A Reward for Faithful Service

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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It is essential to observe that this parable in Matthew 20:1-161For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Matthew 20:1‑16) relates to service, for the laborers are sent into the vineyard. There is also no doubt that it sprang out of Peter’s question: “Behold, we have left all things and have followed Thee; what then shall happen to us?” (ch. 19:27 JND). In reply, the Lord graciously told His disciples that they should have a special place in the kingdom and should sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. He also told them that everyone who had forsaken anything for His name’s sake should be abundantly recompensed. He then added the significant warning that many who were first should be last, and the last first, and this He proceeded to explain in the parable. “For,” He says, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard” (ch. 20:1).
We have, in the next place, a description of the several laborers, with the different hours at which they were hired. But, in fact, there are but two classes, those who agreed upon the amount they were to receive, and those who left themselves in the hands of the Master to give what He deemed right.
Those who agreed for their penny were, in a word, legal servants, whereas those who left themselves to the One who had called them were under the power of grace. To the first, the labor was a means of recompense; to the last, it was a privilege, and hence they prize it in and for itself, knowing something of the grace that had bestowed it. All this is brought out when the steward settles with the laborers. In obedience to his lord, he begins with the last, and everyone received a penny. This excited the anger of the first, for if the last had a penny, surely they were entitled to more. The answer was that they had received what they bargained for, that the master had the right to do what he would with his own, and that their eye was not to be evil because he was good.
The exhibition of grace, with all its sovereign rights, only excited the envy of the natural heart —hence the enmity of the Jew when the gospel was proclaimed to the Gentile, and thus, though the “first,” he became the “last.” So it was with these laborers. Those who went to labor last in the vineyard left the master’s presence satisfied with his goodness, and so became “first,” while those who were first in their labors left his presence with murmurs in their hearts and on their lips, strangers still to grace. So the last shall be first (referring to Matt. 19:3030But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. (Matthew 19:30)), and the first last, for many are called (as all these laborers had been), but few chosen.
E. Dennett, adapted from
The Christian Friend, 1887