What attitudes are revealed by the workers' complaint in Matthew 20:12? Setting the scene Matthew 20:1-16 records Jesus’ parable of the vineyard owner who hires laborers at staggered times yet pays each the same denarius. When the first-hired men see the equal pay, they grumble. Verse 12 captures their complaint: “‘These last men worked only one hour, and yet you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’” The complaint in their own words • They point out the short duration of the late workers’ labor: “only one hour.” • They stress their own heavy effort: “the burden and the scorching heat of the day.” • They object to the master’s generosity: “you have made them equal to us.” Attitudes that surface 1. Entitlement • They feel the day’s wage is insufficient because they “deserve” more. • Philippians 2:14 reminds believers to “do everything without complaining or arguing.” 2. Comparison and envy • Their standard for satisfaction shifts from the agreed wage to what others received. • James 3:16 warns, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder.” 3. Self-righteous pride • They measure worth by hours and hardship, boasting in their perceived superiority. • Luke 18:9-14 contrasts the self-righteous Pharisee with the humble tax collector. 4. Ingratitude • They ignore the master’s fairness in fulfilling the contract. • 1 Thessalonians 5:18 calls for thankfulness “in every circumstance.” 5. Resentment toward grace • The master’s generosity offends them because grace levels status. • Titus 3:5 emphasizes that salvation is “not by works… but according to His mercy.” 6. Limited view of the master’s rights • They implicitly deny his authority to dispense resources as he wills. • Romans 9:20-21 underscores God’s sovereign freedom with His own. 7. Works-based mindset • They equate reward strictly with labor, missing the nature of kingdom grace. • Ephesians 2:8-9 proclaims salvation as “the gift of God, not by works.” Consequences of these attitudes • Broken fellowship with the master: their grumbling distances them from him. • Loss of joy: focus on others’ blessings breeds bitterness. • Spiritual blindness: fixation on merit eclipses recognition of grace. Takeaways for today • Embrace God’s generosity without comparison. • Guard the heart against entitlement, envy, and pride. • Celebrate grace that reaches all, whether early or late in the day. |
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