GRACE BEYOND MEASURE
Text: Matthew 20:1-16
One of the things that shapes our views and values is how things work as far as standards go. One of the standards that we adhere to is what we call the "work ethic". A "work ethic" is anything that promotes quality, effectiveness, character, diligence, promptness, punctuality and what is considered as appropriate in all of these areas as far as employment is concerned. We also think that salaries should be reasonable because we do not think that it is right for people to be exploited or taken advantage of by making less than what is at the least reasonable. We think that with the passing of time and paying our dues by working hard that raises should be considered as the cost of living rises every so often. When the system works likes this, we call it a fair system. We know that there are exceptions to the rule and that there are some people who do not always receive what we call a "fair shake", when they have been passed over when it comes time for a promotion or a raise in pay.
When Jesus tells us this parable, He is not talking about "work ethics", He is talking about the grace of God and the Kingdom of God. No one can argue that God is not gracious and generous with His grace. It is grace because it is a gift and not something that we earn.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
People who were in need of work would often be in the marketplace waiting for an opportunity for employment. It was in the marketplace where each of these laborers were hired throughout the different times of the day in this parable. They all had one thing in common, they needed work because they had to work in order to live. The owner of the vineyard came and hired workers at five different intervals of the day. The first four intervals were three hour segments from 6:00 am, 9:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm and the last segment was the final hour of the working hours of the day which was at 5:00 pm. Although watches did not exist back then, these were or would have been the segments of hours that the workers would have gone to the vineyard to work. All of these workers were given the opportunity to work.
Life is a journey that is filled with opportunities. There are some opportunities that might not come but once in a lifetime. In his commentary on the book of Matthew, William Barclay notes this proverb: "Three things come not back----the spoken word, the spent arrow, and the lost opportunity." (The Daily Study Bible: The Gospel Of Matthew. Volume 1. Revised Edition. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975, p. 371). There is nothing worse than a missed opportunity. Consider Matthew 20:6-7 "Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing around, and he said to them, `Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ `Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. He said to them, `You go into my vineyard too’ (NJB). God is always providing us with opportunities. Consider Second Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (RSV). Beyond our repentance and reception to the opportunity of salvation, God wants us to serve in His kingdom. God does not want us to be idle in receiving the gift of salvation and He also does not want us to be idle beyond our reception of this gift in serving Him in His kingdom.
THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND LABOR
Time is an obvious factor in this parable. Those who were hired at different times during the day have been thought to represent how long or short they have been saved and labored in God’s kingdom. It has been suggested that it is not just that we work, but also the spirit and attitude that we have while we work that makes the difference. It has also been suggested that for some the work is "undesirable necessity" (Richard Carl Hoefler. The Divine Trap. Lima: The C. S. S. Publishing Co., 1980, p. 77). There are some whose hard work has been thought to "bear the heat and the burden of the day (Matthew 20:12) …" compared to others whose work is like "… a bare minimum" (John C. Purdy. Parables At Work. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1985, pp. 56-57). There are some who seem to be good at wasting time because they are not or may not be giving a hundred percent. They are not making the best use of their time but instead are wasting time when they do not have their hearts in their work. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, your heart will be also" (Luke12:34 NIV). If we are honest with ourselves, then we will have to admit that sometimes we are guilty of wasting time like that.
Labor is another factor in this parable. Jesus seemed to be making a point that would have irritated the Pharisees. The Pharisees worked on the view of "keeping the law". Jesus once likened their "misplaced motivation" about religion and worship to a cup: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:25 NIV). Consider the attitude of the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). When the prodigal son was received, and welcomed by the father after coming home from the far country, the elder brother expressed his resentment by refusing to come in and join the welcome home party. The Pharisees were often like the elder brother in their behavior--resentment and jealousy of the Gentiles who were repentant sinners. The Pharisees felt like they deserved God’s favor because of their self-righteous claim to goodness as it compared, according to their perception of those that they thought were undeserving and beneath them. Again, Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, your heart will be also" (Luke12:34 NIV). That brings us to the reward part of the story.
REWARD OR GENEROSITY?
Peter once asked about what reward he and his disciples would get for their having left everything to follow Jesus. This parable follows Jesus’ encounter with the rich man who had great difficulty in selling all of his possessions and giving to the poor (Matthew 19:16-24). Following that encounter, Peter expresses how he and the other disciples had left everything to follow and serve Jesus while asking what the reward will be (Matthew 19:27). After Jesus gives His answer to Peter, He expounds upon His answer by telling this parable.
Some of the workers protest the wages as being unfair. Some were envious because the owner of the vineyard was generous. Some get upset because God is generous. Some of the workers in this parable got upset when he paid the last hired first and first hired last all the same wages. "Although some may feel that their long and costly service qualifies them for a higher rate of pay in the kingdom, all must humbly acknowledge that they are like the eleventh-hour workers. None deserves the glorious future that God has prepared for them." (Douglas A. Hare. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary For Teaching And Preaching. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1993, p. 231). Despite that the pay rate was the usual day’s wage, this parable is not about money and work ethics. Instead, It is about, God’s grace which is beyond measure!
"The Great Russian writer Dostoyevsky tells the story of a woman who found herself in hell and she felt she did not belong there. She could not bear the suffering and cried out in agony for the mercy of God. God listened and was moved with pity. "If you can remember one good deed that you did in your lifetime, I will help you." said God. Wracking her brain, she remembered that once she had given a starving neighbor an onion. God produced the onion complete with stem. The woman grabbed the onion, and God began to pull her up and out of hell. But others, damned (condemned) with her, began to grab hold of the woman’s skirts to be lifted out, too. The stem of the ’ onion held and would have saved them all, but the woman began to kick and scream for them to let go. Thrashing about trying to dislodge her friends was too much for the onion and the stem snapped, plunging them all back into the depths of hell. So with us, holding on to our onion stems, our denarii of good works, we lash out jealously at those who have not done as much as we have for God". (Richard Carl Hoefler. The Divine Trap. Lima: The C. S. S. Publishing Co., 1980, pp.81 - 82). Again, one last time, despite that the pay rate was the usual day’s wage, this parable is not about money and work ethics. Instead, It is about, God’s grace which is beyond measure! If God were to really give us what we deserve, then none of us could stand (Psalm 130:3). God’s grace which is beyond measure!
