Orthodox Voices
Wednesday, August 13
The Worthy Heart III - Is Grateful
St. Matthew 20:1-16 (8/13) Gospel for Wednesday of the Ninth
Week after Pentecost
The Worthy Heart III ~ Is Grateful: St. Matthew 20:1-16, especially vs.
15: "Is it not lawful for Me to do what I wish with My Own things? Or
is your eye evil because I Am good?" In St. Matthew's account of the
parable of the vineyard workers, the Lord Jesus begins and ends with
identical declarations: "the last will be first, and the first
last"(vss. 19:30 and 20:16). These pronouncements are rather like
"bookends," that highlight the theme of the parable. Christ's
repetition invites exploration so one can appreciate the meaning of the
theme of the parable.
The way to understand the larger context is to review our Lord's
challenge to a man who said he wished to follow Him (Mt. 19:16). The
Lord confronted his desire with a challenge: "if you want to be perfect,
go, sell all that you have and give to the poor" (Mt. 19:21). Sadly,
the man was unable to let go of his great possessions, and backed off
(vs. 19:22). Our Lord's disciples were perplexed by the stringency of
the demand made on the man and asked, "Who then can be saved?" (vs.
25). Peter was quick to apply the message to himself and declared,
"See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?"
(vs. 27).
Our Lord assured His disciples that they would have a place as rulers,
"...judging the twelve tribes of Israel," and that if anyone should give
up the goods of this world to follow Him, he would be rewarded a hundred
fold "...and inherit eternal life" (vss. 28,29). Then comes the first
"bookend": "But many who are first will be last, and the last first"
(vs. 30).
It is evident that the Lord Jesus wished to reassure His disciples in
their commitment to Him. But He desires that all his "followers" should
not be "reward-oriented," but rather grateful to Him; for, of course,
God rewards those who are committed to Him. However, He rejoices in
those who gratefully embrace Him as did Abram (Gen. 15:1).
The singular emphasis of the parable that follows is that "all laborers
receive equal pay." Common human thinking expects compensation to
differ in proportion to labor expended, but our Lord is explicit on the
point that the Kingdom of God operates by its own rules - even as they
shatter the tidy categories of reward-oriented thinking. Gradations
such as "first" and "last" are rendered meaningless in the "avalanche"
of God's unmerited grace toward men. Listen to St. John Chrysostom in
his famous Paschal homily and apply it to this parable:
If any have toiled from the first hour, let him receive his due reward.
If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in
the Feast. And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt;
for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any have delayed to the ninth
hour, let him not hesitate, but let him come too. And he that hath
arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of
his delay; for the Lord is gracious and receiveth the last even as the
first....Let all then enter into the joy of our Lord. Yet first and
last receiving alike your reward....
St John Chrysostom understands that gratitude must replace
compensation! In the mercy and saving love of our Lord, repentance and
gratitude gain Life. "O give thanks unto the Lord and call upon His
Name; declare among the nations His works" (Ps. 104:1).
Commenting further on this parable, St. John Chrysostom queries: "But
the question is this, whether the first have gloriously approved
themselves, and having pleased God, and having throughout the whole day
shone by their labors, are possessed by the basest feeling of vice,
jealousy, and envy." May God's grace sustain our gratitude and keep us
far from envy and dissatisfaction - from questioning what God gives us
in relation to what He bestows upon others.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endureth for
ever! (Ps. 105:1)
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