Loving God, your justice is always tempered with mercy, treating us with grace and love.  Teach us to see others as you see them, and fill us with gratitude for all your gifts, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

           Many people seem to have the same reaction when they hear the parable of the labourers in the vineyard – Not fair!!  I mean, what about those people who worked all day long?  Shouldn’t they get rewarded for their labour?  This whole concept of unequal work for equal pay simply doesn’t sit well with us.  After all, those people who only worked one hour don’t deserve to be paid the same as the people who started at daybreak.  Is this really how God works?

         We all seem to have this sense that things should be fair, and people should get what they deserve.  However, then Jesus goes and tells a parable like this, which sounds about as unfair as you can get.  What gives?  The thing is that when it comes to fairness, perspective matters.

         If you were to speak to one of those workers who were hired later in the day, they would tell you that this landowner was more than fair.  After all, he gave them enough to feed their families, even though they weren’t hired until later.  In fact, even the workers who were hired early in the morning were given exactly what they were promised – which was also enough to feed their families.  However, the grumbling comes when they compare themselves to the others.

         In fact, many times, when we feel that things are not fair, we believe that we have been slighted in some way in comparison to others.  “Look at them and everything that they get.  Why don’t I get something like that?”  I’ve heard this kind of complaint when it comes to refugees – that somehow, they get things that we don’t.  However, might it be possible that their need is greater than ours?

         It is relatively easy to imagine what might have been the impetus behind this particular parable.  On the one hand, there were the Pharisees and other religious leaders who had spent their whole lives striving to live according to God’s commands.  On the other hand, there were the “tax collectors and sinners” who were welcomed by Jesus, and who repented and were forgiven.  On the one hand, there was Jesus’ band of disciples, who had left everything behind in order to follow him.  On the other hand, there was the thief on the cross, who recognized who Jesus was at the end, and was welcomed into Paradise that very day (Lk. 23:40-43).  Once again, not fair!

         Were we to consider a bit of a broader perspective, this parable – and the manna in the wilderness – illustrate, “give us this day our daily bread.”  The landowner in the parable gives each worker exactly what they need to feed their families, regardless of how many hours they worked.  In the same way, when the people collect the manna in the wilderness, they end up with exactly the amount they need for that day.  The only exception is the day before the sabbath, when they collect enough for two days.

         It is significant that we don’t pray, “Give us this day our daily bread, except give less to those other people because they don’t work as hard as I do.”  It is also significant that we don’t pray, “Give me this day my daily bread.”  An awareness of the needs of others is built right into this prayer that Jesus gave us.

         Ultimately, we are led to consider God’s perspective, who sends both sun and rain for both the evil and the good (Mt. 5:45).  This is mentioned earlier in the gospel of Matthew when Jesus teaches about loving your enemies.  God’s love is for all – even for those who have not yet repented of their evil ways.  Do we see this, too, as unfair?

         In all of these perspectives, however, beware of envy – and of the green-eyed monster.  At the end of the parable, the landowner asks, “are you envious because I am generous?” (Mt. 20:15).  In Greek, this is literally, “is your eye evil because I am good?”  You may have heard of giving somebody the evil eye.  This idea actually comes from Greek culture, and is kind of like a curse where you can send somebody bad luck just by glaring at them.  This happens when you are envious of another person.

         There is good reason that the commandments include “you shall not covet” and “you shall not steal” and “you shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.”  Envy is very closely related to each of these actions and can lead to all manner of harm.  Paying attention only to what others have that is better than us is bad for our health, and leads to plenty of grumbling.

         On the other hand, focusing on the blessings that we have received and living with an attitude of gratitude can do wonders – both for our mood and for our health.  Thank you, Lord – you have given us enough for today.  Thank you, Lord, for the beauty you have given us in creation.  Thank you, Lord, for the love and salvation that are ours through Jesus.  Thank you, Lord, that all are equal at the foot of the cross – for none of us receive what we deserve, but so much more, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

Lectionary 25(A)                              Matthew 20:1-16

September 24, 2023                       Exodus 16:2-15

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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