If the same thing happened today, there would be rioting in the streets, the news would broadcast it continuously, and the leaders and politicians might even speak out against it…
What is the terrible thing that would rile so many Americans? Simple. Unfair wages.
Jesus isn’t suggesting that anyone who shows up deserves the same pay….I don’t think. I mean, if any business did that on Monday, by Friday no one would be available to work until 5 pm. Let’s be serious for a second….that idea isn’t going to work. So Jesus must be talking about something else. Oh! Look at the first 6 words in the Chapter,, He IS talking about something else! “The kingdom of heaven is like”… Well now, that changes things a little bit. You might propose that this passage teaches us that there are no rewards in heaven, everyone is getting the same thing, regardless of what they did on earth. That’s one way of looking at it. Let me propose a slightly different viewpoint:
I’ll use a royal wedding as a metaphor. The king announces that his son is going to be married, and the whole kingdom is invited. People get dressed and ready, and begin standing in line hours before the event. Maybe even a day before the event. They endure some difficulty, but they remain in line. At the last minute, the king throws open the gate and says “come on in” and just at that moment a couple of folks hop out of their car and go in with the crowd. They haven’t waited 15 minutes, while others have waited days. How is that fair? It’s fair because there was no requirement to stand in line. You could wait until later, but then again….you might miss it and not get in at all. And, those at the beginning of the line stand a chance of getting better seats. When Jesus says “come work in the field, and I’ll pay you at the end of the day” He’s inviting us to be Christians. Our pleasure is to serve Him all of our remaining days on earth, and then to receive from Him the reward that He has prepared for us. What God chooses to do for others isn’t our concern. Keeping the metaphor in mind, maybe the rewards in heaven (mentioned often in the Bible) are similar to assigned seats in at the kings banquet table. Perhaps those who have labored long and faithfully will be seated next to Moses, or Elijah…or Abraham. Can you imagine entering heaven and sitting next to the Apostle Paul? What an honor to be sitting next to the widow who gave her last mite! or the young girl raised from the dead by Jesus. Or the blind man who is mentioned later in this chapter. Could there be rewards that we know nothing about? Sure. and there must be, since Jesus said “store up for yourselves treasure in heaven”. (Matthew 6:20)
In verse 17 I notice that all 12 disciples heard Jesus say “I will be betrayed”. I wonder if Judas thought he was doing God’s will when he betrayed Jesus. In fact, Judas was doing what God knew he would do, but I don’t think God commanded him to do it. If He had, it wouldn’t have been a sin, and Judas wouldn’t have felt so guilty. I have heard professors say that Judas may have believed that he was forcing Jesus to reveal himself, which would put him on the throne….once He demonstrated His power and authority over the rulers. Imagine his disappointment and confusion when Jesus did the opposite.
And speaking of people who mean well, but simply don’t get it…..
Bring on James and John. Here they come with their mother, no less….trying to win the two most desirable places in the kingdom of God. Their zeal to be rewarded causes them to forget (or not care) about the other 10 men who have done the same things as them. They are acting selfishly, and prideful. So they deserve a rebuke, but they don’t receive it. And to be completely honest, I’m glad they don’t. Because I also have asked some things of Jesus that were inappropriate, and He dealt just as gently with me. God loves us, and doesn’t want to harm us, shame us or embarrass us publically. He is interested in our growth, and in developing a relationship with us. Don’t ever be afraid to take your request to Jesus, He will listen to your heart and to the Holy Spirit, and give you what is best for you….even when it isn’t what you asked for, or wanted.
One last thing today….did you notice that it was the landowner who went looking for people to work in his fields? There weren’t any prospective workers that showed up on his door. God comes looking for us, inviting us to be with him…in the field and in the banquet hall.
Hallelujah!
PR