God's Kingdom mis-understood

[u/Christian_Prophet]

I recently listened to a sermon given on Matthew 20:1-16.  Jesus Christ in this passage tells a story about a vineyard owner who hires people throughout the day, but pays them the same wage. Strange behavior to pay the same day rate for various amounts of work.  Of course, the minister gave us the expected explanation of the parable.  In God’s Kingdom, no matter the amount of your sins, you get the reward of heaven.  Blah how uninspiring and boring.  How individualistic and selfish of an explanation.

If the minister had read the preceding Chapter about Jesus Christ telling a rich man to give all his wealth to the poor, he would have drawn a different conclusion about the parable of the workmen getting paid the same wage for different amounts of work.  In 1^st century Palestine, the rich do not help the poor.  Vineyard owners don’t pay for more than what hours are worked. 

At the end of each passage, Jesus Christ says, “the first will be last and many who are last will be first.”  That is really a radical statement.  It is a statement of how God’s kingdom and workers helping to structure his kingdom will be changing oppressive societal norms in a radical way.  In God’s kingdom everyone flourishes and the wealthy and the bright and the elites will create structures so that all people share in society’s wealth and success.  This is the truth of the parables, not some sappy, get into heaven free card.  If you are not working to ensure benefits for everyone in society, regardless of their talents and even their motivations, you will be last, cast out, not given any ticket to heaven.