“Jesus and Money” (Part 3)

Today we will unpack the parable of the vineyard workers. If the story of the unjust steward admonished us to “be wise” and the barn-builder story convinced us to “be confident,” this one leads us to “be generous.” In his book What’s So Amazing About Grace? Philip Yancey writes about the new math of grace taught by Jesus. He includes our story for today as a part of this “new math.” The parable given in Matthew 20 is connected to a question from Peter. He has been privy to the dialog between Jesus and the rich young ruler. He watches as the young man turns on his heel and refuses the cost of discipleship. So Peter, thinking of himself and the other apostles, says: “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Matthew 19:27).

Matthew 19:28-29: An honest question deserves an honest answer. And Jesus gives it. There are both future and present rewards that accompany the Christian life. In the future, Peter and the others will sit on thrones of glory. In the present, following Jesus introduces us to the family of God with innumerable brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers— plus eternal life!

Matthew 19:30; 20:16: In addition to rewards, Peter and present-day readers of Matthew are intrigued by this reminder: “But many who are first shall be last, and many who are last will be first.” To flesh out what this means, Jesus tells a story of the workers in the vineyard.

Matthew 20:1-15: The disciples were familiar with day laborers. They saw them often in the marketplace, sitting on their haunches waiting for work. And they knew that on some days, the size of the harvest was miscalculated, and many trips to get more help were required. But when the landowner instructs the paymaster to give the workers who only worked an hour a day’s wages, there is complaining in the ranks. “It isn’t fair” is heard in a crescendo of criticism. It’s important that we be certain about what the parable does not teach. This has nothing to do with last-minute (5 o’clock) conversions. This is a parable about service, not salvation. What does it teach? First, it teaches that we are not competitors in the church. We are in the same vineyard. Second, we must be careful about an epidemic of complaining that can become contagious. Finally, in the new math of grace, Jesus gives the 5 o’clock worker not what he deserves but a day’s wages—what he needs to take care of his family. “Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my own money? Should you be angry because I am kind? (v.15, TLB). The word for today is “be generous!”

The word for Peter and for us is that many considered first in the view of this world are last with God (such as the rich young ruler). Others who are considered losers, last in line in importance and influence, are winners in God’s estimation. We haven’t wasted our life—we’ve invested it!