Jesus continues with this movement away from spiritual self-sufficiency and toward a dependence on God. We see grace emphasized in this parable in a maddeningly clear way.
Most people identify themselves as hard workers and so we can easily relate to those that started at the break of the day. We understand their offense at being paid the same wage as those who only worked a little while. Anyone who has ever worked with a slacker knows how frustrating it is to carry someone else when they are capable of keeping up.
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The strongest and most able-bodied get chosen first.
When the owner asks why they have been standing idle, they only answer, "Because no one hired us."
The kind of workers that would still be there might be old or ill or have physical infirmities. They would likely need a daily wage to feed themselves or their families just as those who were chosen at the beginning. And so the owner is generous.
But his generosity disrupts the hierarchy. The caste system is flattened.
They indicate as much by saying, "you have made them equal to us."
If we relate this parable to God's grace, Jesus could have implied that the Pharisees are the ones working all day in the sense that they have kept the laws and consider themselves better than those who haven't. The sinners or poor that haven't been able to keep the laws as well would have been more like the ones coming late to work. The grace of God levels the playing field and loves each one equally.
In the early church during Matthew's time, the Jewish Christians might be the early workers and the Gentile Christians might be those arriving late to work. God's grace makes them equal.
Both the Pharisees and the Jewish Christians would have reasons to grumble.
Within the church today, how might this parable apply?
If we are the ones early to work, who might be the ones God is making equal to us?
Prayer for the day:
God, you call us at all times in our lives.
Many of us respond and seek to do your will.
It is hard to look at others in life and not compare ourselves.
We may see how we should be your favorites based on behavior.
If you do favor us, let it be because we have extended your love.
And let us not be jealous but joyous for those who respond late.
May we remember that your love for others never diminishes your love for us.
Amen.
Photo by Mike Mertz via Flickr.com. Used under the Creative Commons license.
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