Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard | Matthew 20:1-16

The Laborers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘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.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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Jesus says, ^“Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” ~ Matthew 20:15 (Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard)

On Christ the King Sunday 2024, I baptized Debbie, who was 81 years old at the time.  Debbie did not grow up with any organized religion.  Her second husband was raised Lutheran, and his funeral was at our church.  After the funeral, Debbie told me she was going to come talk to me because she had a lot of interest in the Lutheran faith.  Not only did Debbie come talk with me, she started attending worship weekly, and any other time we had any church event.  She participated in our newcomers’ class and asked fantastic questions.  She started serving as an usher and weekly Bible study.  When I told her the next step to officially become a member was baptism, she did not bat an eye – she was all in!  She had found her place and her people!

None of us knew then, but in late October 2025, Debbie suffered a massive stroke and died very quickly after.  It was a shock to our whole faith community.  We did not realize what little precious time we would have with Debbie.  She was someone who had thought about God a lot throughout her life, but came late to the vineyard, if we think about it in terms of this parable from Jesus.  Yet none of us thought of her baptism later in life resentfully – we were simply grateful to have her with us and learn from her just as she learned from us.  Debbie taught our church community a lot about being open to new ideas and spiritual growth even as an older person.  God’s grace is not something some of us get more of just because we’ve been a person of faith for a longer time than others.  God won’t run out of unconditional love, and there’s always more to share and extend to others.  Life is short, and a precious gift from God – sometimes the Debbies in our lives remind us poignantly of this.  

How might we look differently at God’s grace – not as some kind of spiritual competition where there are winners and losers, but rather as a gift that God gives generously to us AND to others, no matter where they are on their faith journey?  

Gracious God of the vineyard, grow generosity and grace in us so that we might invite others to join us on this journey of faith as spiritual companions.  Open our ears and eyes to learn more about your grace from others and their stories.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you to Barrett & Lisa Psareas, Debbie’s son-in-law and daughter, who gave me permission to use her story.

Pastor Rebecca Sheridan

Faith Lutheran Church, Syosset, NY

Pinecrest Faculty in 2021 & 2023