I didn't even need my resume'!

Matthew 20.1-16

The Labourers in the Vineyard

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’

It seems likely that this story is a sort of "sermon" inserted by the author of Matthew's Gospel to address some concerns in the community for which it is written. It helps to remember that the early followers of Jesus expected his imminent return. Perhaps those who accepted faith in Christ early in the community's formation resented those newly arrived who received the same benefits of membership as the "old timers". Don't I deserve more as one here from the begining?

I love how landowner hires everyone regardless of qualifications. No resume' required, s/he just says to start working. At days end all receive the same wage even though the last hired worked but an hour. This type of generosity is seledom seen to this very day. We might sympathize with those who worked all day in the burning sun, but generosity by it's very nature is extravgant.

Perhaps we modern readers of this story might take from it's particulars that everyone in the community of Christ, and yes those outside it, are equal and deserving of the extravagant gift of justice and largess demonstrated by our God. We may from time to time feel we deserve more for whatever human reason, but doesn't it make things simpler when all receive the same? Christ came for all; who are we to decide on the divine pay-scale?