|
The Generous
Employer
(Matt.20:1-16) |
"The
kingdom of
heaven is like a landowner who went out at
dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them
for the usual daily wage, he sent
them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others
standing idle
in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard,
and I
will give you what is just.' So they went off. And he went out again
around noon, and
around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock,
he found others standing
around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They
answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to
them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of
the vineyard said to
his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning
with the last and ending with the first.' When those who had started
about five o'clock came, each
received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought
that they would
receive more, but each of them also got the usual
wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the
landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have
made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' He said
to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not
cheating you. Did you not agree with
me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish
to give this last
one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own
money? Are
you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and
the first will be
last."