The Last Shall Be First

Author: Joseph

Date: November 26, 2023

The vineyard owner went out many times seeking laborers for his vineyard. First, early in the morning, then again at the third hour, sixth hour, ninth hour, and even the eleventh hour, each time hiring laborers. At the end of the day, the laborers who were hired last were paid first and the same amount as everyone else. The laborers who were hired in the early morning complained, saying, “These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have born the burden and the scorching heat of day” (Matthew 20:12). The vineyard owner responds that he is doing nothing unjust, but that they all agreed to the same terms and that it is his choice to be generous to all who took upon the labor he hired them to do. This is how it is when someone enters into the kingdom of heaven through Yeshua. Their salvation is set – they have come under the authority of the vineyard owner. Their wages are determined ahead of time – Yeshua makes the promise that those that enter in will receive many times much more than they left behind to follow Him. And no matter when they come into the kingdom, Yeshua wishes to bless them the same.

The last are not first to diminish the work of the first. The first were working through the difficulty of the hottest part of the day and were laboring longer, yet it is not the fault of the ones who were last that they were delayed. When the vineyard owner questions them as to why they had been idle until he called them, they respond, “Because no one hired us” (Matthew 20:7). No one had called them to the vineyard. Just as there are those who have not heard the message of the Good News of Yeshua and God’s kingdom. Yet, when they accept to come under the authority of the vineyard keeper, a metaphor of salvation, they readily come to labor in the vineyard. In the same way, when someone is truly saved, they eagerly seek to serve God in their capacity and enjoy the eternal fruit of their labors. The last are not more special than the first, but the vineyard keeper simply wishes to openly display his fairness in rewarding equally all those who are called. It is only the envy of the first workers that makes this comparison apparent.

"We are the people God is calling at the eleventh hour..."

We are now living in a time thousands of years since Yeshua walked and lived on this earth visibly present with mankind. Those who were with Him at that time labored arduously and faced death for their faith. These walked with Yeshua and saw Him, yet He said to Thomas, “Bless are they who did not see, and yet believed” when He showed Thomas His scars after the resurrection (John 20:29). We are now living when the memory of Yeshua’s physical appearance is long forgotten and His words are recorded only in our Bibles, not uttered by any direct disciple of His. We are the people God is calling at the eleventh hour to enter the kingdom of God. And yet, as the disciples He walked with were rewarded, so we shall be when our time comes to receive from Him. He only asks that as we come under His authority and into His kingdom, that we do our part and labor in righteousness until the end of the age.

You are among the last, no matter how early in your life you began to believe, yet you will be rewarded as those who walked first with Yeshua. Do not be envious of those who come after you or who believe in Yeshua much later in life. How generous God is that all of us living in this time now are not forgotten or set aside in our faithful walk for Him! Walk in humility, but do no degrade the value of God’s calling upon you to enter His kingdom. Nor spoil your joy with envy towards those who enter God's kingdom much later in their lives. You are all among the last, but you are nevertheless a part of God’s kingdom and will be rewarded generously by a God who gives freely to whom He chooses.

Matthew 19:27 – 20:16 Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org