Fairness in the Kingdom (Matthew 19:30-20:16)

Parables are by definition simple—maybe not always easy, as Jesus told them in part to conceal, but they are not complicated. When we try to make them mean too much, as in more than was intended, we get into trouble. As one of my grandfather’s favorite commentators wrote of this parable:

“it is…not at all correct to think that everything in a parable must have a specific meaning and must be spiritually applied. As soon as we enter into details of this parable and attempt a detailed exposition and try to make an application of these, we shall miss the true lesson and perhaps, in the attempt, teach exactly the opposite from what the Lord teaches.”

Here we have a clear indication of what the parable is about. Jesus states things clearly in 19:30 and again in 20:16

“But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
“So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

The parable is prompted by Peter when he declares that they have left everything, indicating that they should get a great reward. Jesus tells the story to remind us that, in grace, we trust God and His goodness to determine what reward, if any we should receive.

Unlike the men in the story, we do not really work for anything important. The important thing in the Kingdom—citizenship, i.e. salvation—has already been given. Any “rewards” beyond that are insignificant. We work for the Kingdom because we belong to the Kingdom. Whatever that earns us in the Kingdom economy is something that we do not worry about. Our King is just and good and He will give us much more richly that we could ever earn of deserve.

Key here too is the idea that we do not compare ourselves with others. The Kingdom is not a place where fairness rules. Fairness would be that we are all cast out into eternal darkness.

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