“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’”
— Matthew 20:8-12 (NLT)
The owner tells the foreman to have the people line up and says pay the last ones hired, first. Probably with a twinkle in his eye, he is thinking about their shock at what he is going to do. To everyone’s surprise those who worked only an hour got a full day’s wage. The workers who started first are thinking, “My how generous this owner is! He must be paying a full day’s wage for every hour worked. Wow! What will we get? This is fantastic!
Everyone is watching when those who were hired first are paid. They get what they agreed upon – the full day’s wage. These workers, having worked a full day, are upset because that seems unfair.
The ones hired later didn’t deserve what they were paid if you base it on how much they worked. But the owner was not paying according to what they did. That was never his plan. He told them he would be fair.
The people listening to this story were shocked!
Jesus is describing God’s fairness, His justice. God pays no attention to what we have or have not done. He gives Himself to us and rewards us from His wealth, His love. It costs Him, not us.
These workers, hired later, are stunned, amazed and grateful saying, “I am so glad I trusted this owner”. They receive his gift with great joy and realize that the payment has nothing to do with their ability. It has everything to do with the owner’s heart.
Jesus is saying this is how the Kingdom of God works. It has nothing to do with what you do or don’t do and is not a transactional system. His Kingdom is not the way of the world. This is about the owner. You can sense his delight as he watches the faces of the workers receiving his goodness and gifts. He is thrilled!
This is a picture of God! What a Father! His love and goodness toward you is beyond comprehension and it is not based on performance. He is not looking for you to do something for Him, rather He is looking for you to receive from Him. You can trust One who loves you like that. He will never hurt you and He has only your best interests in mind. He says, “Only Goodness and Lovingkindness shall follow you all the days of your life”. Psalm 23:6 In this life right now, He has good for you
.“Look and see how God will reveal Himself today”
God Calls You By Name