To understand the parable of the workers in the vineyard, we need to look into the context in which it came about. Earlier in Matthew 19:16-30, a rich young ruler came to Jesus and said, “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” When Jesus finally told him to sell what he had and give them all to the poor, and to follow Him, the rich young man ‘went away sorrowful for he had great possessions’ (v.22).

Now Peter and his fellow disciples had left all to follow Jesus and he wanted to know, “What shall we have?” Jesus’ reply was encouraging. “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” (v.28, 29). While Jesus promises them great rewards, He also warns them against having a wrong attitude in service.

It was at this point that Jesus told them this parable:

Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a ‘landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard’. They agreed upon a denarius before the workers started work. The landowner made four trips to hire more workers to work in his vineyard. Unlike the first time, no agreements were made with the other workers as to how much they would be paid, only that the landowner had promised ‘whatever is right you will receive’. At the end of the day, all of them gathered for their wages. The landowner instructed his steward to pay the workers, starting from the last group to the first. Each of them received a denarius! The first group of workers felt cheated. Their complaint was, “These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.” But they had forgotten that they had agreed to work a full day’s work for a denarius and that was what he had paid them. “…Is your eye evil because I am good?” The landowner had every right to show his generosity to the other workers as he wished.

Two kinds of workers

There are two kinds of workers in this parable. The first group of workers thought they should receive more wages and ended up being disappointed. They had forgotten they had negotiated their own wages! When we make a bargain with God, He will honor His promise and give us what we had bargained for, no more no less. Therefore, there should be no cause for complaints. The others trusted the landowner’s promise, “whatever is right you will receive” and were generously rewarded. Those who trusted entirely on God’s word and character will find no limit to what His grace will do for them. Never trust in our own evaluations based on our short-sighted observations.

Now, Peter was present when the rich young ruler approached Jesus and Peter had seen him leaving sorrowful because he could not give away all his possessions and follow Jesus. But Peter and his fellow-disciples had left all to follow Jesus. Peter had given up his fishing business. Now he had nothing; he saw himself as poor while the young ruler was rich! Remember Peter’s denial of Jesus and how Jesus restored him to fellowship in John 21:15-22? When Jesus asked Peter to follow Him, Peter, seeing the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, asked, “What about this man?” And Jesus replied, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

When we start to compare ourselves with one another, we will covet what others have and this will lead to complaining when we do not have what others have. We must remember that other workers belong to God, not to us. In Romans 14:4, the apostle Paul asked, “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.” We are co-laborers with God. We are not in competition with one another. Let us work together to please God.

Many are called, but few are choice

The verse before the parable, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:30) and the last verse at the end of the parable, “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16). This relates to verse 8, “…Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.” DL Moody, the great evangelist, said it like this, “For many are called, but few are choice.” He refers the word to the quality of people who truly serve God in contrast to the many who are called and seemed to be serving Him. Let us serve God because of His love for us and not because of a promised reward.

Did Peter understand what Jesus was saying? In Acts 3:6, we read that Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray when they saw a lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful. Peter said to the lame man, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

It was no longer “What will I get?” Peter had given up everything to follow Jesus. He has nothing, yet he has everything - he has gained much more; he has fellowship with God, he has the power of God.