First and Last - A Reflection on Matthew 20:1-16



 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”


 We reflected upon this passage last month, especially addressing the seeming injustice of God in the way he treated the laborers, paying them with apparent unfairness. So, if you would like some clarity on that issue please do watch it (Generous and Gracious — https://youtu.be/62Hj3eRvAJE ). I’d like to talk about something else today. I’d like to talk about the comment Jesus made at the end of the parable: “The last shall be first and the first shall be last” (Matthew 20:16). This is a critical element of our faith so it is important that we understand this. 

 

Ever since we are little we are pushed to become better than everybody else. Note, we aren’t pushed to be our best; we are pushed to be better than the rest. Consequently, we are in rivalry with others practically since we get into kindergarten! This can become a very warped motivator, and as one grows older, it pushes people to engage in unethical behavior. We cheat, we manipulate, we lie, we bully — oh, you all know the things we do to get ahead of others. 

 

This is not the way we get ahead in the Kingdom of God. Jesus says the last shall be first and the first shall be last. How does this work? Let me tell you a story. In a boarding school, treats were given out every Friday evening. When the time came for the treats to be distributed, the children would be required to form a line, and wait in turn for their treat. The older, stronger children would invariably push their way in front of the smaller, weaker children. One day, the person distributing the treats noticed this. He waited until the line was formed, then went to the back of the line and started distributing the treats. And those who were last became first. 

 

Jesus doesn’t necessarily want us to be the last in the line, but he does want us to be willing to let others get ahead of us. In the long run, how does it matter who is first and who is last? We are all going to reach our destination, even if a few minutes late. Have you noticed that while driving some people will graciously allow you to get in front of them but others will ensure you can’t? It is like that in life too, and if we spend a few minutes thinking about it, we will realize how stupid it is. 

 

Before I conclude I want to return to a statement I made earlier. I said we aren’t pushed to be our best; we are pushed to be better than the rest. The latter is unhealthy; the former is not. Let us try to be the best we can be in whatever we do. And then let us try to do better than that. This will ensure that we do well in whatever we set out to do, without the stress that trying to be better than others brings. And in the process, we will make God proud.

 

So, be the best without worrying about the rest. 


Watch a video of this reflection by Aneel Aranha here: https://youtu.be/foUeWU5QMEs

 

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