Monday, January 20, 2014

January 20, 2014: Matthew Chapter 20

The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 20

Originally posted on January 25, 2008 

General Comment:  The parable of the vineyard is a continuation of a single unit that begins at MT 19:16, the story of the rich man who could not let go of his wealth in order to follow Jesus. His fear that somehow he would lose his identity, an identity that had been built upon a foundation of sand and needed constant attention to avoid its dissolving out from under him, was greater than his desire for the new life in God's Reign. MT 19:30 is the connection verse, repeated at MT 20:16. 

Matthew 20:1-16 Laborers in the Vineyard

The story line uses the familiar images of farm work. In this case the tension - all parables carry the element of tension, is between the Master of the House who owns a vineyard, and the day laborers he has hired. The vast majority of farm workers were day laborers who lived from day to day. In the time of Jesus there were increasing numbers of small farmers who had lost their land because of debts to lenders who had loaned money for seed, farming implements and equipment. A drought, flood or simply a bad crop could lead to the small parcels being ceased and sold to landowners who were amassing large holdings to satisfy the ever growing need of Rome. It is in this context that Jesus includes in the Lord's prayer, "Give us today our bread for tomorrow" [translated from Greek text].

The Master of the House begins gathering laborers at the town gate at the start of day, at sunrise (not at a real gate but a place for towns people to congregate). He agrees to pay them the usual daily wage (The wage for one day's labor was the silver Roman denarius, hardly enough for a family's daily survival). He returns to the gate and hires more laborers at the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 11th hours, agreeing to pay them "whatever may be considered right" (hours are counted from 6:00 a.m. approximately sunrise, so the last group would have been hired at 5:00 p.m.). At the end of the day the foreman of the vineyard calls the workers together to be paid, according to Torah (Deut. 24:14-15; Lev. 19:13). To the surprise of those who began working at sunrise and had worked 12 hours, they were paid last and with the same amount as those who were hired at the end of the day and who had worked only one hour, but were paid first. They complained loudly, but the Master of the House reminds them that they had agreed to what they have received. And besides, it's his money. Can't he use it as he sees fit? Can't he be generous if he wants to?

On first reading we might identify with those who worked all day: This isn't just. We ought to get a fair days pay for a fair day's work. This looks like favoritism to me. We resent that last group who got as much as we did. They hardly broke a sweat. Why are you treating them better? No doubt Matthew's community understood the story as an allegory, with God as the Master of the House; the first group of laborers those who had labored long, obeying Torah, faithfully keeping the commandments and traditions; and the last group as themselves, recently arrived, free from the yoke of Pharisaic burdens. They would understand their payment as God's abundant grace. 

If we heed Jesus' opening words, "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like...," we realize that the parable is about the coming New Age of God's Reign. In MT 19:27-30 Jesus creates a poetic image in which the newcomers -Matthews community, are sitting in judgment of the 12 tribes of Israel. Like the rich man of 19:16, they are the chosen people, receiver of Torah, keeping the commandments, and a long, cherished history of worshipping God. The community, like the disciples of 19:27, have left everything behind - their past lives, to be followers of Jesus. They have done what the rich man could not. They will be first, but those who are not of their flock, who have entered by a different gate, are by no means shut out of the sheep fold; and the words of Ezekiel are fulfilled, "...I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out...I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered...I will feed them with good pasture...I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep...I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak." (EZK 34:11-16)

In today's world, there are many people of different religious faiths. They are not like us. They worship differently than we do. Their customs are not the same as ours. They call God by other names. They have different holy scriptures... And the Master of the house said, "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?"

Matthew 20:17-19 The Third Prediction

Jesus' 3rd prediction of his fate follows a pattern similar to the first two, MT 16:21-23 and 17:22-23. This last one is given as Jesus and the disciples were getting close to Jerusalem. Even without predictions, we can only imagine the anxiety of the disciples, and of Jesus as well. All the traveling, the teaching and healing, the admiring crowds will soon be over, and only bitter distrust, hatred and a politically suspicious Roman Prefect will remain. It must take something few of us have, to keep putting one foot in front of another. There was something about his relationship with his God, whom he called Father. Whatever it was, Jesus will need to call upon it very soon as he enters into the last, earthly choice he will ever make.

Matthew 20:20-28 Another Plea for Greatness

In Chapter 18:1-5 we read about the disciples questioning Jesus regarding who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Here the question becomes a request by the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Speaking on their behalf, she asks Jesus to give the two most important seats in the Kingdom, to the left and right of Jesus, to her sons. I guess that could be called an early example of Chutzpah. Jesus confronts the brothers and asks if they are prepared to face the same fate as he will. They say they are and Jesus assures them that  they in fact will suffer as will he. However, the exalted positions they seek are not his to offer, they are for those for whom God has prepared them.

We might have thought that the lesson of the child in Chapter 18 would have been strong enough to help them understand that power, prestige and seating arrangements have nothing to do with being a disciple of Jesus. But the desire for importance is strong and must be challenged more than once. Jesus will have to put it another way. Using the tyrannical manners and hierarchical structures of the Roman Emperor and provincial officials as his example, Jesus brings the two brothers and all the disciples back to the reality of being his followers. If you want to be great then be a servant to all. If you want to be first be the slave of all. In this economy of relationships the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Perhaps there is a message to the church in these words. What makes a church great? Stunning architecture, full pews, big budgets, inspirational preaching and teaching? Not totally. True greatness arises from service. Not service by the few, but by the many. And not to serve only ourselves but to serve those who Jesus met in every town and on every path that he traveled.

Matthew 20:28-34 Two Blind Men of Jericho


Jesus and the disciples were leaving Jericho, beginning the last leg of the journey to Jerusalem. By now the road would be crowded with pilgrims carrying their belongings, bedclothes, items for shelter and cooking utensils, on their way to celebrate the great festival of Passover. Beggars would line the road just outside the city, relying on the almsgiving mood of the celebrants. Among the roadside denizens are two blind men. As Jesus approaches they hear his name among the buzz of chatter. They begin to call out to him, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David." The annoyed crowd tries to silence them but they call out all the louder in a distraught persistence looking for hope. "Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David." Then there is stillness. Jesus stops, the crowd quiets itself in anticipation of what Jesus might do. What he will do is what he always does. This is not a distraction, this is an opportunity for the budding Reign of God to emerge."What do you want me to do for you,?" he asks. "Lord, let our eyes be opened," they reply with voices that believe he could if he wanted. With a touch of grace, a touch we all long for, they are made whole. They see, not only their surrounding world, they "see" with an inner sight, through the eyes of the soul. So they do what millions of others will do who gain such sight, they follow Him.

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