Matthew 20:1-16
20: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 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.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Reflection
This parable demonstrates that God’s standard for becoming a part of his people is very different from the standards of acceptance used by the unbelieving world. Here, in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, we learn that God makes entry into his kingdom possible for all types of people. He does not save us based on our abilities, efforts, or social standing. Joining the people of God, entering the kingdom, and experiencing salvation come by God’s power, through his grace, apart from anything that can be done to earn them. Because of this, many who find themselves socially outcast according to the world’s standards will occupy the highest places when God fully establishes his rule. This is the logic of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Reflection
Paul has received a report that there is division in the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:11). Apparently church members were taking sides with their favorite church leaders, perhaps favoring those who had more attractive gifts and talents. However, Christ is not divided (v. 13), and therefore Paul does not want the church to favor some leaders over others. In fact, Paul himself doesn’t even want people to favor him at the expense of other godly leaders in the church. Paul, Apollos, and Cephas were all on the same team (cf. 3:9), because each of them had been sent by Christ to proclaim the same gospel message.
When we see church leaders with extraordinary talents, it is sometimes easy to overestimate the power of the gifts they have been given. The true power and wisdom for ministry does not come from the giftedness of the messengers. Paul wants the Corinthians to understand that the true source of power for Christian ministry is the message of Christ’s sacrifice for sinners (1:17). The gospel (the good news about Jesus) is the power of God for salvation (see Rom. 1:16).
Psalm 68:20
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
Is your confidence for God’s work of salvation ultimately in the power of God at work through the gospel? In what ways do your prayers reflect this? Ask God to give you boldness to share your faith by knowing that he is the one who ultimately saves.