Parable of the Laborer
In Matthew chapter 20 of the New Testament, Jesus gives the parable of the Laborers. This is my favorite parable that Jesus shared. I love it! The story is about day laborers, who wait in the marketplace for a householder or Master to come along and hire them to work in his fields or other necessary work. At the beginning of the day the householder comes to hire some workers, he promises them a penny for their full days work. The workers agree and come labor for the householder. A few hours later, the householder decided he needs more workers. He goes again to the marketplace where the laborers who haven't been chosen yet are still hanging about in the hopes that they will at least get half a days work and pay. He chooses a few more to come and work on his land. He promises to pay them "whatsoever is right". They agree and go to work. Two more times that day, the householder returns to the marketplace to hire more laborers to finish the work. He gives them the same promise of payment, that which is right. They too come and work.
Then the day begins to come to a close, but the work is not yet finished, so the householder in the eleventh hour goes one more time to hire more laborers to finish the work. He promises them that which is right and they come to help. At the end of the day they gather for their pay and the last ones hired are paid first and receive that which the Master deems is right. They get a penny, same as all the other workers. The workers who had toiled and labored all day did not think the master was being fair and complained that he had made them all equal, when obviously the work done was not equal. The master answered, "Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee."
I can empathize with those laborers who worked all day and felt the final pay was not fair, however, claiming that all things were equal is not accurate. Those called at the first had secured a promise from the Master that they would be paid a good wage. They had peace that they would return home with money for food. Not only that, but they had gained knowledge and experience at the hand of the Master that would serve them well through the years. Their experience and knowledge would set them up to be chosen again for work another day. They would be able to continue to provide food for their families. The blessings they received throughout that day of labor were vast and wonderful, it was too bad they did not recognize what they had.
What a day those few lastly called laborers must have had! At first, maybe they were hoping they wouldn't get chosen. They enjoyed lolling about the marketplace, sitting idle while others went off to toil in the fields. Although my guess is, that after the first couple of rounds of not being chosen worry began to set in. I can picture them saying to themselves, "how am I going to feed my family", "What is to become of us", "Oh, why did I put my head down and hide at the beginning of the day", "I would give anything to be chosen for just a little while", "I must not be good enough or worthy enough to be chosen", "How can I go home and show myself after this worthless day." And maybe it was in that moment of self-doubt and despair that the Master came one last time into the marketplace and asked them to come and labor with Him and the others for one hour.
I bet they ran to that field, ready to prove themselves worthy of their hire and payment. I can see them working harder than any of the other laborers. These last had been given this great and glorious chance. The Master had shown mercy on them and hired them at the very end of the day. They were going to make sure He knew they were more than grateful, that they were worthy of His trust. I think they worked and toiled like no man had all day and as the Master looked on an saw their determination and gratitude, He decided right then that they deserved a penny just like all the rest.
How wonderful it would have been if those first laborers had finished their work and went up to those lastly called and hugged them. What if they had said, "thank you for your help this past hour, we could not have done it all without you", "We needed your strength, talents, and abilities, thank you thank you." "You are worthy of the penny the Master paid you and more." Perhaps they would have reacted in that way had they but realized the great blessings they had received throughout the day, and understood the sufferings of those who waited nearly the entire day before finding the desperately needed work.
Oh, it is my prayer that we who have been called to work in the Kingdom of God, may understand the power and blessings given to us through making and keeping sacred covenants. And that we may have compassion and love for those who have not yet accepted the call or have not yet been chosen to labor. May we celebrate with them when they do come help build the Kingdom of God. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Other resources: In 2013 there was a great talk given about the blessings of the gospel and the author asks if we realize what blessings we have been given as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is called Do We Know What We Have? Also Jeffery R. Holland gave a conference address on this parable here is his talk: Laborers in the Vineyard
Then the day begins to come to a close, but the work is not yet finished, so the householder in the eleventh hour goes one more time to hire more laborers to finish the work. He promises them that which is right and they come to help. At the end of the day they gather for their pay and the last ones hired are paid first and receive that which the Master deems is right. They get a penny, same as all the other workers. The workers who had toiled and labored all day did not think the master was being fair and complained that he had made them all equal, when obviously the work done was not equal. The master answered, "Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee."
I can empathize with those laborers who worked all day and felt the final pay was not fair, however, claiming that all things were equal is not accurate. Those called at the first had secured a promise from the Master that they would be paid a good wage. They had peace that they would return home with money for food. Not only that, but they had gained knowledge and experience at the hand of the Master that would serve them well through the years. Their experience and knowledge would set them up to be chosen again for work another day. They would be able to continue to provide food for their families. The blessings they received throughout that day of labor were vast and wonderful, it was too bad they did not recognize what they had.
What a day those few lastly called laborers must have had! At first, maybe they were hoping they wouldn't get chosen. They enjoyed lolling about the marketplace, sitting idle while others went off to toil in the fields. Although my guess is, that after the first couple of rounds of not being chosen worry began to set in. I can picture them saying to themselves, "how am I going to feed my family", "What is to become of us", "Oh, why did I put my head down and hide at the beginning of the day", "I would give anything to be chosen for just a little while", "I must not be good enough or worthy enough to be chosen", "How can I go home and show myself after this worthless day." And maybe it was in that moment of self-doubt and despair that the Master came one last time into the marketplace and asked them to come and labor with Him and the others for one hour.
I bet they ran to that field, ready to prove themselves worthy of their hire and payment. I can see them working harder than any of the other laborers. These last had been given this great and glorious chance. The Master had shown mercy on them and hired them at the very end of the day. They were going to make sure He knew they were more than grateful, that they were worthy of His trust. I think they worked and toiled like no man had all day and as the Master looked on an saw their determination and gratitude, He decided right then that they deserved a penny just like all the rest.
How wonderful it would have been if those first laborers had finished their work and went up to those lastly called and hugged them. What if they had said, "thank you for your help this past hour, we could not have done it all without you", "We needed your strength, talents, and abilities, thank you thank you." "You are worthy of the penny the Master paid you and more." Perhaps they would have reacted in that way had they but realized the great blessings they had received throughout the day, and understood the sufferings of those who waited nearly the entire day before finding the desperately needed work.
Oh, it is my prayer that we who have been called to work in the Kingdom of God, may understand the power and blessings given to us through making and keeping sacred covenants. And that we may have compassion and love for those who have not yet accepted the call or have not yet been chosen to labor. May we celebrate with them when they do come help build the Kingdom of God. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Other resources: In 2013 there was a great talk given about the blessings of the gospel and the author asks if we realize what blessings we have been given as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is called Do We Know What We Have? Also Jeffery R. Holland gave a conference address on this parable here is his talk: Laborers in the Vineyard
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