Many Who are First Will be Last; and the Last, First

Matthew 20:1-16

Laborers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; ⁴ and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. ⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. ⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ ⁷ They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

⁸ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard *said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ ⁹ When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. ¹⁰ When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ ¹³ But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. ¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶ So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

Today's text, the parable of  "Laborers in the Vineyard" is a continuation of the accounts and themes from yesterday's reading in the One Year Bible. Yesterday there was the account of the rich young ruler who wanted to know what he needed to do to "obtain eternal life". Jesus responds but telling him to keep the commandments, to which the young man replies that he has. Jesus then tells him to "be complete" he should sell his possessions and give to the poor. Jesus said he would have treasure in heaven. When the young man was grieved by that Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. It's important to know that Jesus says regarding that “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” There is no hindrance that being rich or powerful causes on God's part. It is only in the heart of men that these are a hindrance.

After this account, Peter responds with,  Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” ²⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.   

Many who are first will be last; and the last, first. Following the account of the rich young ruler it would seem that the reference to first and last would be about position in the world and position in the kingdom. In the kingdom many who are not well positioned in the world will be positioned higher in the kingdom. In the kingdom it is all about faith and obediance.   1 Corinthians 1:26-28 says: 26For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,…

Jesus then tells the parable of the laborers. In this account we see illustrated God's justice. We see that not only does rank or standing in the world not matter in the kingdom, neither does chronolgical order. The last shall be first and the first shall be last. Not only did those who worked last and least receive the same reward, they actually were given theirs before those who started first. Surley if we are completely honest with ourselves we will have to admit that there is a little of the first man who complained in most of us. I know that I have found myself wondering why it is that some one else receives a blessing before me. We have a tendency to like the man in the parable try to make our case to God. While this is a normal human tendancy we need to guard ourselves against the effects of this kind of thinking. Comparing ourselves and others is a form of judgment. It can lead us to a point where we even question people's salvation. We can have a tendency to forget what we looked like when we first accepted Jesus and question how some one who still has so many outward problems could deserve to be so blessed by God. That's the difference between the grace we receive and justice. None of us deserve God's blessing.  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.(Ephesians 2:8-9)

The truth is, as Jesus says it in Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. God's desire is that none should perish , that all should come to repentance. Because God is eternal and see things through the lens of eternity, He is not as concerned with when they come as that they come. The reward of the thief on the cross teaches us that truth. Luke 23:39-43

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” ⁴³ And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”   

That man, the thief, never changed his lifestyle. He never served God here on earth. He was simply a man who recognized his need for a savior, received his reward. He truly was one of the last who was first and all heaven rejoiced at his salvation.

Can we then live our lives as we please and determine to turn our lives over to Jesus later? Even if we could be certain that we would have a final opportunity as the thief did, that would be foolishness. While eternal life with God is truly more than we deserve, it is only part of the blessing and reward God has for us. There are those who study the scriptures and believe that we will have future responsibilities reigning and ruling with Christ and so they serve God now working toward that future position. That motive and thinking is also flawed. As for me, I am content and confident knowing that God is a  just and generous God. I choose to walk with Him now because Jesus purchased my life on the cross. Whether first or last it doesn't matter in eternity. Our reward now is the abundant life He promises and provides, all the privileges and benefits of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.  Our future reward is to hear the words

  ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! ... Come and share your master’s happiness!’  

Amen