We Can’t Compare – Matthew 20:1-16
After witnessing a rich young ruler walk away from following Jesus due to his wealth, Peter asked, “What then will there be for us?” who had left everything to follow Him. Jesus reassured them of the glorious rewards in the Kingdom, promising not only earthly blessings but eternal life. He then said, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first,” setting the stage for the parable of the workers in the vineyard.
In this story, a landowner hires workers at different times of the day, from early morning to one hour before quitting time. At day’s end, he pays everyone the same wage, regardless of hours worked. Those who labored all day grumbled, thinking they deserved more.
Matthew 20:13-15
“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'”
Jesus reminds us that we agreed to work under His terms, not ours. He questions, “Are you envious because I am generous?”
This parable isn’t just about fairness; it’s about the kingdom’s economy, where our sacrifices can’t earn us more of God’s grace. Eternal life, the ultimate wage, is a gift through Jesus’s death, not something we can earn or deserve.
Moreover, this story warns against comparing our sacrifices or service to others. Such comparisons breed pride, jealousy, and division, which are contrary to the heart of the Kingdom. Some might give their whole life to Jesus, facing persecution, while others might come to faith on their deathbed like the thief on the cross. Yet, faith in Jesus grants the same eternal life.
Jesus is teaching the disciples not to compare themselves to others but to trust Him with the rewards. We are simply called to follow Him. Hence, “The first will be last, and the last will be first.”
