Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus Talks about the Workers Who are Paid Equally

2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 "About the third hour 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 the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.

6 About the eleventh hour 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.'

8 "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 the eleventh hour 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 men 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.'

13 "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius?

14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man 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."

The Workers Get Equal Pay

While part of the men worked a full day and others came in at different times, the landowner paid each the same. Doesn't seem quite fair, does it?

But, Jesus was making a very powerful point with his story regarding the vineyard workers.

The fact is, God is the landowner and we are the workers. As believers, we all came to know Christ at different times in our lives but we all received the exact same salvation.

Even if we profess our belief and repent of our sins at the eleventh hour, we are still saved by the grace of God.

Just as the landowner said in verse 15, " Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?", God has the right to do as He pleases with His mercy. He can distribute it as He wills. Is God "too generous?"

So, you see? We are not saved because of the time in our lives we accepted Christ nor are we saved because we are good. We are saved because God is good!

Let's not worry ourselves with the salvation someone else is receiving just because we have worked longer or harder than them. Everyone who comes to Jesus receives God's grace. Be happy!

Love in Christ

- Bob