The Bible Book

223

See also: Parables of Jesus 214–15 ■ The Good Samaritan 216–17 ■

The Prodigal Son 218–21

T

he parable of the workers

in the vineyard is one that

many readers with modern

notions of fairness struggle to

accept. However, it functions very

well as a demonstration of how God

deals with people on the basis of

grace, rather than works.

In the parable, a landowner goes

out early one morning to recruit

workers. He agrees to pay each of

the laborers a denarius for the day.

Later in the day, the vineyard

owner goes out again four times—

at 9 am, midday, 3 pm, and 5 pm.

Each time he leaves, he encounters

more men doing nothing and offers

them work in his vineyard too,

which Jesus says represents “the

kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 20:1).

When evening comes, the

landowner gathers the workers. He

pays all of them the same amount—

one denarius each. The men who

worked longer hours are outraged.

The landowner, however, brushes

away their objections, saying that

he is generous and has the right to

use his money as he sees fit.

Interpreting the tale

The story of the workers in the

vineyard shows us that God’s grace

can supersede human logic. One

interpretation of the parable is that

those who turn to God late in life

are just as worthy of salvation as

those who have always believed.

Other theologians go further,

presenting the first laborers

as Jews, and the latecomers as

Gentiles—both equally deserving

of God’s love and salvation. ■

THE GOSPELS

SO THE LAST WILL

BE FIRST, AND THE

FIRST WILL BE LAST

MATTHEW 20:16, WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

Matthew 20:16

THEME

God operates through

unending grace

SETTING

c. 27–29 ce The region

of Galilee.

KEY FIGURES

Jesus The Messiah and Son

of God during His ministry

in Galilee.

The landowner Owner of

the vineyard and the purveyor

of God’s grace.

The workers The employees

of the landowner gathered

from the marketplace.

These who were hired last ...

you have made ... equal

to us who have borne the

burden of the work and

the heat of the day.

Matthew 20:12

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