The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16
1“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.
3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.
6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’
7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’
13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’
16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

For many of Jesus’ parables he takes the time to explain the meaning of the parable, but not for the parable of the workers in the vineyard. We find that the characters of this parable are the landowner and hired workers.

I believe it is safe to say that the landowner refers to God, and the workers are his people. Some live their whole lives serving God while others come to serve him later in life. But what we all must realize is that we serve God, not because of the reward but because we love him. Everyone who works in God’s Vineyard receives a fair reward. Rather their reward is based on God’s generosity.

What is the issue in our story? Some of the workers who had been there from the beginning complain because those who had worked little were rewarded the same as those who had worked much. Now in the world of business, this would be a horrid practice. But the Kingdom of God is not a business. It doesn’t run on business principles but rather on the principle of mercy.

What we really must realize is that in God’s Kingdom everyone is equal.

What we need to realize is that not only in the afterlife but in this current life we live, our heavenly Father does not give us what we deserve. He gives us so much more! Not only does God’s grace reward us with eternal life in heaven, but as we accept Jesus and follow him, we find that he brings to our life “more abundantly”.

Now, this relates to our health journey in one main way. God’s grace and mercy are never-ending to each of us. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others and realize that each of us has a different journey to make. How many times do I hear about someone who is ready to give up because they are not doing as well on their journey as so and so? God’s grace is sufficient for each of us, and rather than envy others or even try to sabotage others, we should celebrate together and encourage each other to continue on the path!

Triple D: What does grace mean to you? Grace is undeserved kindness. It is when we receive something good when we actually deserve the opposite. How can this kind of grace affect your health journey?