MISSING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES Mathew 20:1-16
Rev. Paul Wrightman 2/27/22
IT’S JUST ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE OF US
WHO HAVE LIVED OUR LIVES IN THE STABLE AND COMFORTABLE
ENVIRONMENT OF A HIGHLY DEVELOPED COUNTRY
LIKE THE UNITED STATES TO UNDERSTAND THIS PARABLE.
INDEED, IF YOU’RE LIKE I AM, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A STRONG
DISLIKE FOR THIS PARABLE ON A FEELING LEVEL.
THIS IS BECAUSE WE CAN’T HELP BUT SEE IT THROUGH THE LENS
OF OUR PARTICULAR CULTURE, AND OUR CULTURE TEACHES US
THAT IT IS ALWAYS UNFAIR TO PAY WORKERS THE SAME AMOUNT
FOR QUITE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF WORK DONE.
WE GET THE FACT THAT WHEN JESUS INTRODUCES THIS PARABLE
WITH THE WORDS “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A LANDOWNER”
HE’S TELLING US A STORY ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
AND THAT THE LANDOWNER STANDS FOR GOD.
BUT ALL THAT THIS INSIGHT ACCOMPLISHES FOR MOST OF US
IS TO MAKE US ANGRY AT GOD BECAUSE OF THE UNFAIR WAY
GOD TREATS GOD’S WORKERS.
I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I DID NOT BEGIN TO “GET”
THE REAL IMPORT OF THIS STORY UNTIL I READ SOME OF THE BEST
RECENT SCHOLARLY WORK ON THE PARABLES OVER THE COURSE
OF THE LAST TEN YEARS.
SO IT’S TAKEN ME MOST OF A LIFETIME TO GET TO THE POINT
WHERE I FEEL THAT I’VE MADE A BREAKTHROUGH WITH THIS STORY,
AND THAT I FINALLY APPRECIATE IT ON BOTH AN INTELLECTUAL
AND A FEELING LEVEL.
THIS PARABLE HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN CALLED
THE PARABLE OF THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD.
THIS TACKED-ON NAME PUTS THE EMPHASIS IN THE WRONG PLACE
AND THUS LEADS TO SERIOUS MISUNDERSTANDING
FROM THE GET-GO.
SUCH A TITLE ASSUMES THAT THE WORKERS
ARE THE FOCUS OF THE PARABLE.
IN REALITY, A READING FAITHFUL TO JESUS’ OWN CULTURE
IMMEDIATELY SEES THAT THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF THIS STORY
IS THE AMAZING COMPASSION AND GRACE OF THE EMPLOYER.
NOW THAT I’VE DONE MY HOMEWORK, I PREFER TO CALL THIS STORY
“THE PARABLE OF THE COMPASSIONATE EMPLOYER,”
AND THIS BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE DAY THE VINEYARD OWNER
DEMONSTRATES GREAT SENSITIVITY AND COMPASSION
FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.
THE VINEYEARD OWNER – AND DON’T FORGET THAT THIS PERSON
REPRESENTS GOD – DOES NOT BLAME THE VICTIM –
THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE BEING THE UNEMPLOYED –
AS HAS BEEN STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HUMAN HISTORY.
TO UNDERSTAND THIS STORY WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IT MEANT TO WORK AS A DAY-LABORER
IN THE ISRAEL OF JESUS’ DAY.
DAY-LABORERS MADE UP ABOUT 90% OF THE WORKFORCE.
FOR THE MOST PART, EACH DAY THE WORKER HAD TO FIND
NEW WORK.
THE WORKER WAS PAID AT THE END OF EACH DAY,
AND THE DAY’S WAGES WERE JUST ENOUGH
TO COVER A DAY’S WORTH OF FOOD FOR A SMALL FAMILY.
HUNGER WAS A CONSTANT COMPANION,
AND STARVATION A GRIM REALITY IF ONE WASN’T HIRED
OFTEN ENOUGH.
TO FIND WORK MEANT WAITING IN THE VILLAGE SQUARE.
BEGINNING AT SIX EACH MORNING
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LANDOWNERS
WOULD APPEAR AND SELECT WORKERS
FROM THE GATHERED CROWD.
IT WAS VERY RARE THAT ALL WOULD BE CHOSEN
ON ANY GIVEN DAY.
OCCASIONALLY A WEALTHY LANDOWNER
WOULD NEED MORE LABORERS THAN THOSE HIRED
AT THE CRACK OF DAWN, AND WOULD SEND SOMEONE
TO PICK UP SOME MORE WORKERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY,
USUALLY AT 9, 12, 3, AND 5 OR 6.
TWO THINGS CRUCIAL TO KNOW TO GET THE REAL MEANING
OF THIS STORY ARE THE FACT THAT A LANDOWNER WOULD NEVER,
EVER STOOP TO THE MENIAL TASK OF GOING TO THE MARKETPLACE
IN PERSON TO GATHER WORKERS,
AND THE FACT THAT THE WORKERS
WOULD ALWAYS BE PAID ACCORDING TO THE ACTUAL NUMBER
OF HOURS WORKED.
THE POWER OF THIS PARABLE COMES FROM THE SURPRISE
THAT THE LANDOWNER WHOM JESUS DESCRIBES
CHOOSES TO DISREGARD BOTH OF THESE ESTABLISHED
RULES-OF-ENGAGEMENT.
WITH THESE FACTS IN MIND, LET US TRY TO PLACE OURSELVES
INSIDE THIS STORY.
THE OWNER OF A VINEYARD NEEDS WORKERS.
HE HEADS FOR A CERTAIN CORNER OF THE VILLAGE MARKET SQUARE
WHERE THOSE WITHOUT STEADY WORK ASSEMBLE EACH DAY
HOPING FOR A JOB, ANY JOB.
IN THE FIRST SCENE THE VINEYARD OWNER APPEARS
AT THE “UNEMPLOYED” CORNER OF THE MARKET,
SELECTS SOME WORKERS, AND OFFERS THEM
THE STANDARD WAGE FOR A DAY’S WORK.
HALFWAY THROUGH THE MORNING THE OWNER
RETURNS TO THE MARKET. HE FINDS OTHER
UNEMPLOYED MEN WHO ARE STANDING, NOT SITTING.
THEY ARE ALERT AND EAGER, STILL HOPEFUL THAT THEY
WILL BE CHOSEN.
THOSE WHO STAND ARE SOMEWHAT LIKE RUNNERS
EXPECTANTLY AWAITING THE START OF A RACE.
IF A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER APPEARS THEY WILL LEAP
INTO THE STREET, AND THUS HAVE A BETTER CHANCE
OF BEING HIRED.
THE MASTER MAKES A SECOND SELECTION,
BUT HE DOES NOT QUOTE A PAY SCALE.
HE SAYS ONLY “I WILL PAY YOU WHATEVER IS RIGHT.”
THE MEN TRUST HIM AND ACCEPT HIS TERMS,
NO DOUBT REJOICING THAT THEY HAVE ESCAPED
FURTHER PUBLIC HUMILIATION AND THAT THEY WILL
HAVE SOMETHING FOR THEIR FAMILIES AT THE END OF THE DAY.
CLEARLY, THE VINEYARD OWNER IS RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY
AND TRUSTED BY THE DAY LABORERS.
BUT WHY IS THE VINEYARD OWNER THERE TO BEGIN WITH?
NO SELF-RESPECTING LANDOWNER WOULD PERFORM SUCH A TASK,
A TASK RESERVED FOR A LOWLY SERVANT.
WHY THEN DOES THIS VINEYARD OWNER SPEND HIS DAY
RETURNING EVERY THREE HOURS TO THE MARKET
TO HIRE NEW WORKERS?
THE MASTER’S DRIVING MOTIVE APPEARS TO BE
COMPASSION FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.
HE SEES MANY EAGER MEN WITHOUT WORK
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY AND SELECTS SOME OF THEM,
HOPING THAT THE OTHERS WOULD SOON BE ENGAGED
BY SOMEONE ELSE.
THREE HOURS LATER HE DECIDES TO CHECK
TO SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
ON ARRIVAL AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT CORNER
HE FINDS MANY STILL WAITING,
AND THE EARLY MORNING SCENE IS REPEATED.
HE SELECTS A FEW AND PRESUMABLY OFFERS
SOME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE OTHERS
THAT THEY WILL ALSO SOON BE SELECTED.
BY NOON HE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE REST WILL HAVE FOUND WORK,
BUT HE WANTS TO SEE FOR HIMSELF AND SO RETURNS,
ONLY TO FIND A SAD CROWD.
HE HIRES MORE.
BY THREE IN THE AFTERNOON HIS COMPASSION COMPELS HIM
TO CHECK THE UNEMPLOYMENT CORNER YET AGAIN
IN THE HOPE THAT IT IS EMPTY.
TO THE MASTER’S DISMAY IT ISN’T, SO HE HIRES
A FEW MORE WORKERS, PERHAPS TO REWARD THE RAW COURAGE
OF THOSE WHO REMAIN.
WE CAN ASSUME THAT EACH TIME THE MEN ARE TOLD
THAT THE MASTER WILL DO RIGHT BY THEM AS WELL.
THE QUESTION, WHAT IS RIGHT, WHAT IS JUST,
IS THUS RAISED THREE TIMES IN SUCCESSION BUT NOT ANSWERED.
WHAT IS JUSTICE FOR AN UNEMPLOYED MAN, EAGER TO WORK,
WHO DOES EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO FIND A JOB?
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO STAND IN A PUBLIC PLACE
ALL DAY LONG AND ENDURE THE HUMILIATING GLANCES
OF THE FINANCIALLY SECURE?
FINALLY, ONE HOUR BEFORE SUNDOWN,
THE MASTER RETURNS TO THE MARKET FOR A FIFTH TIME,
WHERE HE FINDS SOME DEEPLY DEPRESSED WORKERS
WHO HAVE BEEN STANDING ALL DAY.
ALL THAT REMAINS FOR THE BRAVE FEW LEFT IS THE HUMILIATION
OF RETURNING HOME TO AN ANXIOUS WIFE AND HUNGRY CHILDREN
WITH THE BAD NEWS OF YET ANOTHER DAY OF FRUSTRATION
AND DISAPPOINTMENT.
WHY HAD THESE LAST JOB-SEEKERS NOT GIVEN UP
AND LEFT THEIR PLACE OF PUBLIC PSYCHIC TORMENT?
WHEN ASKED WHY THEY ARE STILL STANDING THERE,
THE UNEMPLOYED HAVE A SIMPLE ANSWER:
“NO ONE HAS HIRED US!”
THAT IS, WE ARE EAGER TO WORK, WILLING TO WORK,
READY TO WORK, ABLE TO WORK, AND WE WILL NOT GIVE UP!
THE MASTER DOES NOT SAY TO THEM,
“HERE, EACH OF YOU TAKE A DAY’S WAGE
AND BUY SOME FOOD FOR YOUR FAMILIES.”
HE REFUSES TO HUMILIATE THEM FURTHER
BY SIMPLY GIVING THEM MONEY.
INSTEAD, HE GIVES THEM THE ONE THING
THEY SO DESPERATELY DESIRE – A JOB.
BY THE END OF THE DAY FIVE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF WORKERS
ARE BUSILY EMPLOYED.
THE FIRST GROUP HAS A “CONTRACT.”
THEY WERE PROMISED A SPECIFIC AMOUNT.
DURING THE DAY THREE OTHER GROUPS WERE PROMISED
WHAT WAS “RIGHT,” OR “JUST” AS PAY.
THE LAST GROUP WAS PROMISED NOTHING,
AND NO DOUBT WONDERED WHAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE.
SUDDENLY, THE FIRST OF THREE BIG SURPRISES TAKES PLACE.
AMAZINGLY, AN ESTATE MANAGER WALKS ON STAGE!
IS SUCH A PERSON WAS ON THE OWNER’S STAFF,
WHY WASN’T HE DOING THE FOOTWORK AT THE MARKET
THROUGHOUT THE HEAT OF THE DAY?
THIS VINEYARD OWNER TAKES A PERSONAL INTEREST
IN THE UNEMPLOYED WHICH STANDS IN STARK CONTRAST
TO THE UNCARING ATTITUDE OF ALL THE OTHER VINEYARD OWNERS
THAT WE KNOW ABOUT FROM THAT TIME AND PLACE.
THE SECOND SURPRISE BURSTS IMMEDIATELY
ON THE HEELS OF THE FIRST.
THE OWNER TELLS THE MANAGER
“CALL THE WORKERS AND PAY THEM ‘THE WAGE,’
WHICH MEANS A FULL DAY’S PAY FOR EVERYONE.
THE THIRD SURPRISE HAS TO DO WITH THE ORDER OF PAYMENT.
THOSE WHO CAME LAST ARE PAID FIRST
AND RECEIVE A FULL DAY’S PAY.
THE ORDER OF PAYMENT IS DECIDED BY THE MASTER
WHO MUST HAVE IMPORTANT REASONS FOR CHOOSING IT.
HE KNOWS THAT THIS IS NOT THE NATURAL ORDER
HIS PAY MASTER WOULD SELECT.
IF HE PAID THE AGREED UPON FULL DAY’S WAGE TO THE FIRST GROUP,
THEY WOULD RECIVE THEIR WAGES AND LEAVE,
PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THEY HAD WORKED FOR
AND RECEIVED A FULL DAY’S WAGES.
EACH GROUP, IN TURN, WOULD HAVE BEEN AMAZED
AT RECEIVING THE SAME PAY AND WOULD HAVE LEFT,
DELIGHTED BEYOND WORDS.
IN SHORT, SUCH AN ORDER OF PAYMENT WOULD HAVE LEFT
EVERYONE PLEASED, AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN
NO ANGRY SHOUTING AROUND THE MANAGER’S PAY TABLE.
WHY, THEN, CAUSE UNNECESSARY TROUBLE?
OBVIOUSLY, THE MASTER WANTS THOSE WHO HAD WORKED
ALL DAY TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE COMPASSION AND GRACE
THAT HE EXTENDS TO THE OTHERS.
THIS PARABLE IS ACTUALLY A STORY ABOUT AMAZING GRACE,
GRACE WHICH IS RESENTED BY THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THEY
HAVE EARNED THEIR WAY TO MORE.
FINALLY, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE TWELVE-HOUR WORKERS
VOICES THEIR COMPLAINT.
“NOT FAIR!” SHOUTS THE LEADER. “WE SHOULD RECEIVE MORE!”
NOTICE HOW IN REALITY THOSE WHO WORKED THE ENTIRE DAY
WERE NOT UNDERPAID. THEY RECEIVED THEIR FULL DAY’S WAGE.
NO ONE IS UNDERPAID IN THIS PARABLE.
THE COMPLAINT IS FROM THE JUSTLY PAID
WHO CANNOT TOLERATE THE MASTER’S COMPASSION AND GRACE.
“YOU HAVE MADE THEM EQUAL TO US!” THEY SHOUT ANGRILY –
MUCH LIKE THE ELDER SON COMPLAINING TO HIS FATHER
ABOUT THE GRACE AND COMPASSION GIVEN TO THE PRODIGAL.
“THIS UNEMPLOYED SCUM – WHOM NO ONE ELSE WOULD HIRE –
YOU HAVE MADE EQUAL TO US. WE WORKED ALL DAY
AND ENDURED ITS SCORCHING HEAT AND WIND!”
TO THEIR MARKET-ORIENTED MINDS, THEIR WORTH
AS HUMAN BEINGS IS DIRECTLY RELATED
TO HOW MUCH THEY ARE PAID.
GRACE IS NOT ONLY AMAZING, IT IS ALSO –
FOR CERTAIN TYPES – INFURIATING!
NOW THE MASTER HIMSELF ADDRESSES
THE ANGRY WORKERS’ SPOKESMAN.
THE VINEYARD OWNER’S REPLY – REMEMBER, GOD’S REPLY –
CAN BE PARAPHRASED AS FOLLOWS:
“YOU HAVE NO COMPLAINT! JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED.
I HAVE GIVEN YOU WHAT I AGREED TO PAY YOU.
YOU ARE FREE TO DO WHAT YOU LIKE WITH WHAT IS YOURS!
AND I AM FREE TO DO WHAT I LIKE WITH WHAT IS MINE!
I CHOOSE TO PAY EVERYONE A LIVING WAGE.
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO HOME TO YOUR WIVES AND CHILDREN
AND PROUDLY ANNOUNCE THAT YOU FOUND WORK
AND HAVE A FULL DAY’S PAY.
I WANT THESE OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN THE DOORS
OF THEIR HOUSES WITH THE SAME JOY IN THEIR HEARTS
AND THE SAME MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
I WANT THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR WIVES
TO BE AS PROUD OF THEM AS YOURS ARE OF YOU.
SO YOU WORKED THROUGH THE HEAT OF THE DAY, DID YOU?
AND WHAT DO YOU THINK I WAS DOING
DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY?
ENJOYING A FINE NAP?
I WAS ON THE ROAD TO AND FROM THE MARKET
TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE COMPASSION TO OTHERS WHO,
LIKE YOU, ARE IN NEED OF EMPLOYMENT.
I COULD HAVE SENT MY MANAGER TO DO THIS.
BUT I DIDN’T!
I WENT MYSELF TO DEMONSTRATE SOLIDARITY
WITH THE UNEMPLOYED AND HELP TO ALLEVIATE THEIR SUFFERING.
WHY ARE YOU JEALOUS O0F THEM AND ANGRY AT ME?
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT ONLY JUST –
I AM ALSO MERCIFUL AND COMPASSIONATE,
BECAUSE MERCY AND COMPASSION ARE PART OF JUSTICE!
ON WHAT BASIS SHOULD THE GRACE I SHOW OTHERS IRRITATE YOU?
IT SEEMS THAT YOU DO NOT CARE WHETHER OR NOT
THEY CAN PRESERVE THEIR SELF-WORTH OR FEED THEIR FAMILIES.
YOU WANT TO TAKE MORE FOR YOURSELVES.
I HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE MORE OF MYSELF.”
HAVING LOOKED AT THIS STORY IN DETAIL WE MUST ASK,
WHAT ARE THE ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS THAT GROW OUT OF
THIS PARABLE?
THE MASTER’S COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE IS A MODEL FOR ALL.
HE FINDS A WAY TO RESPECT THE DIGNITY OF THE WORKERS,
ENCOURAGES RATHER THAN SHORT-CIRCUITS THEIR SELF-RELIANCE,
AND SEES THAT THEIR BASIC NEEDS ARE MET.
HE OFFERS A HAND UP, NOT A HANDOUT,
AND HE TRIES DELIBERATELY TO EDUCATE
THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE IN THESE MATTERS.
WHAT IMPLICATIONS DOES THIS PARABLE HAVE FOR THEOLOGY?
I’LL LIMIT MYSELF TO TWO COMMENTS.
FIRST, THE WORKERS WHO COMPLAIN HAVE, FOR CENTURIES,
BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH THE PHARISEES, WHOSE COMMUNITY
UP TO THAT TIME HAD SPENT DECADES DEFINING AND OBSERVING
THE LAW IN AN ULTRA-PRECISE FASHION.
THEY SAW JESUS WELCOMING INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN THOSE WHO HAD NOT SPENT THEIR LIVES KEPING THE LAW
AND MAKING SUCH TYPES EQUAL TO THEM.
THE LAW-KEEPERS ARE TOLD, “THEY ARE EQUAL TO YOU –
GET USED TO IT!”
SECOND, THE COMPLAINERS REPRESENT THOSE WHO NOT ONLY
OBEY THE WILL OF GOD BUT WHO ALSO SEEK TO DICTATE GOD’S WILL
AS REGARDS OTHERS.
THE POINT OF THIS STORY IS THAT THE EMPLOYER,
OUT OF SHEER GENEROSITY AND COMPASSION
FOR THE UNEMPLOYED, PAYS AS LARGE A WAGE
TO THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED FOR ONE HOUR
AS TO THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED ALL DAY.
IT IS A STRIKING PICTURE OF GOD’S GENEROSITY
WHICH GIVES WITHOUT REGARD TO THE MEASURE
OF STRICT JUSTICE.
FINALLY, THERE ARE IMPLICATRIONS HERE
FOR OUR UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS.
AGAINST THE EXPECTATIONS OF HIS CLASS,
THE MASTER IN THIS PARABLE DOES NOT REMAIN ALOOF.
HIS COMPASSIO0N LEADS HIM TO GO TO THE HURTING HIMSELF
AND THEREBY INCARNATE HIS DEEP CONCERN AS HE DEMONSTRATES
COSTLY LOVE TO THE POOR.
IN THIS PARABLE JESUS IS DESCRIBING HIS OWN MINISTRY.
A SUMMARY OF THE PARABLE MIGHT BE:
HE COMES TO US WHERE WE LIVE. HE LOVES US AS WE ARE.
ONCE MORE JESUS HAS USED A STORY TO CREATE A SACRED SPACE
WHERE HIS LISTENERS AND READERS ARE INVITED TO DWELL
AS WE MAKE THE WORLDVIEW OF THE PARABLE OUR OWN.
AMEN.