Thursday 13 November 2025

Psalm 104:1-23

Background
Matthew 20:1-16 presents us with Jesus’ parable of the labourers in the vineyard. On the surface, it's about wages and fairness, but at its heart it reveals the radical nature of service in the kingdom of heaven. The parable invites us to reconsider our assumptions about what it means to serve, who is worthy of reward, and how God’s generosity upends our human calculations. As we reflect on this passage through the lens of service, we are challenged to move beyond notions of hierarchy, merit and entitlement towards a deeper understanding of what it means to serve God and one another.

The landowner in the parable goes out repeatedly during the day, calling workers into his vineyard at different hours. Some begin at dawn, others at noon, some in the mid-afternoon, and a few are summoned as late as five o’clock. Yet, when evening falls, every labourer – regardless of when they started – receives the same wage. Predictably, those who toiled longest grumble, expecting that their extended effort should earn them more. The landowner’s reply is striking: “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? ... Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (vs 13-15)

In the world’s eyes, service is often measured and rewarded according to effort and achievement. There is an unspoken assumption that those who serve more – who give more hours, more energy, more skill – are more deserving. Yet Jesus’ parable turns these assumptions upside down. The kingdom of heaven, he suggests, is not a meritocracy. In God’s economy, service is not a currency to be traded for status or privilege, but a response to the generous call of the master. The dignity of service lies not in what we get out of it, but in our willingness to respond and to participate in God’s work, whenever and however we are called.

This theme of service is further deepened by Jesus saying “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (v. 16) True service, he teaches, is not about being seen to serve or being first in line for reward. Rather, it is about humility, openness and trust in the master’s generosity. The parable challenges us to examine our motives. Do we serve out of duty, seeking recognition and reward, or do we serve out of gratitude, simply because we have been invited into God’s vineyard?

Service in the kingdom of God is always communal. Those hired late are just as valued as those who began at dawn. There is no room for resentment, envy or comparison. Each person’s contribution – no matter how seemingly small or late – matters, and all are welcomed with the same generosity.

This vision of service stands in contrast to the competitive individualistic spirit that shapes our society. The call is to embrace a spirit of joyful, self-giving service, knowing that God’s measure is not ours, and that all who answer the call are precious in God's sight.

Ultimately, the parable invites us to trust in God’s abundance, to serve without counting the cost, and to rejoice in the generosity that welcomes all. As we serve, let us remember that it is the master’s invitation that gives our work meaning and that in God’s kingdom, the reward is always greater than we could have imagined: it's a share in the life and love of God, poured out for all.

To Ponder:

• The Methodist Church is an inclusive church in which all are welcome. Watch the recently produced 'All Are Welcome' video. Think of a church known to you. How good are you at making all welcome? Is there anything that we can do differently to make it even better?
• In the light of the use of national flags to indicate that migrants are not welcome, what can local Christians do to give an alternative perspective?

Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Adrian Burdon
The Revd Dr Adrian Burdon is Superintendent Minister of the Telford Circuit in the West Midlands District. Adrian has been a presbyter since 1988 and, in addition to Shropshire, has worked in the Oldham Circuit, on the Fylde Coast, in Leeds city centre, the Northeast of England, and as a mission partner in the South Pacific. Adrian is Chair of the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland writing group which writes material for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.