The Parable of the Vineyard - Hiring Workers

[BetteTheRed]

So, Mendalla posted this for us under News, but I'll repost. I'm using the NSRVUE, as he did. I might note that my Inclusive Bible uses kin-dom instead of kingdom.

The Laborers in the Vineyard​

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’[a] 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”[b]

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Footnotes​

1. 20.15 Gk is your eye evil because I am good?
2. 20.16 Other ancient authorities add for many are called, but few are chosen

A note that a "denarius" is generally accepted as the amount of money a worker (usually a man) would need to bring home in order to purchase sufficient flour, oil, protein to feed a family for a day.

It's an intriguing (to me) passage, in that it asks us to consider the difference between "fair" and "equal". It also highlights the very human (and animal-like) tendency for us to get very opinionated/intrigued about differences in perceived treatment.

Also, anyone who has listened to a lot of Dom Crossan probably has heard his analysis of the passage, and in his reading "Because no one has hired us" in V7 is read in a bitter, resentful tone.

My take-away: Godde supports the systemic-fighting program of "Guaranteed Minimum Income".

 

[paradox3]

Amy-Jill Levine makes a good argument that this story is simply about treating workers fairly.

It is often assumed, I think, that the workers are standing around idle in the marketplace because they are lazy. But perhaps waiting for an employer to show up is their only hope for a few hours of work.

 

[Luce NDs]

The authority will state: "if I'm fair ... how can I win?"

This has a large impression on the idea of cheaters! These too may sell well given the hoomon circumstances ...

Remember in most belief systems winning is tantamount ... losing is escaping the boite ... bojite is a hard mineralized version left by passing of types of vapours! So much is lost in MS pelt form as it is pelted with hairy cover ... and counts on the head!

Imagine the squeeze and vice on the head ... to be jew Cid that way ... raisin what? Questions of the future of deadly authority as supported presently ... so exorbitant assertion goes on ... it is what we are left as leg a Cei ... regarding light C in Greek it is like Ka? And the queue is laid down regarding knowns and unknowns! We despise the foreigner ... no question from what I observe ... thus enslaved labour! Many deny it occurs ... and I descend ... a come down?

 

[Mendalla]

Given that this is a parable, I suspect that there's more going on here than just a commentary on labour practices. That strikes me as a very modern reading influenced by the likes of Marx. Perhaps there's an element of that, but given who's talking here, there is likely more. I'll talk about my thoughts on the economics in a minute.

My spiritual reading would be that it reflects on heavenly rewards (which may be in Heaven or may be in the Kingdom post-Judgement) being distributed equally to all. Or maybe on the distribution of spiritual gifts. That, in turn, would suggest something more like unmerited grace rather than grace being earned through works or faith. So supporting something like Calvinism or Universalism over a works- or faith-based dispensation.

Godde supports the systemic-fighting program of "Guaranteed Minimum Income".

I am not sure that I buy the economics here. This parable would also, apparently, condone the idea of a Guaranteed Maximum Income. In a Guaranteed Minimum Income, all would start from the same base, but those who worked longer could earn more as a hourly rate or whatever. This parable seemingly caps them all at the "minimum". Which, let's face it, is modern Marxist ideology 101 (and therefore unlikely to be a correct understanding of the writer's intent). But it leaves the landowner in control of who gets what, which is feudalism 101 or maybe even early modern capitalism 101 (probably a bit more truth in this one, given the time and place, but still a modern reading). So basically what you have is a feudal landlord or early capitalist with a Marxist leaning. Hardly the model for a just society.

 

[Luce NDs]

Given that this is a parable, I suspect that there's more going on here than just a commentary on labour practices. That strikes me as a very modern reading influenced by the likes of Marx. Perhaps there's an element of that, but given who's talking here, there is likely more. I'll talk about my thoughts on the economics in a minute.

My spiritual reading would be that it reflects on heavenly rewards (which may be in Heaven or may be in the Kingdom post-Judgement) being distributed equally to all. Or maybe on the distribution of spiritual gifts. That, in turn, would suggest something more like unmerited grace rather than grace being earned through works or faith. So supporting something like Calvinism or Universalism over a works- or faith-based dispensation.


I am not sure that I buy the economics here. This parable would also, apparently, condone the idea of a Guaranteed Maximum Income. In a Guaranteed Minimum Income, all would start from the same base, but those who worked longer could earn more as a hourly rate or whatever. This parable seemingly caps them all at the "minimum". Which, let's face it, is modern Marxist ideology 101 (and therefore unlikely to be a correct understanding of the writer's intent). But it leaves the landowner in control of who gets what, which is feudalism 101 or maybe even early modern capitalism 101 (probably a bit more truth in this one, given the time and place, but still a modern reading). So basically what you have is a feudal landlord or early capitalist with a Marxist leaning. Hardly the model for a just society.

Then the bottom line is eliminated and death should be Beta dignified so we can slide out silently ... obscure escapism as the hole that forms with endogeneity? Hole Ah ... like word inked on a page buoyed ... it goes round gererally misunderstood because of rational avarice ... any thing can be reasoned without Karris ...

Face it ... physical is dense matter on which we sing and dance ... with little essence because the pious does not really believe in spirit and spooks ... only myths, legends and in leagues ... bunches in a maddening state? Mostly stunned, stupid and naivete applied? Could be the emotionally heightened state because of varied phoebe ... shei being the fear of all fears ... the bust descends ... storied or in tiers? Stacked ... projects all that is unknown ... to those that believe they do ...

Thus it goes down ... swallowed hole ... like nothing! That's life to that which is out there ... aural trans mediation ... quiet said Oman ... maybe O'scar ... wound in the essence ... and heaven opens ... leading to basket cases in the sans or waddles and huts ...

 

[paradox3]

Traditionally the Landowner is God and the wages represent God's grace. Even with this interpretation it is interesting to contemplate the idle ones in the marketplace. Were they idle because God hadn't called them yet??

 

[Mendalla]

Traditionally the Landowner is God and the wages represent God's grace. Even with this interpretation it is interesting to contemplate the idle ones in the marketplace. Were they idle because God hadn't called them yet??

Maybe Calvinism is right and those are the ones not predestined to receive grace? Or this is not pure unmerited grace and can be refused or ignored? But in a Universalist model, you're probably right since Universalism says all will eventually be saved so maybe their time just had to come.

 

[paradox3]

God's time is not our time could be part of the message here.

 

[Luce NDs]

Imagine the concept of marketing possession-ism as avarice under cover!

Is that mote a vat 'd ion? Ion being a speck in time presented as an eon! Poorly appreciated ... there' just no respect cultivated in hoo M'N! Degrades to MU's ... remaining thought!

 

[Waterfall]

'So the last will be first and the first will be last."


It seems the first ones had to suffer through the scorching heat and the days burdens. Would this suggest that for some there is suffering involved in order to receive the same pay as those who will not have too suffer?

 

[paradox3]

God will call as God sees fit, the parable seems to tell us. God will be as generous as it suits God to be. None of this will be as we expect.

 

[Luce NDs]

'So the last will be first and the first will be last."


It seems the first ones had to suffer through the scorching heat and the days burdens. Would this suggest that for some there is suffering involved in order to receive the same pay as those who will not have too suffer?

Until the first trees provided for shady th' ought process about nothing and people had the potential of unheard of wisdom?

 

[Luce NDs]

God will call as God sees fit, the parable seems to tell us. God will be as generous as it suits God to be. None of this will be as we expect.

If we believe in things unseen ... will many reasons become faint in the world of rationing? Thus many shall go down due to avarice ... creating waves and bob 'n the mysterious pool of hoo M'N nature ... loss of thought is a scheme ... a form of conspiracy with many shades and spectral hue!

 

[unsafe]

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

This tells you what this Parable is about -------it is about showing you what God's Kingdom is like and how it is run ------

2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.

If you do your research you will find that it was a common practice for people to go to a common area and hope to be hired for work in Jesus day -------so the parable would be well recognized and understood to the people of that time -----so people were hired at different times of the day but notice he didn't say what their wage would be -to the later people hired ----like he did with the first group he hired ---he says to the others ------I will pay you whatever is right.----

So then we see that all people hired were payed the same wage and this caused anger ---division and frustration among the workers who were hired first -------so typical of this world and how we are taught to react when WE feel We Deserve More than someone else or some other group -----

God says -----It is I who decide who deserves what and when -----not you ------showing His Sovereignty here

And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’

13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.

15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?

This Shows that We own Nothing --God owns everything we have ---as it is God who gives us the power --ability to have a job and get paid to be able to buy all we have ----we are Just Stewart's of what belongs to God in the first place -----

16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

And this verse shows us a couple of things -----God's Kingdom works upside down from this world -----
It shows us that when we receive God's free gift of Salvation there is no distinction between male or female --Greek or Jew ----all are equal in God's Kingdom -----all are treated the same -------and anyone who thinks they deserve to be first -----like the Pharisees thought -----they will be last in the Kingdom of God and the people who are the meek and think they deserve to be last will be first in God's kingdom ---

that is my view of this parable -----

 

[Luce NDs]

Thus we wonder about what chance God's people have unless part of the closed God circle ... a diabolical theing that is used against inclusion of alien thoughts, etc.

In which case people do not learn much about change ... and growth of spirit ... we couln't have such an essnece could we if intent to remain the same and fixed as an edifice? Then the power asks: "what did you learn out there as a prodigal from the wastelands?" Imagine the prodigal being a waste to those of great emotion about fixation! NO change!

In such a circumstance ... why say you're going for change when you are caught with your hand in the treasury? Hot handed ...

 

[Nancy]

This is the scripture that my reflection was based on today. I focused on grace, and justice, and how our version of justice might need a tune up. For some reason...people felt that the message was enlightening. I'm glad, because it was a tough one.

 

[Luce NDs]

There once was a controversial, hard-line congregation in the GTO called the Vineyard ... one of the leaders spoke in very odd manner of tongues that caused considerable splatter of the make-up ...

II know a couple of folk that were burned in the labour of eliminating the effort of everything in the theoretic construct of folk working together equally for what their talents allowed ... many died so a few could fatten there purses ... the BS is were better than all other creation! There an inky and sinking consideration! A bit of advantage gets way out of control forming a burning alternate hand ... Yah? That's Yah way of doing physicality ... obverse in essence!

Obverse is an interesting definition!

 

[unsafe]

Have you ever noticed Satan's cross ----






-it is upside down from God's Cross ------why because Satan is still in charge of this world until Jesus comes back to deal with him for good and this world works upside down from God's kingdom ------which this parable with the labourers shows ------

 

[Luce NDs]

Take a stab at cutting you way out of that BS!

Diabolical they say in stonewalled edifice ... they are entranced by unprovable matters ... and things out there are yet ... beyond that collective! Thus motivation goes ... and they are set ... unmovable! Inability to learn of eternal matter ...

Several traditions support the double edged item ... that's the word! Ominous ... goes all ways ... means are eliminated in reality ... thus no medium ... moderation fails and sentient departs as sinking sapiens ... homo? Well stirred ...

Yesterday a chap dealing with demented matters stated that perhaps in his last 10 years he would depend on spirits and pharmaceuticals for survival ... a drag on end? Draught, or druid ...

 

[Waterfall]

Have you ever noticed Satan's cross ----

View attachment 8569




-it is upside down from God's Cross ------why because Satan is still in charge of this world until Jesus comes back to deal with him for good and this world works upside down from God's kingdom ------which this parable with the labourers shows ------

Satan has a cross?