Septuagesima
February 16, 2025
Mt 20:1–16
The Rev. Christian Mundorf
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from our Lord and savior Jesus-Christ. Amen.
Our Gospel lesson for today deals with a subtle teaching, one which has been twisted every which way. Let’s start with the basics. The parable is about a business owner going out to find workers. He agrees with them to pay the standard wage for a full day’s work. Three hours later he went out again to hire more workers who then labored 9 hours that day promising to pay what was fair. Twice again the owner went to hire workers who labored 6 and then 3 hours that day. Finally, he hired workers who would only work 1 hour that day. Then, at the end of the day, the owner paid each and every worker for a full day’s wage.
Yes, the one who worked 12 hours was paid the same as the one who worked 1 hour! Now in our normal day-to-day lives this simply would not do. The one who works more gets paid more. And if someone does decide to be generous and pay above and beyond what is owed, we wonder why and if there is some kind of impropriety going on there. The principle remains, pay is given proportional to the labor and to its value.
Christ our Lord tells this parable, though, to show how the kingdom of heaven is not like the worldly realm. In the heavenly kingdom, our reward is not based on our labors. All receive equal reward on account of the generosity of God. On the other hand, it cannot be like this in the world. For we are not all the same. We do not all do the same work. Each person is given different gifts and vocations to fulfill. For this reason, we cannot all be equal here in time. Disparities must exist.
The life and income of a farmer is thus different from a mechanic which is in turn different from an accountant. Likewise, in the United States there are citizens and resident aliens. There are mayors, congressmen and a president. There are business owners, managers, and employees. God has established diversity in worldly things that good might be accomplished on this earth, that order might prevail, and that evil would be restrained. This is the natural order of things.
Yet, the kingdom of heaven operates under different principles. There, all Christian people are equal. The rich and the poor, the man and his wife, the elder and the child are all found equal. For not one has a different baptism. Yours is the same as mine. All have the same faith, taught by the same Scripture. We believe the same Gospel. We receive the same body and blood of our Lord. As St. Paul says, “There is one body, and one Spirit. . . .One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph 4). So also, we might add Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In the kingdom of heaven, no one has a greater or lesser salvation than another. The crowns of kings shall be cast down and the poor and lowly shall be lifted up.
This we must learn that we may distinguish between the kingdom of heaven and all worldly realms which also are established by God. As far as the world is concerned, differences and distinctions remain. Not all are citizens of the United States. Not everyone can claim to be the president. Children are subject to their parents. Wives are subject to their husbands. Servants are subject to their masters. Governments rule within their bounds. All of this is established by God. Again, Paul says, “no authority exists except by God, and the authorities that do exist have been established by God” (Ro 13:1b).
So, there must be inequality in this life. Some will have more, and some will have less. Some will rule over great nations, while others will merely rule over their own two thumbs. This should not disturb the Christian. Instead, we receive our lot with gladness knowing that it comes from the Lord. Whatever our profession or station in life, we have been called to it by the Lord. One is not holier or better than another. Whatever our godly calling is, we should continue in it praising God’s name through the labors He has given us to do. Let us not grumble about our station nor try to change it into something it is not but remain in it peacefully until God Himself moves us to a new place.
Even in ancient Israel whose whole society was directly established by God we saw such distinctions in vocation and station. While the whole nation was called to be a royal priesthood (Ex 19:6), still not all were Levites. Nor were all Levites priests, and not all priests served as the high priest. Likewise in the Church of the New Testament not all are called to be teachers. Not everyone is a minister. Not all serve the same function. We each have our own duties and callings, holy and blessed by God. The Church is one body, but it has many members each with their own function as Paul often states (cf. 1 Cor 12:12 ff).
Yet again, this should not give us concern. One calling is not holier than another if it has come from God. We have all been baptized with one baptism into the one body which is the Church. And the head of the Church is Christ. Here we can all say that Christ is our Lord who has purchased and won us from all evil, from death, from the devil with Christ Jesus’ own most precious blood. We have received the greatest of gifts: salvation and life everlasting. We have different works to do but all receive the same reward.
This gift of salvation should give us the right perspective with respect to earthly goods and inequalities. When we have the right perspective, we may cheerfully carry on with our own appointed labors, regardless of who we might be. Although I may not be a president nor an emperor, nor am I wealthy beyond measure possessing globe spanning businesses, nevertheless, I have the same holy baptism as the worldly wealthy—and He who died to save the rich and the powerful, died to save me as well.
What we have received in Christ ought to make us justly proud, so that we might have the proper perspective toward worldly goods, riches, and glory. We may, take courage and comfort from the fact that we are baptized in Jesus’ name, who died for us, who ascended to heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God, ready to help us out of sin, death, and every misfortune. In this kingdom, all are equal, all receive the same gifts.
This parable also includes a warning. Christ Jesus knows that those who have labored hard and long for the Kingdom of God may be tempted to take pride in their own labors rather than in the work of God. They look to those lately called and desire to sweep them aside and proclaim that they are princes and lords in the kingdom of heaven on account of their longevity and having received the call to labor first. Such persons would make themselves into little gods of their own kingdoms, separate from the kingdom of heaven. They do not respect the call and election of God which takes place when and where He pleases.
On the other hand, when another enters the kingdom, we should receive him with joy just as the angels rejoice whenever the lost are found and granted eternal life. And, having received him joyfully, we help him find and understand his place and calling given to him from God in this kingdom. Do not begrudge him his labor or cast him aside but help him in it as one equally called by God to life.
In sum, the teaching of this Gospel is that on earth there will be inequalities, just as various people and professions in this life are different and called to different tasks: a politician is different from a preacher; a worker is different from a manager; a husband is different from his wife. Thus, each will have different responsibilities, duties, and lives. Such differences are not taken away in this life by faith in Jesus Christ.
Yet, the kingdom of heaven operates in a different manner. Each person receives the same reward regardless of how long he has labored. Why is that? No one has ever succeeded in earning the kingdom of heaven by his own works. The kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, comes by grace alone. So, by grace the kingdom of heaven comes to whomever God wills it. Let us learn then not to grumble over inequalities in this life on account of the work and calling given to us by God. Rather, let us learn to thank God for His undeserved mercy from which we can always draw comfort no matter what dangers, troubles, and labors we must bear because of worldly inequalities. This will always ease and lighten our loads.
May our Lord Jesus-Christ who deserves all glory and honor provide this for us all. Amen.