The parable of the labourers: Each one is hired at a different time of day but all receive a denarius which was a fair day’s pay. When they complain the owner protests that he is doing no wrong. It is his privilege to extend generosity to all who have worked for him. This is God’s generosity to each of us – the last will be first and the first will be last – all who love Jesus will receive the full blessings of heaven – this is the grace of God to us. There is no extra advantage we can gain by the things we do.
In the second part of the passage Jesus foretells his death and resurrection and following James and John’s request for greatness for themselves, Jesus teaches that for believers true greatness and leadership is different from that which is valued in the world. Believers are to lead by being servants and giving themselves away for others, just as Jesus had come to serve and give his life for our sins.
In these passages we see how the kingdom values are the opposite of the world’s values. God reaches down to us and becomes our servant even to giving his life and he wants us to be generous, giving servants in response.
(homegroup member)