Mar 17, 2024 "Justice" (Matthew 20:1-16)

Justice

Matthew 20:1-16

 

In South Korea, justice is a big topic among politicians these days, especially with the election is coming up in April 2024.

 

In the passage about the vineyard owner who pays the same wages to his workers despite them working different hours I Matthew 20. Most of us think of salvation when we read this passage; however, it is about justice.

 

If we look at this in the context of the ancient times, we may have a better understanding.  

 

The owner of the vineyard was very rich. We know this because he had to hire many people to work on his land. The grapes were used to make wine which is not necessary but wanted. The vineyard would have been on the best land which again tells us he was rich.  

 

The vineyard owner goes out instead of sending a manager to hire laborers. He offers them a denarius, which was the standard wage for a day.

 

The vineyard owner goes to find laborers and hires some immediately very early in the morning.  He then hires more at nine in the morning. He tells them that they will be paid fairly.  

 

Later in the afternoon, the owner hires even more workers. They had not been hired yet. No one would hire them, so the owner did and offered a fair wage.  

 

When it is the end of the day, he tells the foreman to pay the last hired first and the first hired last. They are not paid pro rata but are all paid the same wages.

 

The owner pays them in such  a way that the first ones hired sees what the last ones were paid which was the same paid to all. The first ones hired were angry, but the owner responds like this.

   

Matthew 20:13-15 ESV

[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?’  

 

The owner wanted to be generous with as many people as he could. He wanted everyone a chance to work. This meant that some people would work more and longer whereas some worked very little, so everyone was able to work with dignity and have enough.  

 

The vineyard owner is not an effective manager by our standards. However, we know in our world efficiency has led to unemployment, climate problems and over consumption.  

 

In God's eyes , it is more important that everyone has enough and all  

    

Before the throne of God above

In Christ alone

Living Hope