The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

Matthew 18:1-16

          "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third and hour saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour and did likewise.  6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ' Why have you been standing here idle all day?' 7 They said to him 'Because no one hired us.'  He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.'  8 "So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first' 9 And when those came about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed they would receive more; and they likewise received a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landlord, 12 saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' 13 But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?  14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to.

this last man the same as to you.  15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?  Or is your eye evil because I am good? 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.  For many are called but few are chosen

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EXPLANATION

          It was typical in those days for workers to stand in the marketplace during harvest time hoping to find work.  The landlord gathered the laborers from the marketplace in the morning and agreed to pay them a denarius for the day which was a fair wage.  In the third hour the landlord of the vineyard was again in the marketplace and found men standing idle.  He hired them as well and agreed to pay them whatever was right.  These men must have been eager to work as they did not know what their wage would be.  At the eleventh hour which would be five o'clock the landlord found more men who must have been desperate for working as they had waited all day. He hired them as well telling them whatever was right in wages they would receive.

          At the end of the day the landlord told his steward to pay the men their wages and to start with the last first.  But the steward paid each man the same amount.  The landlord was being generous to all the men not trying to slight those who had worked all day and had agreed to work for a denarius.  This angered the first group who had borne the labor all day and they complained to the landlord who told them he was doing them no wrong. They had been paid the denarius they had agreed upon. He told them "I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own.

things" and he sent them away

          The Landlord is God and we Christians are his laborers as verse 16 sums up the whole parable. "So the last will be first, and the first last." You see, no matter how long you labor joyfully for the lord you will receive the same blessings of heaven as the thief on the cross.  That is the grace of God.

APPLICATION

          One might say if we all end up with the same blessing of heaven why do anything else after salvation. Well if you have a genuine faith in Jesus Christ your faith will want you to joyfully labor for the Lord. You will acquire a great love in serving the Lord, so that there is nothing in your life that could bring you greater pleasure.