Matthew 20:1-19

Matthew 20:1-19 (New Living Translation)   

   “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage[a] and sent them out to work. 
 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.  So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.  So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing. 
“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ 
 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ 
   “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’ 
“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.  When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage.  When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage.  When they received their pay, they protested to the owner,  ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ 
“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage?  Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.  Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ 
 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” 
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.  “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” 

Devotional (by Marilyn Brooks)
When I read this scripture I first think that this is so not fair.  To be paid the same wage as all the others hired regardless of the number of hours worked is not fair, but that is the worldly way of thinking.   

We do not deserve to have the same amount as others who have worked longer but in  Jesus’s parable He is saying that we are all equal in His eyes.  Because He created us He loves each of us the same no matter what we have or have not accomplished.  Your membership into Heaven can not be gained by doing or giving more than someone else but by believing in and being faithful to Him.   Salvation depends on God’s love, mercy and kindness, we do not deserve it but He is a gracious and loving God and gives so freely.  We should learn to be like Him to bring him joy.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for your faithfulness and love.   Let us be not jealous of what others have but focus on and be grateful for what you have for us.  Your plans for us will be equally revealed in your time and your will.  Let us learn to be like Christ and share his undeserving love with others.  In Jesus name,  Amen