Matthew 20:12&15 But the original workers complained against the landowner, “These last guys only worked one hour and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the entire day.” But he replied, “Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you angry because I am generous?”
Christ’s warning in this parable is about our envy and our risk of becoming angry judges of God! In Matthew 20:1-16 the landowner hires groups of workers at different times of the day: early, 9am, noon, 3pm, and 5pm. The first workers gladly agree to work for the daily wage. The other groups are never told how much they will earn but trust the landowner to treat them well. At the end of the day, the workers get paid, beginning with those who were hired last. Everyone receives the same wage! Those who worked one hour receive a full day’s wage. This doesn’t set well with the first workers hired, so they complain against the landowner – who gave them work, was faithful to the agreed contract, and was generous to others who worked less.
This parable was initially a warning to the “righteous” children of Israel, to not be jealous should God pour out compassion on great sinners. He was also preparing them for the fulfillment of the prophecies that God would call the Gentiles into His family. The grievance of the first group of workers wasn’t that they were cheated by the landowner, rather that they now wanted more. Envy had robbed them of contentment. They despised their wages and the one who hired them. In response, the landowner said, “didn’t I fulfill our agreement?” and “why are you allowing envy to make you judges of how I determine to distribute what is mine to give?”
When I came to Jesus, I was broken. I had concluded that the world was harsh and unjust. Try what I might, I could not create inner peace and joy. I asked for my deep misery to be removed. I wanted simple peace and meaning. He offered me that and eternal life in the mix! I gladly accepted those wages. If others are smarter than I am, more financially prosperous, or have better connection than I have … what does that have to do with my agreement with Jesus? He has been more than faithful to the things we agreed upon. Has He been faithful to you?