Matthew 20:1-16

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” - Matthew 20:1-16

Dear Jesus,

Peter wanted to know that you would take care of him since he had left all things to follow you. You told him that you would bless him with friends, family and possessions in this life mixed with trouble and persecution (Mark 10) too. You knew that below his question stuck the thought, "I want God to be fair with me compared to others." So, you told him there would be some who were last but they would enter heaven first. You told him there were some who were first that would be moved the end of the line too. You would not be trapped by our childish desire to compare our lot in life with others. You love us all the same while you give everyone a unique path in life. Some live longer and sin harder before they are saved. Others trudge along as Christian foot soldiers for decades before being relieved by heaven. You reverse the right to hide your plan for each with letting them be compared. All of us receive the same grace, the same love, the same inheritance in heaven. Use this beautiful parable about your equal grace to unequal people to jar me out of my natural inclination to compare my life to others. Help me freely love forgive and hold grace out to everyone without discrimination regarding their sins or spiritual stature.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Two undeniable truths collide when you meet God: 1) He loves everyone the same. 2) He treats everyone differently in regard to their earthly life.

Additional Reading: Romans 2, 3, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, 2 Corinthians 1