"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’" Matthw 20:1-7
This is Jesus' version of equality.
The Landowner -- needs work done, labor intensive, physical labor.
Workers -- 1st workers called -- hardest working workers, ready to go, more skilled, offered a denarius -- very good wage. They agree to it.
3rd hour workers -- little late but still willing to work (the typical work day was a 12 hour day)
6th hour workers -- lunch time leftovers
9th hour workers -- slackers
11th hour workers -- left behind, no other chance to work.
Hourly wage is what is normal for us. Jesus paints a different picture.
"“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’" Matthew 20:8-12
"“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”" Matthew 20:13-16
The Owner is God. God has a lot of work to be done. Constantly. No end to the work. ALways looking for workers.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" Matthew 28:19-20
The Master is continually calling.
:So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29
If you're Mine, you're Mine. Nothing else matters.
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”" Matthew 9:36-38
Workers -- Our work day begins when we accept Christ. If we are called, we are called to serve. If you are alive, no matter how old you are, it isn't too late to accept Christ -- early in liife, late in life, right before death....anytime before death is a good time to accept Christ.God wants everybody!
Kingdom payment -- the payment is eternal life. Paid in full by the blood of Jesus Christ. You've been paid for -- you can't walk off the job. Statement of fact: we agreed to serve Him.
"Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’" Matthew 20:15
Look at who at what you have, not what you don't have. Everybody counts. All I am is a child of God.