Kingdom Unfairness?
Matthew 20:1-28
This morning’s passage follows up right where we left off, at the end of Matthew 19, where Peter had come to Jesus saying “We have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus replied that the disciples would one day sit on thrones judging the nation of Israel. And to everyone else who surrenders and follows Jesus, He promised them eternal life, and that what had been given up and lost in the surrender and following, would be given back to them and even more. And we ended with Jesus’ statement “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.”
I have to admit that I didn’t do that one verse quite full justice, I had talked about it in more general terms- that one day roles will be reversed. The last, those in lowly positions who had sacrificed in their surrendering in and following Jesus would be one day rewarded- becoming the first. And those who haven’t surrendered and aren’t following Jesus- who seem to be getting by just fine in life, appearing to be first- will one day find themselves wanting, being last. While this is true, I believe there was an even deeper, more specific lesson Jesus was teaching. He had promised reward, and then began His first/last statement with the word “but,” as if conveying contrast to his previous teaching on rewards. And He immediately gave a Kingdom illustration to clarify His statement of “many who are first will be last; and the last, first.” Let’s look together at his parable, Matthew 20:1-16
Let’s walk back through this. Again, this is just a fictional illustration- a parable- that contained real life elements in order to convey a spiritual truth. A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer; it was the current minimum wage for a 12 hour work day- sun up to sun down. And as is common even still today in some places, there’d be a group of guys hanging out early morning, waiting to be hired for the day. This landowner snagged up all who were there at a little before 6am, but then found more at the 3rd hour of the day (9am) and sent them into the vineyard, and then more at the 6th hour (noon) and sent them into the vineyard, and then more at the 9th hour (3pm) and sent them into the vineyard, and then still even more at the 11th hour (5pm) and sent them into the vineyard. Even though there was only one hour left in the work day- he sent even those out into the vineyard to work for that one hour.
When it came time to receive pay, those hired at 5pm, who only worked one hour, were given the whole day’s wages. At this point the others were getting pretty pumped up. Surely if those who worked 1 hour were paid the amount equal to a day’s wage, then those that worked the whole day would get paid even more. The workers were probably thinking, “ok- we were expecting a denarius for the day, but maybe this guy actually pays a denarius an hour!” But each worker was paid the same one denarius- whether he had worked 1, 3, 6, 9 or 12 hours! And everyone was upset- why? Verse 12 tells us they were upset because the landowner had made the guys who worked only 1 hour equal to those who had worked the full 12 hours in the heat of the day. It was unfair! The one-hour guys didn’t deserve to get paid so much!
Maybe they didn’t deserve to get paid equally. But the landowner was very generous. He didn’t do anyone wrong, he paid the 12 hour guys fairly, and just chose to be super generous to the 1 hour guys. So, the last shall be first, and the first last. The ones last to come to work, were the first to get paid, and they were paid equally as the ones who were first to work. So how does this relate to the kingdom of God? Remember this is a parable about how the kingdom of heaven functions (as verse 1 tells us). The illustrations says rewards of the kingdom of heaven will be given in this way. If God is the landowner, what does this illustration really mean for the laborers- His servants?
Some have pulled the meaning to be that those who surrender and choose to follow the Lord late in life receive the same reward of eternal life as those who have lived their whole live serving the Lord. While this is true, I’m not sure that was the lesson Jesus was intending to teach His disciples there in that moment. There aren’t any indicators telling us Jesus needed to address the timing of when someone places their faith in Jesus.
Others have said the illustration is referring to the relationship between the Jewish people and the gentiles- gentiles being anyone who is not a Jew. The Jews were the first people group to be offered a relationship with God, their people group as a whole had known the true creator God the longest amount of time. But the majority of Jewish people rejected Jesus as the Messiah, and God flung open the doors for the gentiles to be in right relationship with Him. The Jews had been the first, but because of their rejection, they were becoming the last. The gentiles had been last in coming to know of God’s plan, but they were some of the first to receive Jesus as the Messiah. This is true, but again, I don’t think this was the immediate intended lesson to the disciples there in that moment.
I believe it would appear through the context of this passage, that Jesus seemed to be warning His disciples of the attitude that the upset laborers had when those who worked only one hour were paid equally to them. I believe He was warning them of jealousy, envy, and bitterness- when others would join the Jesus movement- others that maybe didn’t get a chance to walk physically with Jesus. He was saying, don’t be surprised at God’s generosity when others receive an equal reward. He was saying don’t be jealous of others who appear to do less work, yet who receive the same amazing generous gift of eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Don’t be envious of those who are rewarded the same as you, yet haven’t done as many “good works.” Don’t be bitter of those who surrender and follow after Jesus dies and is resurrected. Peter, James, John, and all you others- don’t be upset when you see people of Glady Branch being given the same reward of eternal life.
This is good news for you and me. As we walk on this journey of following Jesus- we don’t have to feel “lesser” than Jesus’ disciples. We can rejoice that God in His generosity, saw fit to reward us without partiality to those who came before us, without partiality to those who physically walked with Jesus.
I believe this was the specific intent of Jesus’ words to His disciples that day, I believe that was the point of the illustration. Now between this passage and the verses that follow beginning in verse 17, there might have been a little bit of time, Verse 17 says…
At this point in our chronological journey, all the passages we are working through are occurring as Jesus has His sights set on Jerusalem. He has spent some time across the Jordan river, and has come as close to Jerusalem as Bethany (2 miles from Jerusalem), He’s spending some time 9 miles north of Jerusalem in Ephraim, and 16 miles east of Jerusalem in Jericho- all the time balancing continuing to teach and prepare the disciples, as well as teach the people in these regions surrounding Jerusalem about His Kingdom. Look at verses 18 and 19…
This is the third time now, that we have recorded Jesus foretelling of His death and resurrection. Then verses 20-28 display for us an event where the disciples got upset about unfairness- in a similar fashion comparable to how the workers from Jesus’ parable got upset. And Jesus gives another application of how the first shall be last and the last first. While there might have been some time between verses 1-16 and verses 20-28, Matthew records them back to back, and I think there is purpose behind him doing so. The connection is both contain people upset over unfairness. Let’s read the passage together. (Matt. 20:20-28)
The sons of Zebedee were James and John. These were the two brothers nick-named “the Sons of Thunder,” because of their anger issues. Even with their issues, James and John were part of Jesus’ inner circle, the circle of friendship Jesus experienced with Peter, James and John. And John was named as “the disciple Jesus loved,” having a special friendship and bond with Jesus that was different than the relationship the other disciples experienced. And we are told later in Matthew 27 (verses 55-56) that James and John’s mother was one of the women who followed Jesus and ministered to Him.
This loving mother approached Jesus and asked if her sons James and John could
be honored in the Kingdom of God, by having special reserved seats next to Jesus. She obviously missed or forgot about Jesus’ teaching on seeking out not the most honorable seats at a banquet, but the lowly, humble seats. (Luke 14:7-11)
And notice Jesus doesn’t respond to the mother, but He responds directly to James and John. It appears James and John put their mom up to making this request, and obviously Jesus would have known that, if that was the case. Jesus says to them “You do not know what you are asking,” then He says “are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” Jesus was referring here to the “cup of suffering,” the cup that was set before Him- the path He was going to take in sacrificing Himself on the cross. Now why would Jesus say this, concerning the question of who is sitting next to who in the throne room of Heaven?
Perhaps the book of Revelation can give us some insight. In Revelation chapters 4 and 5 we have some description of the throne room. There we are told of God’s thunderous throne, and around it are 24 other thrones, with elders sitting at each. (Rev. 4:4-5) Immediately in front of God’s throne are seven lamps of fire, which are the seven Spirits of God. Also within its immediate vicinity are four living creatures- full of eyes in front and in back, each with 6 wings- and one is like a lion, one like a calf, one like a man, and one like an eagle. (Rev 4:6-8) And then also between God’s throne and the 24 elder’s thrones is a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes (the seven eyes also described as the seven Spirits of God). (Rev. 5:6) And then around all the 24 elders are countless multitudes of angels. (Rev. 5:11)
Now, if God’s throne is surrounded by 4 creatures, seven lamps, a Lamb, 24 elders, and then multitudes of angels- then it doesn’t sound like there is a whole lot of extra space for the Sons of Thunder to hang out. In reading the narrative from Revelation, what it sounds like is that immediately next to God’s throne is a place for Jesus the Lamb, and a place for the Holy Spirit (the seven lamps). Now concerning the difficult concept of the trinity, we scripturally have evidence for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit all being one united being, yet at the same time also being three separate beings. Even the verses I mentioned from Revelation point to there being overlap, as the seven lamps are described as the seven Spirits of God, and also the seven eyes of the Lamb are described as the seven Spirits of God.
Ok, so now that we have a vague idea of what the seating in God’s throne room looks like, perhaps we can come back to the question of why would Jesus ask James and John “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” It seems to me that Jesus took the mother’s request, as being a request addressed to God. The mother is placing Jesus as the central figure in the throne room, yet the book of Revelation tells us God is the central figure in the throne room. It seems like in verse 22, Jesus is answering as God, responding as the central figure to whom the mother’s question was addressed. In saying “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” it seems to me that Jesus (as God) was saying, “There’s a spot next to me in my throne room, but it’s reserved for Jesus the Lamb of God who will sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world. James and John- are you able to sacrifice yourselves in the way in which Jesus will do, and thus take equal seating with Him?”
And they responded “We are able.” Now surely they didn’t realize the whole scope of what Jesus was referring to, but He lets them slide with their answer and basically says “Yes- you guys too will drink from the cup of suffering, but the places around the throne room are already set.” The book of Acts tells us that James was actually the first of the disciples to suffer death by the Romans. Acts 12:1-2 says “…Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. 2 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.” And then John, was perhaps the last of the disciples to suffer a death sentence given by the Romans. We see in Rev. 1:9 that, because he boldly proclaimed Jesus and His word, he was exiled to the Island of Patmos- a remote Greek Island used by the Romans for banishing people they saw as threats. And there at Patmos he died. Yes, James and John both drank from the cup of suffering.
But now look at what happened among the other disciples in verse 24- they became indignant with James and John. Merriam-Webster defines indignant as “feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy.” It was unjust for James and John to elevate themselves and make such a bold, prideful request. They were unworthy to make such a request. It was unfair for them to think themselves above the rest of the disciples. Who did they think they were? And look again at Jesus’ response… (Matt. 20:25-28)
How did Jesus tell them they should respond when upset over unfairness? Basically, “the first will be last, and the last, first.” If you wish to be great (first) be a servant (last), just like Jesus came not to display His “first-ness,” but came as a servant, placing Himself last. This was directed to all the disciples- to James and John it was a rebuke not to attempt to elevate themselves in rank and honor above others, but to place themselves below others and serve them. To the 10 indignant disciples, it was a message to not get so riled up about someone seeking honor, because the only way one could be honored was by first serving others.
Both of our passages give answer to those upset over unfairness. In our first passage, we see that: to those tempted to be upset (jealous, envious, bitter) over others receiving a generous undeserved reward- don’t be, the last shall be first, and the first last. God’s going to sort it out- don’t be upset over His generosity. If God seems to be blessing someone else who has worked less than you, don’t worry about it- God’s got it. In our second passage: To those tempted to be upset (jealous, envious, bitter) over others wanting to receive a generous undeserved reward- don’t be, the last shall be first, and the first last. God’s going to sort it out- don’t be upset over others trying to claim more of His generosity. If someone else is pridefully boasting in their relationship with God, don’t worry about it- God’s got it.
Serve Him and others, He’ll take care of the rest. He’s super generous, and at the same time, there are certain things determined and set in order that He’s handling.
Questions to consider:
Have you ever been in a situation where others have been rewarded equally to you, although they worked less than you? Have you ever been rewarded equally to others when you worked less than them?
Have you ever been in a situation where others have requested to be rewarded in a way they didn’t really deserve? Have you ever requested to be rewarded in a way you didn’t deserve?
What do these two passages teach us about the character of God?