A Parable About Grace

But he answered one of them and said, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?” (Matthew 20:13-15)

It’s one of my favorite parables. Jesus told a story about a landowner who hired men at different times during the day. They worked different hours – such as 12 hours, 8, 4, and some just a few. When it came time to pay the workers, the landowner paid the ones hired last first, and he paid them the same amount as those who worked all day. He paid everyone a full day’s wage, whether they worked 2 hours or 12.

Why? Because he wanted to.

The ones who worked all day complained against the landowner. Even though they were paid the amount promised, they didn’t like that the landowner was more generous with the short-day workers.

It is easy to sympathize with these who had worked all day. They worked while the others were idle. They worked in the heat of the day while others shaded themselves. Yet they were paid the same amount.

In response, the landowner reminded them that he had been completely fair to them. He did them no wrong and had broken no promise. The landowner did nothing to explain why he did it, other than simply to say I wish. The reasons for the landowner’s generosity were completely in the landowner himself, and not in the ones who received.

This parable answered Peter’s question, “We have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” (Matthew 19:27) This was the answer of Jesus: His disciples should expect to be rewarded; but they should not be surprised if, when rewards are distributed, God will reward others in unexpected ways.

This is the essence of God’s grace, when He rewards and blesses according to His will and pleasure, not necessarily according to what men deserve. The landowner did not treat anyone unfairly, though he was more generous to some than to others. God will never be less than fair, but He reserves the right to be more than fair as it pleases Him.

This parable is not a perfect illustration of God’s grace, because the principles of working and deserving are involved. God’s grace does not give us more blessing than we deserve – it gives blessing to us completelyapart from what we deserve.

Nevertheless, living under grace is sort of a two-edged sword. Under grace, we can’t come to God complaining, “I think that I deserve better than this”; because God will reply, “Does this mean that you really want Me to give you what you deserve?”

Don’t resent God’s right to give and reward as it pleases Him. His plan of grace is glorious.

Click here for David’s commentary on Matthew 20