When they realized what had happened, they were offended and complained to the landowner, saying, ‘You’re treating us unfairly! They’ve only worked for one hour while we’ve labored and sweated all day under the scorching sun. You’ve made them equal to us!’ “The landowner replied, ‘Friends, I’m not being unfair—I’m doing exactly what I said. Didn’t you agree to work for the standard wage? If I want to give those who only worked for an hour equal pay, what does that matter to you? Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Why should my generosity make you jealous of them?’
— Matthew 20:11-15 (TPT)
Jesus tells us parables to convey His message and heart. Yet this story seems so unfair. Some of the vineyard workers worked longer than others and yet they all got paid the same amount. It looks like more work, less money and less work, more money. That is hardly fair.
Once they came to an understanding on the day’s set wages, the workers responded thinking, “We know what we have to do and we know what our wages will be. We can do it.” No other group of workers discussed a set wage. They just accepted the goodness of the owner and his terms of “I will give you what is just, right and fair.”
Why does the first group have an agreed upon wage and the others do not?
In Exodus 19:8, the Israelites heard the word of the Lord through Moses and their response is, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” They boasted in their own ability without fully hearing the requirements and said, “we got this, no problem”.
Keep in mind that Jewish people were the ones listening to this story. They are the ones who accepted the covenant and covenant blessings based on a preset agreement – “We got this”. This is the Old Covenant. They agreed. It was based on what they did or didn’t do. The first group of people in this parable are the Israelites.
The other groups of hired people accepted and trusted the word of the landowner. They placed themselves in his hands and he had already determined that he was going to bless them. They are those under the New Covenant.
These were hired servants living from penny to penny who were elevated to being the personal friend of the owner, a friend of one who valued them. This owner gave them worth, and it wasn’t because they did a great job. No, he gave them significance by giving worth to them from his goodness, not because of what they had done or what others said.
This takes us into the new Covenant. The heart of the owner, Jesus, is to move us from servants to friends (John 15:15) by giving us all that He is. He has given us the New Covenant and the Covenant blessings. We are in Covenant based on who HE is, not based on what we do. Under the New Covenant, we all receive the same blessings. Being elevated to co-workers (1 Corinthians 3:9), we join Him in His endeavors. We trust Him and receive His generosity. He is more than just and fair.
“Look and see how God will reveal Himself today”
It Cost Him, Not Us