“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.”

~Matthew 20:1

Now the payment for a full day’s work during the time of Jesus in the Greek was a denarius.  The original value of a denarius was about the same as a U.S. penny today.  It was a silver coin used by the Greeks and Romans for about 400 years.  Due to inflation its value changed quite a bit and by the time it fell out of use it was equal to about two dollars U.S. today.   

What could one buy with a denarius?  If I am not mistaken, roughly 10 asses.  A Roman soldier’s annual wage one or two hundred years after Christ could have been a denarius (10 asses); while a Roman officer’s annual wage may have equaled 2400 denarius (24,000 asses!). 

So how does all that relate to Jesus’ Parable of the Vineyard Workers, as our topic is commonly referenced?  Hop down to verses 12 & 16 for Jesus’ answer to protestors of His reward system for workers:

¹² ’Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

¹⁶“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

The scorching heat reminds me of those workers who harvest the fields of lost souls which Jesus commanded us and of persecution of His followers down through the centuries.  Yet Jesus died for all.  His gift of salvation is equal to all who believe; whether rich or poor; slave or free; regardless of our accomplishments, gender, race, or AGE.  My understanding is that a person who accepts Jesus as a youngster and walks closely with our LORD for an entire lifetime of diligent dedication to sharing His Gospel with others, will be rewarded the same as a person who comes to Jesus later in life – or even at the end of life.  Yes, this parable is talking about Jesus comparing His followers’ rewards to His money – that He can spend as He pleases.  He mentions it as a demonstration of His kindness to all who will come to Him.

Isn’t that a lot to grasp? There’s more …

And jealousy!  Jesus warns against it – in favor of kindness.

Then on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus takes His disciples aside and privately reveals that He will soon face betrayal and false accusations by religious leaders who will sentence Him to death. He will be tortured and crucified by the Romans (Matt. 20:17-18). But Glory to God! He will arise from the grave on the third day. What a powerful victory! But sadly, their recorded reactions are basic questions of who will benefit the most when Jesus rules the Heavenly Kingdom of God. Personal status and reward are foremost in their minds. Nothing is recorded here pertaining to reactions of sorrow or grief about the coming sufferings of their LORD on the part of the disciples.

This Resurrection (Easter) Week may we seek empowerment by the Holy Spirit; to walk as Jesus did by encouraging both the lost folks and faltering believers alike.  Receiving a spiritual normal daily wage as reward from our Savior in the future age to come binds us.  It doesn’t separate us.  It defines us.  It marks us as His; for what He suffered for us in order that we might inherit life everlasting. Our works are in His keeping as we trust His promise:

¹³‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? ¹⁴Take your money [reward] and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.’ 

~Matthew 20:13-14

The message of Jesus never changes. He leaves the 99 sheep to go look for that one lost little lamb. Is that you today? We experience many trials in life, but know that He is always there when we place our trust in Him.  We do not walk alone after we commit our life to Jesus. Get this taken care of now, friend! Eternity is long and time is short. Click here for God’s Plan of Salvation and my prayers go with you on your journey to discover just how generous our Landowner Jesus is with His Normal Daily Wage …

God bless you all, and Thank You for following Importantstuff.Live!

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