by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom. We will continue with our study of the discipleship principles our Lord Jesus left us in the 5 great discourses in the Gospel of Matthew.
Prior to the triumphant entry into Jerusalem that marks the last days of our Lord before his crucifixion is another narrative that is part of the 4th great discourse in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 18 – 20). Our subject deals with what our Lord Jesus taught on the point of inheriting eternal life. This narrative in Matthew 20:1-16 is unique and found only in this Gospel. For context, it follows the discussion about divorce with the Pharisees; a brief encounter with children; and the parable about the Rich Young Man, all in Matthew 19. Note that in the end of Matthew 19, in verse 29, the Lord gave the assurance of inheriting eternal life to all who follow him and have given up so much. However, in Matthew 19:30 the Lord Jesus also says that many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Right after this last statement, Matthew 20:1-16 commences with a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven being like a vineyard owner hiring workmen at various times of a single day, to work in his vineyard. As the narrative goes, at the beginning the owner promised to pay a δηνάριον (“denarius”), which is a small Roman coin that was considered the daily wage in those days; to those he hired. In the Gospels, the reckoning of times was different than today as per my ESV, NIV and NASB Study Bibles. The workday was reckoned to be made up of 12 hours divided into 3-hour chunks. So when the landowner went out early in the day, this could be taken as around 6 a.m. Then Matthew 20:3 says that he again went about and saw others around the 3rd hour; or around 9 a.m. our time, and promised to pay them fairly. The vineyard owner did the same thing in the 6th hour and 9th hour of the day; corresponding to 12 noon and 3 p.m., respectively. Matthew 20:6 continues with the owner finding still other workers available for hire at the 11th hour, which is about 5 p.m. our time. When evening came, or 6 p.m. our time, the owner instructed his foreman to pay the laborers their wages, beginning with the last group hired at the 11th hour (Matthew 20:8-15). These workers each received a denarius. Those hired first at the beginning of the day saw this and expected to be paid more since they worked longer hours. These men grumbled and complained to the vineyard owner that they bore the brunt of the work and the earlier heat of the sun. However, the owner reminded them that he promised to pay them a denarius for the day’s work and it was within his rights to pay the others what he wished. If he wished to be generous, he can very well do so.
The Greek word translated as “generous” by most contemporary Bibles is actually ἀγαθός (“agathos”). But this adjective primarily carries the meaning of being intrinsically or inherently good or kind. Hence other Bible translations use the word “good” or “kind.”
Note that in Matthew 20:2 the owner only promised a denarius to the first group hired and promised to pay ὃ ἐὰν ᾖ δίκαιον (“whatever is right”) to the rest of the workmen he hired at different times of the day (see Matthew 20:3-7).
This teaching narrative was counter-intuitive enough. For to us today, being paid fairly would normally be in proportion to our work and time spent. However, this was not about something one deserved, let alone earned. As far as we know, an inheritance is something given freely by the benefactor to the beneficiary. Furthermore, the inheritance to eternal life was based on the goodness, mercy and kindness of the Owner of Life itself. Salvation is by grace. Hence, even at the 11th hour, one can still be a recipient of that salvific grace offered by our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the end of the narrative, Matthew 20:16 echoes in inverted form what was said in Matthew 19:30; the first will be last and the last first becomes the last shall be first and the first last. How do we react to this? For Matthew 19:30, the phrase seemed to be a coherent ending to the encounter with the Rich Young Man and the subsequent teaching for his disciples. But for Matthew 20:16, I struggled to find coherence with this last verse. For me, the parable could have ended with Matthew 20:15. But it did not. So why is this last verse here? This did not seem to be the end of the story.
Immediately following Matthew 20:1-16 is the 3rd prediction of our Lord to his disciples about his upcoming suffering, death and resurrection in Jerusalem, found in Matthew 2017-19. This 3rd disclosure was more detailed (cf. Matthew 16:21; and 17:22-23). Then, in Matthew 20:20-28, the Lord has to deal with the request of the mother of the Zebedee brother, James and John, for positions of favor and authority for her sons with the Lord Jesus. The Lord gently but firmly handled the situation and did not let it ruin their fellowship. And in doing so, Matthew 20:26-28 gave a very succinct and powerful meaning to the phrase: the last shall be first and the first last.
The Lord declared in Matthew 20:26-27 that whoever wishes to be great among his disciples will be the διάκονος (“diakonos” meaning attendant or servant); and the one who wishes to be first among his disciples will be the δοῦλος (“doulos” meaning bond-servant or slave). Lastly, in Matthew 20:28 the Lord pointedly said to his disciples that even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his very life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Indeed the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, has spoken!
We will take up another topic in the Gospel of Matthew next week.
God bless us all.