In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells a parable and uses the labor market of His day as an example of the Kingdom of God. In 150+ words, explain what lessons the parable has in how we should think about wages and the labor market today.
Matthew 20:1-16
âFor the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.3 âAbout nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, âYou also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.â 5 So they went.âHe went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, âWhy have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?â7 ââBecause no one has hired us,â they answered.âHe said to them, âYou also go and work in my vineyard.â8 âWhen evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, âCall the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.â9 âThe workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 âThese who were hired last worked only one hour,â they said, âand you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.â13 âBut he answered one of them, âI am not being unfair to you, friend.Didnât you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Donât I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?â16 âSo the last will be first, and the first will be last.â
In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells a parable and uses the labor market of His day as an example of the Kingdom of God. In 150+ words, explain what lessons the parable has in how we should think about wages and the labor market today.
Matthew 20:1-16
âFor the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.3 âAbout nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, âYou also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.â 5 So they went.âHe went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, âWhy have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?â7 ââBecause no one has hired us,â they answered.âHe said to them, âYou also go and work in my vineyard.â8 âWhen evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, âCall the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.â9 âThe workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 âThese who were hired last worked only one hour,â they said, âand you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.â13 âBut he answered one of them, âI am not being unfair to you, friend.Didnât you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Donât I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?â16 âSo the last will be first, and the first will be last.â
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