Matthew 20
Scripture
Matthew 20:14-15 NIV
"Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’”
Observation-What does it say?
Jesus tells a parable about a master and his hired servants to describe what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. The master hired servants to work in his vineyard, who he saw standing at the marketplace doing nothing at different hours of the day. He went out to look for workers at 9a, 12p, 3p, and 5p. He agreed to pay them each a denarius for the day.Those who were hired at 9 in the morning became upset that those who were hired at 5 in the afternoon only had to work for an hour, yet got paid the same amount that they did. They weren't grateful that the master had hired them and given them purpose. Instead, they played the comparison game and felt that they deserved more.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Our gracious master shows no favoritism when He calls people to Himself. The same compassion and grace that saved you and gave you purpose in life is the same compassion and grace that saved me.
The Master in this parable represents Jesus and his mercy and grace towards sinners. The servants standing in the marketplace had no purpose in life and no job, as they were just standing around doing nothing. Yet the Master (Jesus) got a hold of them and gave them purpose. We are those servants. We are called by Jesus at different times in life. Some were called when they were 5 years old and gave their lives to Jesus, walking with Him their whole lives without rebellion. Some were called in high school (like me). Others in their adult life, while others on their death bed. Yet, Jesus' promise to them/us is the same--eternal life. No one gets more or less as a servant of Christ. The envy of the servants who worked since 9a reminds me of the parable of the prodigal son, where the older son was jealous that the younger son got a party when he returned, yet he never got a party for being obedient to His father that whole time. What his father told him though was true...that the older son was with Him that whole time and everything He had was his, but they had to rejoice because his brother who was once lost is now found. (See Luke 15:11-32)
Also, I noticed that it's not about how we start, but how we finish. Finishing the work at the end of the day is what got those servants paid. Persevering until the end and waiting on Jesus is what will get us the prize. As the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:13-14, "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Life Application
Let's love sinners, pray for them, and rejoice when they come to/come back to the faith. Also, let's persevere to finish the work that Christ has called us to, as we await His return.
Those of us who are already part of the family of Christ have all the benefits of being his son/daughter. However, there are many in the world who do not because of rebellion or not even knowing the Truth. Let's not give up in our mission of multiplying Christ followers everywhere together!
Dear Jesus, thank You for Your love, compassion and grace. Without it, I wouldn't be here today. I pray that Your heart for sinners and the lost would become my heart and that I would persevere in the purpose You have called me to. Please forgive me and Spirit protect me from falling into the trap of feeling tired and wanting to give up. May I (we) press forward toward the goal to win the prize and love others enough to bring them into that faith and purpose as well. Amen.