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The Odd Wage Scale
Marion Clark
Matthew 20:1-17
Introduction
You are shopping at Walmart. There has been a big crowd but you came early and, though you have had to wait in the checkout line for 15 minutes, there is a long line behind you. As you get to the front, the cashier turns off her open light and puts up a sign that this line is closed. Before you can react everyone behind you has moved over to the next available counter. You who were first are now last. You, who had come the earliest and put in the most effort, are treated as if you were no different from the guy who just walked in and happened to walk up at the right time. It's just not fair! The parable we are considering this morning is puzzling for that very reason. Jesus presents a scenario and a teaching that does not seem fair.
Text
Let's recap the parable. The owner of a vineyard hires laborers for the day's work. He goes to the square of the town where laborers would have gathered for the very purpose of farmers hiring them. They agree to a wage and go off to work. The owner does this four more times in the course of the day, not too uncommon to do depending upon the size of the job. The first laborers start the day's job at 6:00 a.m. The second group at 9:00 a.m., the third at noon, the fourth at 3:00 p.m., and the final at 5:00 p.m. The work day ends at 6:00 p.m.
So the first group puts in twelve hours of work, the standard for that culture. Everyone else's work is shorter, the final group only putting in one hour of labor - an eleven hour difference between the first and last groups of laborers. And yet all are paid the same wage.
This is one labor scenario where we can all agree that the owner's behavior is unfair no matter your political or economic persuasion. The protesting laborers make their case very well: ''These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'' It is not a matter of the fir ...
Marion Clark
Matthew 20:1-17
Introduction
You are shopping at Walmart. There has been a big crowd but you came early and, though you have had to wait in the checkout line for 15 minutes, there is a long line behind you. As you get to the front, the cashier turns off her open light and puts up a sign that this line is closed. Before you can react everyone behind you has moved over to the next available counter. You who were first are now last. You, who had come the earliest and put in the most effort, are treated as if you were no different from the guy who just walked in and happened to walk up at the right time. It's just not fair! The parable we are considering this morning is puzzling for that very reason. Jesus presents a scenario and a teaching that does not seem fair.
Text
Let's recap the parable. The owner of a vineyard hires laborers for the day's work. He goes to the square of the town where laborers would have gathered for the very purpose of farmers hiring them. They agree to a wage and go off to work. The owner does this four more times in the course of the day, not too uncommon to do depending upon the size of the job. The first laborers start the day's job at 6:00 a.m. The second group at 9:00 a.m., the third at noon, the fourth at 3:00 p.m., and the final at 5:00 p.m. The work day ends at 6:00 p.m.
So the first group puts in twelve hours of work, the standard for that culture. Everyone else's work is shorter, the final group only putting in one hour of labor - an eleven hour difference between the first and last groups of laborers. And yet all are paid the same wage.
This is one labor scenario where we can all agree that the owner's behavior is unfair no matter your political or economic persuasion. The protesting laborers make their case very well: ''These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'' It is not a matter of the fir ...
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