The Last Shall be First

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Mat 20:13-16)

Jesus told the parable of the labourers in the vineyard to his disciples. This was in response to their question about what they would receive in return for their having left all to follow Christ (Mat. 19:27). Jesus answered that the twelve apostles indeed had a special place in the kingdom, and that furthermore, every person who made a sacrifice to follow Christ was to be rewarded appropriately (Mat. 19:28-29). He concluded his answer by stating;

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Mat. 20:16)

In other words, all who follow Christ are to be rewarded, BUT, the way rewards will be issued will be surprising to many. Jesus said that many who were apparently in a leading position, would find themselves on the day of reckoning to be in a trailing position--and vica-versa.

This is the context that leads into the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. Let me summarize the main points of the parable.

1. The owner of the vineyard needed laborers to help bring in the harvest, and goes into the place where these hands may be hired. Most likely in the town square.
2. At dawn, he hires his first group of laborers by agreeing to pay them a daily wage. Negotiations are implied, and it may be assumed that the first group of laborers could demand the best wages because they were the most skilled.
3. The land owner returns and hires more laborers at 9:00 am in the morning, this time promising to pay them "whatever is right." The implication is that their wages would be prorated for the time they actually spent in the vineyard.
4. The land owner repeated this at noon, and then again at 3:00 pm, both times only promising to be fair in what he paid.
5. Finally, the land owner returns to the town square at 5:00 pm, shortly before the end of the work day. There are still laborers waiting to be hired. It may be assumed that these were the least desirable workers, either from lack of skill or physical deficiencies. The land owner also promises to simply give them what is right.
6. At the end of the day, the landowner pays all the workers who have been hired, beginning with those who only worked for an hour. He gives them the full day's wages, which is extraordinarily gracious.
7. Those who had been hired first saw this as a wonderful omen that the land owner was very gracious, and they were likely to receive over and above what they had bargained for.
8. When it came time for the first-hired to receive their pay, they were dissapointed and made bitter to learn that they would only be receiving what they had bargained for, and nothing more.

Here is what we can learn from this parable:

Some approach Christian service as something to be negotiated, and others are just happy to be at work in the Master's vineyard.
It is easy for us to see how this is true when we look at vocational ministers. Some entered the ministry in order to make a living, and others did so out of a sense of calling. However, I think we should realize that the parable rings true for all followers of Christ. Some follow Christ because of a perceived bargain they have made. They will be receiving heaven. Or perhaps a better, more peaceful life here and now is what motivates them. Jesus' parable does not reproach these--they will find that God is faithful to His word in the end, and they will receive everything that the New Covenant promises them.

Others however, are motivated simply by the desire to be called and chosen. Their joy is in being selected to be on the Master's team. To these, Christ will be especially gracious.

I can translate the message of this parable into a football analogy. The most skilled players out of college hire expensive agents to negotiate obscenely rich contracts in the NFL, and sometimes threaten to hold out of training camp if their contract demands are not met. Contrast this to the lower draft picks and walk-ons, who will play for the NFL minimum wage, just for the chance to play with the pros (see 2006 movie Invincible). They just want to be on the team.

Christ has a special place for those who want to be on his team more than they want the rewards.
No one will be shortchanged in the kingdom. Everyone will receive what is fair from the Lord's hand. But Christ promises to be especially gracious to those who are motivated more by love to him and his kingdom than by the promise of rewards.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Mat. 6:33)