The Parable of the Workers in the vineyard; Matthew 20:1-16
It’s Not About Deserving — It’s About Grace
Life often feels unfair. We work hard, we struggle, we serve faithfully — yet sometimes others seem to be blessed more than we are. We look around and see people who came late in faith, or those who have done less, being lifted higher, favored more, or rewarded sooner. Deep inside, we may wonder, “Why them and not me?”Just like the workers in the vineyard, we can easily fall into comparison and jealousy. We forget that God is the owner of the vineyard — not us. He decides whom to bless, when to bless, and how to bless. His grace doesn’t follow human calculations; it flows from His heart of compassion.
We live in a world where fairness is measured by effort and reward — but God’s Kingdom operates differently. His grace cannot be earned or measured by hours of labor. Whether you came early or late, served for years or just turned your life around today — His reward is the same: eternal life and unchanging love. The need today is to let go of envy, pride, and comparison — to rejoice in God’s goodness, both in our lives and in the lives of others. We need hearts that celebrate grace, not measure it.
Matthew 20:1–16
Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a landowner who goes out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agrees to pay them a denarius (a standard day’s wage) and sends them to work.Throughout the day, he hires more workers—at the third hour (9 a.m.), sixth hour (noon), ninth hour (3 p.m.), and even the eleventh hour (5 p.m., near the end of the workday).When evening comes, the landowner instructs his foreman to pay the workers, starting with those hired last. Surprisingly, those who worked only one hour receive a full denarius—the same wage as those hired first thing in the morning. The early workers, expecting more, grumble when they also receive a denarius.
They complain, “These who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day” (Matthew 20:12, NIV).The landowner responds, “I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:13–15, NIV).Jesus concludes, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
The Meaning of the Parable
In this parable, the landowner represents God, and the workers who were hired represent us. The first group were hired early in the morning, the second around nine, the third about noon, fourth around 3 in the afternoon and the last around five in the afternoon. They were all chosen at different times and places. The first group agreed that the wages would be one denarius for a full day’s work. The rest of the workers agreed to receive whatever the landowner thought was right. They went to work expecting less, but the problem came when they were all called to receive their wages. The landowner started with the last and gave them a denarius.
He did the same for those hired later. But when the first group of workers came, they expected more—and were shocked to receive the same amount. They began to grumble against the landowner, saying, “We have worked the whole day and borne the burden and heat of the day! "But the landowner reminded them of their agreement and his right to be generous. They became envious of the kindness shown to others. In this parable, we learn that the landowner has the right to do whatever he wishes with his money.
It’s the same with God—He has the right to choose and show mercy to whomever He wants. This parable teaches us about God’s grace, which is not based on human effort or merit. In the kingdom of heaven, salvation and blessings are given freely to all who respond to His call, whether early or late in life. God’s authority to choose challenges our pride and comparison, encouraging humility and gratitude.
A Personal Reflection
It happened to me today — I went to request a loan from my boss. She said I didn’t deserve a loan because I already had another one. But I explained my situation: last month, I lost my entire salary after we spent a lot of money at the hospital when my daughter had put a SIM card in her nose. We had to rush her to the hospital, and I really struggled financially. I took an advance just to take care of my family. After explaining this, my boss accepted my request and ordered the administration to give me the loan. When I went to collect it, the person in charge complained and told me it was not fair for me to receive another loan while others had not been given.
She said, “How come you are given twice while others are denied? "I told her, “It’s our boss who decides — she has every right to give to whomever she wants. It’s not because I am better or working harder than others, but because she had compassion on me.”This is how we often behave toward God. We think He operates by human standards — that those who work harder deserve more blessings. We believe He blesses by comparison, or that because we are more devoted in church, we deserve more than others.But the truth is, God blesses because it flows from His heart of compassion. His grace and blessings are not measured by effort and reward like the world does. He decides to bless whom He wants to bless.
Grace, Not Effort
The first workers thought they deserved more wages because of their effort. We often think God will choose and save us through our good deeds. We tend to believe salvation is earned by doing good works or observing the law.But today’s scripture corrects that mentality. Salvation has been freely given to us. The workers did not find the landowner — it was the landowner who went out to find them.They were idle, doing nothing, but he gave them work, not checking the time. In the same way, we did not choose God — God chose us. We did not find Him — He found us.We didn’t ask Him to forgive us — He forgave us through Jesus Christ. We have done nothing to deserve to be saved.Ephesians 2:4 says, “Because of His great love and mercy, God made us alive with Christ.”
And verse 8 reminds us, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”Even faith itself is a gift! We cannot boast about our salvation or claim God chose us because we were good. God saved us when we were still sinners.So if He decides to save or bless others, why should we be jealous? None of us deserve His grace — we fail Him every day.Look at your life — do you think you deserve God’s blessings? Be honest. None of us do. We all deserve judgment. Yet God still chooses to bless us — with jobs, businesses, families, and health. The problem is that we have forgotten God’s grace and become jealous and envious when others are blessed.
Jealousy in the Church Today
Even in our church today, we are often jealous of those whom God has called. We think we deserve or are entitled because we have served faithfully.How comes he or she came the other day and is now in praise and worship leading, while I have never been given a chance to lead?
How comes the church donated a lot of money to her and she does nothing in the church, yet I have been serving faithfully?
He is given a chance to preach, and I have never been given.Sometimes we find ourselves in this kind of situation. Today our hearts are filled with jealousy, hatred, and envy toward our fellow brethren whom God has blessed and lifted. God wants us today to get rid of all that from our hearts and start appreciating and celebrating other people’s blessings.
In return, we get blessed too. It doesn’t matter to God which time or how long — God blesses because it flows out of compassion. Even you, one day, He will bless you for your faithfulness — in His time.Every fruit has its season; likewise, every person will receive his due when his time comes. If it’s not yet your time to flourish, learn to appreciate others, and in return, they will appreciate you. From today, let’s learn to celebrate the generosity shown to others by God.
Conclusion: Grace, Not Wages
Beloved, in God’s vineyard, it’s not about how long you’ve worked — it’s about the grace that found you! The landowner’s reward wasn’t based on effort, but on compassion. The same God who called the first worker also called the last — because His mercy has no schedule and His love has no limits.Stop comparing your blessing to another’s. Stop asking, “Why them and not me?” The God who blessed your neighbor is still on the throne, and His storehouse is never empty.
Rejoice when others are lifted — because the same hand that raised them will raise you too, in His perfect time. Remember — God doesn’t bless by effort; He blesses by grace. He doesn’t choose by merit; He chooses by mercy. So work faithfully, love humbly, and trust His timing.The last shall be first, and the first shall be last — not because of who we are, but because of who He is.
