The Incompatible Gospel
It occurs to me that this segment of Matthew's text is totally incompatible with the mentality that many people have due to the fairness rules that predominate in our economy. Today, no employer could get away with "unfair wages" as this figure did in Christ's parable. Even in the church we frequently hear grumblings from believers who complain of on-the-job adversity. Of course, Jesus obviously is not talking about workplace fairness. And I am not begrudging people of just treatment. This text isn't about the workplace. It's about something FAR more important - the Kingdom of God! But, sadly, because we bring with us into our Christianity our American sense of entitlement, Jesus is diminished from Messiah to our heavenly HR department. We grumble for fairness and seek privilege over service. I'll never forget what a member told me in a former church in which I served. Essentially, he felt that he should have a say in church decisions because he paid his tithes. Since when did a form of WORSHIP GAIN ME seniority? (Note my emphasis.) And Jesus addresses that in his closing statement in verse 16: "So the last will be first, and the first last." I don't know if Jesus would have pastored a very large church in this day and age.
