because of their heritage or supposed favored position.  This is for those who feel superior because they have spent their whole life serving Jesus, as opposed to someone who gets saved late in life.  Some may feel that since they spent their whole life serving the Lord, they deserve more than someone who waited until their last days to come to Him.  Salvation depends on God’s love, mercy, and kindness.  No one deserves it.

Those who accept Christ on their deathbed will enjoy the same blessings of being accepted into heaven as those who have been saved since childhood, and served Him all of their life (vs. 16).  We should not begrudge those who accept Christ right at the end of their life.  No one deserves heaven.

Instead of begrudging them, we should be rejoicing!  An older pastor I had years ago had a father who was not a believer.  His father never had a kind word to say about Jesus, the Bible, nor Christians.  My pastor witnessed to him, his wife witnessed to him, and others did as well, but he would have nothing of it.  That is until one day when he was in his late 80’s and ill.  My pastor’s wife came again to speak to her father-in-law, and all of their prayers were answered, as he accepted Jesus as his Savior.  A few weeks later he passed away.  He was like the ones who came to work at 5 pm.  He is in heaven, just like those who have served the Lord since their childhood.

In the parable, the vineyard owner decided who was paid what amount.  That vineyard owner is a picture of God.  God is the one who decides what rewards are passed out, and to whom they are given.  That is not for us, the workers, to decide.  It is by God’s love and mercy that we have been called, not because of anything that we have done.  When we see someone, like my former pastor’s father, get saved right before they die, that should be a cause for great rejoicing.  There should be no place for pride in my heart that I have served the Lord longer, so I deserve a “better spot” in heaven.  None at all.  It is only through God’s love and mercy that I, or any of us, will be there at all.