“It’s not fair!” How many times have we heard a child cry that out to their parents, teacher, or someone else? Maybe a sibling got an extra cookie, or the teacher gives different homework assignments, or another child is seeming to get away with some infraction. Even as adults we want to feel that there is an established set of justice, and that things are fair between one person and another. When we have worked hard, we want to be justly rewarded, and those who haven’t shouldn’t be given the same reward. When things don’t measure up to our sense of justice, to what we feel should be our fair share, aren’t we quick to complain that “It’s not fair!”? Would we say that against God? In our Scripture today from St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable that brings up a scenario that some might complain “is not fair”. Let’s take a look, and see if our thinking will line up with what the Lord is teaching.
Jesus told this parable in response to Peter’s question at the end of the previous chapter, where he asked the Lord what reward he and the other disciples would get for leaving their livelihood to follow Him (Matthew 19:27). Jesus had promised rewards to His faithful disciples, but He knew they could become preoccupied with comparing themselves to others.
The parable begins with a landowner (who symbolizes God) with a large vineyard, who needs a lot of workers. He goes out early in the morning, around 6 am, to hire laborers (symbolizing believers). They agreed on a salary of a denarius for a day’s work, which was a fair day’s wage (vs. 1-2). God never deals unfairly with His people. Whatever He gives is righteous and good. The landowner goes out several more times throughout the day to hire more workers - 9 am, noon, 3 pm, and finally at 5 pm, an hour before the workday is over (vs. 3-7). He promises to give them what is right.
Some believers are saved and serve God from childhood. Timothy is an example of this. Others are saved in adulthood. The Apostle Paul was converted as an adult. And then there are those who are converted near the end of life, perhaps literally on their deathbed. The thief on the cross was saved in his final hours. God welcomes all who come to Him through Jesus.
Then came the time for payment (vs. 8-10). The workers hired at 5 pm received a full denarius, a full days’ wage. This demonstrates grace. They did not receive what they earned proportionately, they received what the master chose to give. This made the first workers assume that they would receive more, with their expectation based on comparison. Many spiritual problems begin when believers compare themselves to others.
The earlier workers began to complain (vs. 11-12). They didn’t complain that they were treated poorly. They complained that the others were treated generously. The master didn’t do them wrong. They received exactly what they had agreed on. Their problem was jealousy. Are we resentful when others receive blessings that we feel we should have gotten, or when they get more recognition? Do we ask “Why did they get more than I did?” We need to ask ourselves why we get upset when God is good to someone else.
As we continue reading, we see the landowner’s response (vs. 13-15). God’s dealings are always perfectly just. No one can ever claim that God is unfair. He has the right to distribute blessings according to His own will. God never owes grace. If something is earned, it is wages. If it is undeserved, it is grace (Romans 11:6). The problem was not the master’s generosity. It was the workers’ hearts.
Jesus closed His parable with a warning against pride and self-exaltation (vs. 16). Those who think they deserve the highest place may be surprised. Those who humbly serve may receive unexpected honor. God’s evaluations differ from man’s evaluations.
Rewards in heaven are real, as we see in II Corinthians 5:10 and Revelation 22:12. However, rewards are distributed by Jesus, not according to human estimates. This parable doesn’t teach that all believers will receive the same rewards. Rather, it teaches that God sovereignly blesses and rewards according to His perfect wisdom. We should rejoice in His goodness towards others instead of comparing ourselves with them.
No one deserves God’s favor. The workers who came right before the workday ended beautifully illustrate the grace shown to sinners who come late, but who truly come. The other workers were spending too much time focusing on what others received. One of Satan’s tools is comparison. God calls believers to faithfulness, not competition. The first workers lost their joy when they started looking sideways at others rather than upward to the Master. They received exactly what was promised, yet envy robbed them of their gratitude. God does not ask us to measure ourselves against someone else. He asks us to be faithful where He has placed us.
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