February 18, 2025
Hired Help - Part 2
Matthew 20:6-7
02/18/2025
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found
others standing. And he said to them, ``Why do you
stand here idle all day?''
7 They said to him, ``Because no one has hired us.''
He said to them, ``You go into the vineyard too.''
(ESV)
The master of the house went out at dawn to hire laborers to
work in his vineyard. After negotiating a fair wage with the
laborers, the master sent them to work. Because there was much
to accomplish, and little time to finish the work, the master
went out multiple times during the day, each time finding more
people to do the work needed.
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found
others standing. And he said to them, ``Why do you
stand here idle all day?'' They said to him, ``Because
no one has hired us.'' He said to them, ``You go into
the vineyard too.''
The laborers hired at dawn knew they would get a standard
day's wage. Those hired later in the morning, those hired in the
early afternoon, knew they would receive fair compensation.
Finally, the laborers hired for one hour of work knew their day
would not be a complete loss, but they would earn something.
This parable is about the kingdom of heaven. God's ways are
not our ways. What seems fair to you and I turns out to be
opposed to God's rich love, grace, and mercy.
The master, God the Father, calls people into His Church,
into His presence, to bring the good news of salvation by grace
through faith for the sake of Christ to all nations. The Church
exists to pour out God's love, to give to people the gift of
eternal life. It does not exist to give us the rules by which we
earn God's favor, but rather to give us the forgiveness of our
sins. The works done by those who are called into the Church are
done in response to the gift they receive from God.
May our Lord grant that we hear His call, receive His grace,
and reflect His mercy. Amen.