30. Matthew 20: Closer to Jerusalem
Parable of a Landowner and his Laborers (Mt.20:1-16) I will never forget an Adult Sunday class I sat in on one Sunday on this parable. The teacher, a local insurance salesman, tried to give it his best effort but at the end of the day sadly shook his head and confessed to me that he could not understand how anyone could run a business like that. I told him that was precisely the point! He got it (though he didn’t realize it)! The kingdom of heaven operates on a completely different logic and dynamic than does the commerce of the world where competition, competence, and production govern one’s success. That’s why Jesus told this story in the first place. The clue comes with the description of the workers last hired. The vineyard is a stock symbol for Israel, the landowner is God, and the various workers are classes of people within Israel. The last hired confess they are still available “Because no one has hired us” (v.7). These are the last and the least among the people. ...