Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30; Matthew 20:1-16

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It is often said that justice is to be blind. Equal justice under the law requires the law to be applied fairly to all people. Yet, in our world, we talk more about how justice isn’t fair. We talk extensively about the select few that bend the law to their benefit. For we’re all quick to notice when the scales of justice are tipped in another’s favor. We aren’t, however, when the scales are tipped towards us.

Whenever we benefit from a mistake, a deal, or trade more than another, we compliment ourselves by calling it wisdom, expertise, or even luck. When another person benefits more than we do, we call it unfair. We are always quicker to complain about a deficit than we are to correct a surplus. 

In our Gospel lesson this week, a master goes out to call workers into his vineyard. He calls some at the start of the day and agrees with them on a wage (Matthew 20:1-2). He repeats this process at the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hour. Only no wage is mentioned. When evening comes and it is time to pay the workers, the master gives them all the same, equal pay. Everyone should be happy, right? But the first workers grumble, “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,” Matthew 20:12. “Unfair! We worked more. We’re better. It’s unequal.”

When it comes to faith, it doesn’t matter how long you “work”. Whether you begin in the “morning” or are brought in at the “end of the day”, the reward is the same. To us that seems unfair. And that’s certainly the point. God doesn’t operate by our standard of fairness or justice. Even as Isaiah writes, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” Isaiah 55:9. 

With God, justice and fairness aren’t ever about how much we do. If God were fair with us, we’d all be in Hell! According to our works, we are all sinners. We all would be left in the marketplace without any work whatsoever. But the Master, the Lord cares more about us than our wage. He invites workers all the way up to the end of life, the end of time. For God is generous with us by making us equal, not only with the prophets and apostles, but with Christ himself! Jesus who has truly borne the burden of the day, the burden of our sins is the one who earned eternal life. Jesus endured the burden of sin upon the cross, the scorching heat of hell, the wrath of God to earn his wage. Yet, God in his generous grace gives to us the wages of Christ! And Christ doesn’t bemoan or complain. He rejoices! For so God has generously given you far more than you deserved because he has given you eternal life!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Lord God, heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!