Hired Laborers

Day 33 of 49

The Kingdom of God

Have you ever been in a situation where you worked so hard and then someone came late, didn’t work as hard but got the same credit? 

We have a sense of fairness in us that says, the one who works harder should get more pay than the one who doesn’t work as hard. So at first glance this parable of the hired workers can cause us to wonder about God’s fairness. 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 

2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 

3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 

4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 

5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 

7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 

8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 

9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 

10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 

11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 

12 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.’ 

13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 

14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 

15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 

16 So the last will be first, and the first last.” 

Mt 20:1–17.

The characters: The master of the house who hires laborers, laborers hired in the morning to be paid a denarius for the day, laborers hired at 9 am, to be paid whatever is right, laborers hired at noon and 3 pm, to be paid whatever is right, and laborers hired at 5 pm.

A denarius was standard pay for a day of work. The first workers agreed to work for a denarius, a fair pay. Each group hired after that thought their pay would be a fraction of the denarius. But at the end of the day, they all get a day’s pay.

Owners of the vineyards and farmers needed more help at certain times of the year. Men needed jobs to provide the daily necessities for their family.

If a man could not find work, his family did not eat. The Law commanded that those who hired day workers paid them their wages each day and did not hold onto it. 

“You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. 

You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin. 

Dt 24:14–15.

The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 

 Le 19:13.

The first workers knew from early in the morning that their family would be provided for that day. Not only that, if the worker did a good job, it is likely that he would have a job throughout the crunch time, job security.

As the workers came on later in the day, they knew they were getting some provision for their families, they might have to sacrifice because it was not a full days pay, but there was hope for future employment. 

The final group spent the whole day worrying about their family. What would they do if they didn’t find work? 

At the end of the work day, the master paid his workers. He began with the ones hired at the last hour. Imagine their joy at receiving a denarius, all the worry of the day gone in an instant.

Those hired first watched each worker receiving a denarius and begin to expect that they would receive more, after all they worked all day, in the heat of the day. They complained about their pay, even though it was what they had agreed to. 

His reply let them know that he could do whatever he wanted to with his money, and he chose to be generous to those who came later. 

There is an implication that after they complained, they were not invited back to work the next day. He told them to “Take what is yours, and go.” 

The Jews knew from the time of Moses that they were God’s chosen people. They had his word, his promises and the stories of how God came through for them over and over. All their lives they had the opportunity to learn about God.

Gentiles did not have the same heritage. They did not have the promises, his word, or stories of God’s intervention in their lives. They were without hope (Eph 2:12). 

And yet, God chose to grant them forgiveness and repentance that leads to the same promise of eternal life he gave to the Jews…and they rejoiced greatly (Acts 11:18).

I became a Christian as a child. I grew up with the security that God loves me, that Jesus died for me and that I have a place for eternity. There were choices I made as a believer that freed me from regrets later in life. I am grateful for God’s early intervention in my life. 

Those who become Christian as adults didn’t have that same security. But they can have great joy because God has forgiven those decisions they made that caused great regrets.  

Lord, thank you for reaching out to me and assuring me of your love and care. Thank you for providing a means that I can hope in you for my future. Give me a heart to rejoice when you bless others.