” Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:15-16)
In this chapter Jesus says some things that are antithetical to what the world, our culture, our society values unless you happen to be a socialist. Socialists would proclaim that Jesus is using this parable to urge the benefits of the equal distribution of wealth and resources. But capitalists would see actions of the owner of the vineyard as unjust and stupid. Those who came to work later in the day were obviously shiftless idlers and goldbricks, lacking in ambition, skill and productivity. It is both unjust and poor business for this man to pay all his hired hands the same amount of money for differing amounts of work!
This parable is not about economics, socialism or the evils of materialism. The real message that Jesus conveys is about God’s mercy. Everyone who comes to repentance through faith in the blood of Jesus finds forgiveness. That includes liars, selfish, self-righteous people and ourselves as well as those who we think “deserve” no mercy or less mercy than we: drug addicts, alcoholics, murderers, rapists, perverts, prostitutes, sodomites, politicians, celebrities, etc. That would seem outrageous to some who think that they do not sin or that their sins are not as bad as those of others. The truth is we are all sinners. All our righteous acts cannot help us.
The good news is that Jesus rewards any and all who humbly come to Him by faith asking for forgiveness. Therefore rather than voice our outrage and complaints about the blatant immorality of other sinners who seem to prosper, we ought really to pray for them to come to faith. Without Christ they will lose everything. In Christ they will find peace and eternal life based not on their own merits, but on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.