The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
No fixed feast day in the calendar
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Those hired last are paid a full day’s wage like those who worked all day: God is generous
What is this parable?
In those days, people looking for work stood in the marketplace waiting for someone to hire them. A denarius, a silver coin, was the usual pay for one day’s work. Jesus uses this familiar scene to talk about God’s goodness.
The story
Jesus says: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.” (Mt 20:1). He agreed to pay them one denarius for the day. Then at nine o’clock, at noon and at three o’clock he went out again and hired more. Near evening, at five o’clock, he still found some people standing around because nobody had hired them, and he sent them in too (cf. Mt 20:2-7).
In the evening, he told his foreman to pay the workers, starting with the ones who came last. They each received one denarius. Those who had come at dawn thought they would get more, but they also received one denarius, so they grumbled. The owner answered: I am not being unfair to you; did you not agree to one denarius? (cf. Mt 20:8-15). “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Mt 20:16).
What does Jesus want to teach you?
God is not unfair to anyone, but he is more generous than we think. Whoever comes to God, whether as a child or in old age, is welcomed with the same love. Heaven is not a prize we buy with our efforts, but a gift from God; and God invites us to answer that gift with love and good deeds. A good child who has followed God for a long time is invited to rejoice, not to be jealous, when God loves others too.
A lesson for you
- When a friend is praised or gets a present, be happy for them instead of comparing.
- Thank God that you have known him since you were little, and work for him with a joyful heart.
- Pray for people who do not yet know God: it is never too late to come to him.
Identifying marks
- A silver coin placed in the hand of the young worker who came last: God’s grace is a free gift, not wages we earn by our own effort.
- The young worker, wide-eyed with surprise: the joy of someone who knows he is loved far more than he deserves.
- An older worker holding up exactly the same coin, frowning and puzzled: jealousy at seeing that God loves others too; God invites us to be glad at his goodness.
- The kind owner of the vineyard watching by the gate: God, who calls everyone into his vineyard at any hour and treats everyone generously.
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About