And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” – Matthew 20:11-12 (NRSV)
These workers are angry because they’ve been working since dawn and the ones who were hired at 5 p.m. received the same pay.
Look closely and you’ll see they’re offended for two reasons. One is obvious: It’s not fair to work longer and get paid the same as those who work an hour. The other is less obvious: “You have made them equal to us.”
Which is the bigger offense?
Hard to tell, since they’re both related.
“I want to be paid as a recognition of what I’ve achieved. And that means I’m a cut above the person who hasn’t achieved as much.”
No wonder the gospel is offensive.
Jesus’ Father joyfully gives everyone the same wage: an opportunity to be fully connected to “Him” and to one another. Grace enlivens all and is equal for all.
And that means radical equality for all. Healthy, ill, mentally ill, rich, poor, smart, mentally challenged, every race, every sexual orientation, every criminal, every Republican, every Democrat, every saint, every CEO, every food stamp recipient: ALL means all.
An Hispanic theologian, referring to this parable, said that in his congregation the people rejoice when the person showing up at 5 o’clock got paid a day’s wage. They were happy for him because now he can feed his family.
Our culture of works-righteousness, though, urges us to get angry and cry “Unfair!”
The offense of the gospel is that God gives based on who “She” is and not on what we do.
PS—It’s good to remember that we’re the ones who showed up at 5 o’clock.
“It’s good to remember that we’re the ones who showed up at 5 o’clock.”
True! I believe Jesus intended to direct this parable at the Jews, God’s chosen people, who were mortified to think that “johnny-come-lately” gentiles might become part of God’s family. A passage from one of Paul’s epistles expresses the same thought – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” ,(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Thanks for your thoughts, Bill. Made me remember Jesus replying to John the B, “Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me” (Mat. 11:6). Maybe when the parable ceases to be offensive is when we’ll be most open to God’s grace.