“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard went to his foreman and said, ‘Call in all the laborers, line them up and pay them the same wages…'”
The Parable of the Laborers
This parable begins with Jesus’ statement that the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man who is a householder (owner of an estate). He goes out early in the morning to hire workers to work in his vineyard for the day.
An agreed-upon price was set at a penny, the normal daily wage of a laborer. Later, around 9:00 a.m., the landowner encouraged those standing idle in the marketplace to work in the vineyard, not for a set wage but for “whatsoever is right.”
The landowner employed more laborers at noon, at 3:00 p.m., and even some at 5:00 p.m., with just one hour left to work. According to Jewish law, wages must be paid each evening before the sun set. When it came time for the steward to pay the laborers, he paid each man a penny. Those working the entire day murmured, for they supposed they would have received more. They had agreed, however, to work for a penny.
A Lesson on God’s Grace
This is a lesson on God’s grace. This parable says that it is impossible to earn the generosity of the Master, and neither performing better or longer than someone else makes a difference with Him. The landowner gave the same reward to all who came to work in his vineyard, and God gives the same reward (eternal life) to all who come to Him by faith. Jesus was saying that the benefits of the kingdom are the same for all who have become subject to its King, regardless of what they have done or how long they have been saved.
“For it was only through His wonderful grace that we believed in Him. Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! so no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving.” Eph 2:8
It makes no difference how long you have known the Lord or the amount of work you have performed in His kingdom, you are going to heaven with the rest of us, and you have the same love, forgiveness, and favor of the Lord that every believer has. Be happy today that you are who you are and are able to do your part, and God is pleased with you.
My Life Motto:
- “BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED.”
Contact
- Phone: 0847333 100 / 0769685 061
- Website: www.manxamalalasurvivalkit.com
- Email: moc.tiklavivrusalalamaxnam@ofni
