You can sense it. I can sense it. It’s obvious. The first workers got ripped off. It’s not fair. They worked the most. They toiled during the toughest part of the day. The last group got to relax and sleep in while everyone else slaved away. Then, they didn’t work near as long. Their excuse was that “no one hired [them].” But the vineyard owner went to the marketplace several times throughout the day, hiring workers. Their excuse doesn’t fly. The vineyard owner is totally unfair.

That is… only if you’re comparing his actions to other people. When all the laborers (whether the first workers or the last workers) were not comparing themselves to each other, they were all just fine.

The first workers to be hired agreed with the vineyard owner on the amount of pay. This means there was at least the minimal of back and forth about wages. Both the vineyard owner and the first workers agreed. Those workers, then, went to the vineyard—no problem.

The groups of workers that came in the middle of the day didn’t negotiate price. All they were told is that the vineyard owner would give them a fair wage. So, they went to work, trusting the word of the vineyard owner, unconcerned that he might go back on his word.

The last group—the ones that made excuses for arriving at the marketplace so late in the day—they were simply told to go into the vineyard. They had no idea what to expect from the owner. He could have used them, for all they knew. Yet, they went willingly.

Three different sets of workers. Three different arrangements. And all were fine. Until comparisons started being made.

In absolute graciousness, the vineyard owner “gifts” the last workers (who only worked one hour) equivalent money to those who had been in the vineyard all day long. They didn’t earn it. They didn’t deserve it. They didn’t work for it. It was grace. The underserved, unearned kindness of the vineyard owner.

The first workers (who agreed to work all day for the wage) took notice of the owner’s graciousness toward the others, and their hearts were filled with greed. They saw the graciousness of the owner as an opportunity to serve themselves. They expected more than the last group, even though they had made an agreement. In their hearts, they demanded the owner to be gracious to them, thinking they earned it. Instead, they received their just reward, rather than the owner’s grace.

Upon their complaint, the owner points out the obvious. He did nothing wrong. He didn’t cheat them. Even though in their eyes it looked like less, he gave them what they wanted. Likewise, he could do what he wants with his money. If he wanted to give more to others by grace, that’s up to him. Perhaps, had they not worried about earning their wages, had they not negotiated a wage at the start, they may have received a gracious reward like the others.

We shouldn’t get too deep into the weeds of what it means that the owner and the first workers agreed to a wage. It’s mentioned to increase the contrast between the two groups in the story. The blessings of God in this world and in eternity are always based on His grace and not our works. The parable’s point is to “shock” hearers with the totally unexpected nature of God’s grace and mercy.

This parable delivers two warnings and a comfort, brothers and sisters in Christ, that emphasize how everything we enjoy in this life and in eternity are by God’s grace alone.

The context of this parable becomes the first warning. Just before, a rich young man told Jesus that he had *done* everything in the Ten Commandments to *earn* eternal life. Jesus knew his idolatry was his wealth. So the Lord told him to sell all that he had, give the profits to the poor, and follow Jesus. He then would earn treasure in heaven. The man—not recognizing that salvation is given by God’s grace—left sad.

Not fully understanding what happened, Peter reminds Jesus that he and the other disciples did leave everything to follow Him. In essence, he asks, “We did what you demanded of the rich man? What will we have?”

Though Peter isn’t understanding the Lord, Jesus recognizes Peter’s concern. He tells them that they will rule with Jesus in heaven. The Lord follows up that promise by saying, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”

Jesus is warning Peter and the disciples, Jesus is warning you and me, not to despise our brothers and sisters in Christ because we may do more for God’s kingdom. That would be the error of the first workers in the parable. In thinking that we are deserving of more rewards than other believers, what we really reveal is our heart’s disdain for other believers. When we think we deserve God’s blessings, we resent His graciousness to others. We fail to recognize that all of us deserve God’s present and eternal punishment, which Christ Jesus has delivered us all from by His grace without any doings on our part. We don’t deserve Jesus’ forgiveness, life, and salvation; He gifts it to us because He is generous to sinners. Likewise, any heavenly reward received—like the one promised to Peter and the other disciples—is only promised by God’s graciousness. It’s never deserved on our part.

The second warning is perhaps the hardest to hear in our day and age, and that makes it all the more important. The owner gifts the rewards to the workers through their abiding in the vineyard. God gifts eternal life and every blessing through abiding in Christ Jesus.

In other words, salvation is by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Not everyone receives the grace of God, because many outright reject it, spurn it, or feel it isn’t that important.

So, the warning regards our tendency to assume people are believers even though there’s no evidence of faith. Scripture is clear—faith comes (it’s a continual thing), faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ. Hearing the Word of Christ in the Gospel in all its forms, hearing the Word of Christ in and with the water of Holy Baptism, hearing the Word of Christ spoken over the bread and wine that are His body and blood—these are gracious gifts that sustain Christians in the faith. Hearing the Word of Christ in Word and Sacrament is necessary food that creates and keeps faith alive.

Therefore, every word that comes from the mouth of God is gracious food. Sadly, many reject the food. I’m not saying we should act holier than thou. That’s not our job. Remember the first warning. But we shouldn’t lie. We shouldn’t say someone is a believer just because we want them to believe. What we should be doing is praying for their souls and inviting them to the place where God bestows His grace that does create and continually nourish faith.

Finally, the comfort. Brothers and sisters in Christ, you can’t out earn God’s grace. You also can’t out sin it. Aside from totally rejecting God’s grace by rejecting the forgiveness of sins in Jesus, you can’t lose the grace of God. He doesn’t save you because of what you do or don’t do. You can never do enough to earn His favor anyway. Neither can I. He extends His grace and mercy to you in forgiveness because that’s who He is. He is gracious. He desires all to be saved—including you.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to heal sinners. He came to ransom you from sin, death, the devil, and hell. He came to claim you as His blessed people. He came that you may have abundant life in His eternal kingdom. He came to forgive your sins, cleanse you from all unrighteousness, and give you an eternal inheritance in the heavenly kingdom of His Father.

All of this is given to you through His precious blood shed upon the cross that you receive in His saving Word. The Word of Christ bestows faith. The Word of God is nourishing food. Holy Scripture is the power of God for salvation. God’s Word is the most precious gift of His grace. By His Word, the Lord creates in you new hearts and right spirits that seek to serve Him in fear, love, and trust above all.

You cherish God’s Word, joining together in this place to receive His grace by which He gives you way more than could ever be expected. And for that you offer thanks and praise, going to Him in prayer. What a gracious and merciful Savior we have! Amen.