Sunday Reflection – September 20th, 2026

The Labourers in the Vineyard 

Matthew 20:1-16

It’s not fair,! …we hear these words often; a child very early in life, seeing perhaps a sibling have what looks like more on their plate,…it’s not fair! Or Why do he or she get to go first,…it’s not fair.  The logic being that one is favoured over the other.  It’s not fair.  That sentiment carries on into adult life, one feels slighted or unfairly treated in some way; why do they get to go first, when I was here before them, someone might say waiting to be called in for an appointment….it”s not fair; I worked harder, longer than they did, why did they get the promotion….. It’s not fair. 

In today’s gospel Jesus tells the parable of the Labourers in the vineyard. A landowner hired workers to work in his vineyard, early in the morning he goes out and hires some agreeing to pay them the usual daily wage, then later in the morning he goes out and sends some more into his vineyard, and again at noon, and at 3:00 sends more in.  At 5:00pm he goes out again and there are still some standing around and he asks them, “why are you standing here idle all day.” They answered him ‘no one would hire us.” (Matt 20: 1-7)

Like the player sitting on the bench at the game, waiting to get put into the game, only to be passed over, these labourers were the one’s as such, that no one wanted on the team.  They were not the best perhaps to get the job done, slower maybe on their feet, not as able-bodied.  The landowner however at this late an hour sends them also into his vineyard. 

When it was quitting time, and the labourers were called to receive their wage for the day, he told the manager to pay the last workers first and then to go to the first.  The Last hour workers received the usual daily wage, even though they only worked for an hour.  When it came time for the workers who were hired first to be paid they were expecting of course a really good pay day, having put in a hards days work, they however too received the usual daily wage.  They grumbled against the Landowner. “These only worked one hour, they say, ‘and you made them equal to us who have born the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” (12) …  “It’s not fair.” 

Perhaps we too think ‘unfair’ here…., because it feels unfair to us, that those who did not work the same hours as some others would get the same pay.  In the context of our day, it would likely have been viewed as unjust or unfair labour practices and the union called in to settle the matter. 

There is much that happens in the way of unfair working conditions and practices in our world; some who work side by side with others, doing the same work, working the same hours yet one gets paid more then the other, or one receives benefits that the other doesn’t get; or as those forced to work in deplorable and unsafe conditions in order to put food on the table, provide for their families, while others make huge profits from their labour. There is real injustice in that and something that all should be concerned about. 

The landowner in this parable however was not unfair or unjust in what he did; he didn’t undercut the first workers, they had agreed to a certain wage and he had paid it to them. The others went into the vineyard not knowing what they would be paid, and he paid them also the daily wage. 

In the context of that day a daily wage would have been enough to feed the family for the day.  None went home empty handed, none went home without enough to feed their families for the day.  Yet, the first workers grumbled because the last workers got the same as they did. 

“Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?’ the landowner asks, ‘or are you envious because I am generous?” ( 15)

“Envy it is said is the thief of Joy”, and isn’t that the truth though.  It was a wonderful thing that all got to eat that day, not that some did while others didn’t.  You would have thought the first workers would have been grateful that they got to work and take home the daily wage, and be thankful for their neighbours as well, but instead they are envious because their neighbours also get to eat that day.

This parable is not about any unjust or unfair labour practices but about God, his grace, and the way of God’s kingdom.  Jesus tells this parable immediately after Peter, perhaps worried that though they had left everything to follow Jesus there was nothing in it for them. “What is in it for us” he asks. And Jesus says to him, “one who has left house, brother or sister, Father or Mother, or children or fields for my names sake will receive a hundredfold, and will receive eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last will be first.” (Matt 19:27-30)

Jesus was wanting his disciples to understand that God’s grace is not to be taken for granted, just because they were the first as such, didn’t mean others who came after them would be any less, nor should they take their status for granted, thinking they were more privileged than others; nor is it about what hour one might come, as did those in the parable with some sent into the vineyard at an early hour, others coming later in the day, and then some at the last hour, still all received the same.

Because that is how Grace works, it doesn’t depend on us or what we have done, how many years we have been a Christian, whether one have been their whole life long or more recent; neither do it depend on one’s faithful service, or how long one has belonged to a church, but  simply on God alone, and his grace towards us.  When we get that, …really get that, …. perhaps then we will truly rejoice, not only for ourselves, for the much blessing we have received; but also for those others, those whom one might otherwise think undeserving, unfaithful, unworthy,… and instead see all others as God does, worthy of his grace, worthy of acceptance and love, and will rejoice with and for them, in the goodness of our God. 

May we trust always in God’s grace for ourselves and for others. 

Amen, God Bless. 

Hannah+