马太福音20:1-16；以赛亚书55:6-9；腓立比书1:19-30
耶和华神说：“我的意念非同你们的意念，我的道路非同你们的道路。天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路；我的意念高过你们的意念。”（赛55:8-9）当然是这样，神是在天上，我们是在地上；神是属天的/天上的神，我们是生在地上的人；神不止是在天上，因为天地都是祂所造的，我们也是祂所造的。
今天的福音书是主耶稣用一个比喻讲天国，故事比较长，我们刚刚度过了。我就总结一下：葡萄园主人看到路上闲站的人，陆陆续续叫他们进来做工，和工人讲定了一天一钱银子——当时一钱就是一个工人一天的工资，拿今天来说是200美金吧。有些人进去的早，有些人快收工了被主人叫进去。让所有人意想不到的是，结算的时候每个人领的工资都一样。按照我们人的意思，那这肯定不公平啊，这在哪里都说不过去，对不对？我们要记得这些雇工做的是一样的工作，早进去了的多做了那么多，一整天劳苦受热的，拿到工资了，本来也没什么，说好的嘛，一天一钱，没有亏待他们；但是他们看见了那些最迟尽量的也领了跟他们一样的工资一钱，这些就来气了，开始埋怨。虽然圣经没有交代，但我们可以想象那些最迟，就是5点钟了下班时进来的，应该心里面狂喜吧，或许他们被叫上时就已经心花怒放了，太不可思议，都下班了，还能被叫上做工领工钱——真是绝望中的希望。我们要知道，那个时候，如果一个工人当天没有活儿干，那到家里时老婆孩子可能就要揭不开锅，就要挨饿了，不像今天，几个月不工作也饿不死，还有福利领。
好的，我们说到重点。主耶稣讲的是天国，而听到的人呢仍然是以属地的思维，就是罪人的意念，恶人/不义之人的意念和道路来思想的，这就是以赛亚书55章的经文所说的神的意念和道路高过人的，好比天高过地一般。我们的悔改就是包含离弃罪人的思维（心思意念）和道路（行事为人），转向天国神所赐的道路和要我们所时常拥有的心思意念和行事为人。
就着福音书的经文来说，天国的、神的意念是什么样子的呢？我们看一些细节。首先，大家想这位家主雇人进葡萄园需要劳力、需要工作做工吗？很显然不需要，如果真的需要，他的管理方式也太愚昧、浪费，按照今天的经济原理，注定要破产的。为什么？因为没有一个老板或者经理会看见一个人没工作闲着就请他工作，或者快下班了，没有活干还请人做工，这几乎等于白养人。没有一个老板会这样做，那怕有经理敢这样，当然是出于私欲，以自己的权力为亲戚朋友谋利益。哪一个老板，不好听的，资本家不是想要从员工身上压榨出最后一份价值；哪一个老板不是希望付给你一块钱，那你必须能够给公司创造出比一块钱要多的价值。
然而今天福音经文里面这位家主，“看见市上还有闲站的人”，就是等活儿干的临时工，就对他们说：“你们也进葡萄园去，所当给的，我必给你们。”（太20:3-4）而且不止这一次，午正和申初，然后就是酉初，今天来说就是中午12点，下午三点，然后是下午五点快下班了，继续做同样的事情，带闲站着的人进园子做工，最后这一波很显然不就是叫进来领工资吗？不相当于白白发钱吗？而且快下班的这一波，主耶稣还提及了一个对话：“你们为什么整天在这里闲站呢？他们说：因为没有人雇我们。”（太20:6-7）弟兄姐妹们，这都是说给我们听的。主人知道这些人闲站着，没有人雇。但是听道的人不明白，不领会天国的奥秘、恩典和怜悯。我们属地的罪人、不义之人（小人），恶人的思维高度就在这里，因为是被罪所捆绑，被肉体和邪情私欲所奴役，我们再怎么努力也取得不了更高的属灵层次，或者说高尚人格。
我们总是要互相比较，不是吗？我们总是要我们所谓的公平，是不是？如果我们是白捡了便宜，那就不管什么公平不公平；如果我们是多劳动少获得的那个人，那可说不过了。凭什么？凭什么他/她比我工资更高？凭什么他/她什么都一帆风顺，我却处处碰壁？凭什么他们就有工作，我却失业？凭什么他们住大房子，搞房屋出租，我却买不起一个自住房？就连我们基督徒有很多时候不也是互相争竞，互相眼红、羡慕嫉妒恨吗？我们不也是以赛亚要呼召需要悔改的恶人吗？我们不也常常埋怨神马？虽然口里不说，心里不是常常充满苦毒，“凭什么”的思维吗？
然而主耶稣要我们悔改，要我们转变心思意念，离弃属地的意念和道路。我们都是闲站着，在神的国度里本来毫无价值的人，我们是不配被雇佣，被主人看上，被招进来被神所使用的人。我们都是被神怜悯的罪人。是主亲自来寻找我们，这些本来在世上毫无目的，毫无归宿，没有永恒盼望，只能以喂猪吃的糠皮暂时充饥的浪子，是可怜、无助、绝望的卑微之人。
以赛亚呼召说：“当趁耶和华可寻找的时候寻找他，相近的时候求告他。”什么时候是可寻找的时候？什么时候是耶和华相近的时候？就是此时此刻，因为这道离你们不远，就在你们口中，就在从你们的耳朵进入你们的心中；从人类的历史来说，主耶稣的降世为人不就是耶和华与我们这些属地的罪人最相近的时候，最可寻找的时候吗？上帝成为人，与我们一样，只是没有罪；主耶稣从天上来到人间，道成了肉身，住在世人中间，尤其是在我们信徒聚会的中间，再没有比这更相近、更可寻找的时候了。保罗在哥林多后书6:2说到：”看哪，现在正是悦纳的时候，现在正是拯救的日子。”不是昨天，不是明天，就是现在，此时此刻，或者说，任何时候你听见主的话语，主的呼召，主要我们悔改亲近祂的时候。
就像那个闲站一整天，没有人雇的工人一样，我们有什么可埋怨的呢？我们有什么值得高看自己过于别人呢？我们有什么资格对身边的人羡慕嫉妒恨呢？难道我们所拥有的一切不都是出于恩典，出于主的怜悯和大爱吗？换个角度，这一切都是神的，万有都是属于祂的，天地都属祂，我们也是祂的受造物，祂如果给谁多，祂愿意，跟我们有什么关系呢？“我的东西难道不可随我的意思用吗？因为我作好人，你就红了眼吗？”（太20:14-15）既然我们领受了这极大的恩典，既然道成肉身的主耶稣基督，祂就是那道路，赐给我们，让我们盼望天堂，盼望与神同在的日子，我们怎能不以基督的心为心呢？像保罗说的那样，我们活着就是基督……行事为人就应该与基督的福音相称。这基督的福音不是地上人的道理，而是从天上来的，是天国的福音。既然我们被招进来，成为神家中的一员，神国度的子民，神福音的使者和仆人，我们就应该忠信服事，毫无怨言，甘心为福音受苦，甚至以至于死亡，就像保罗以至于坐监牢受捆绑之苦，他并不觉得算什么，因为基督死而复活了，我们也必要如此。我们活着就是基督，死了就有益处，因为我们是属于祂了。奉耶稣基督的名。阿们。
Matthew 20:1–16; Isaiah 55:6–9; Philippians 1:19–30
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9). Of course this is so. God is in heaven, and we are on earth; God is the heavenly God, and we are humans born on the earth. God is not merely in heaven, for heaven and earth were created by Him, and we too are created by Him.
In today’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus uses a parable to speak of the kingdom of heaven. It is a longer narrative, which we have just read. Let me summarize: The master of a house sees people standing idle in the marketplace and sends them into his vineyard to work, agreeing to pay them a denarius for the day—at that time, a denarius was a day’s wage for a worker, equivalent to about $200 today. Some entered early, while others were called in by the master near the end of the day. To everyone’s surprise, when it came time to settle accounts, every worker received the exact same wage. According to our human way of thinking, this is certainly unfair and makes no sense anywhere, right?
We must remember that these laborers did the same kind of work, but those who entered early did so much more, bearing the burden of the day and the scorching heat. When they received their wage, it was originally fine—it was what they agreed upon, one denarius a day, and they were not cheated. But when they saw that those who came last received the same one denarius as they did, they grew angry and began to grumble. Although the Bible does not explicitly state it, we can imagine that those who came last—entering at five o’clock when the workday was almost over—must have been overjoyed in their hearts. Perhaps they were thrilled the moment they were called: it was unbelievable that, with the workday nearly done, they could still be hired to work and receive a wage—a true hope in the midst of despair. We must realize that in those days, if a worker had no job for the day, his wife and children at home might have nothing to eat and face starvation. Unlike today, people wouldn’t starve if they didn't work for a few months, and there are welfare benefits to receive.
Now, let us come to the core point. The Lord Jesus is speaking about the kingdom of heaven, yet those listening still think with an earthly mindset—that is, the thoughts of sinners, the thoughts and ways of the wicked and unrighteous. This is precisely what Isaiah 55 refers to when it says God’s thoughts and ways are higher than man’s, as high as the heavens are above the earth. Our repentance includes forsaking the mindset (thoughts and intents) and ways (conduct and lifestyle) of sinners, turning toward the way given by the God of the heavenly kingdom, and continually adopting the thoughts, mindset, and conduct He desires us to have.
Regarding the Gospel text, what are the thoughts of God and His kingdom like? Let us look at some details. First, do you think this master of the house really needed physical labor or more work done when hiring people into his vineyard? Clearly not. If he truly needed labor, his management style would be foolish and wasteful; according to modern economic principles, he would be destined for bankruptcy. Why? Because no boss or manager would see someone standing idle without work and invite them to work, or hire people when the workday is almost over and there is no work left to do—that is virtually giving away free money. No boss would do this. Even if a manager dared to do so, it would be out of selfish desires, using their authority to benefit friends or relatives. Which boss—or, to put it plainly, capitalist—doesn't want to squeeze the last bit of value out of an employee? Which boss doesn't hope that if they pay you one dollar, you will create more than one dollar of value for the company?
Yet in today’s Gospel text, this master, seeing “others standing idle in the marketplace”—that is, temporary workers waiting for a job—said to them, “You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you” (Matthew 20:3–4). And he did this not just once: at the sixth hour, the ninth hour, and then the eleventh hour—which corresponds today to 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM near the end of the workday—he continued doing the exact same thing, bringing idle people into the vineyard to work. Isn't this last group obviously being called in just to receive a paycheck? Isn't it equivalent to giving away money for free? Furthermore, for this last group near the end of the day, the Lord Jesus mentions a dialogue: “Why do you stand here idle all day? They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us’” (Matthew 20:6–7). Brothers and sisters, this is spoken for our sakes. The master knew these people were standing idle because no one had hired them. But those hearing the word do not understand; they fail to comprehend the mystery, grace, and mercy of the kingdom of heaven. This is the limit of our perspective as earthly sinners and unrighteous people. Bound by sin and enslaved by the flesh and sinful passions, no matter how hard we try, we cannot attain a higher spiritual level or a noble character on our own.
We are always comparing ourselves with one another, aren't we? We are always demanding our so-called fairness, aren't we? If we are the ones getting an unearned advantage, we don't care about fairness; but if we are the ones who worked more and received less, we find it intolerable. Why? Why does he or she get a higher salary than me? Why does everything go smoothly for them, while I hit a wall at every turn? Why do they have jobs, while I am unemployed? Why do they live in big houses and rent out properties, while I can't even afford a home for myself? Even as Christians, aren't there many times when we compete with one another, looking at each other with envy, jealousy, and hatred? Aren't we also the wicked ones whom Isaiah calls to repentance? Don't we often complain to God? Even if we don't say it aloud, aren't our hearts often filled with bitterness and a “Why them?” mindset?
Yet the Lord Jesus wants us to repent, to change our minds and hearts, and to forsake earthly thoughts and ways. We were all standing idle—people of no value in the kingdom of God, unworthy to be hired, noticed by the master, or called in to be used by God. We are all sinners who have received God’s mercy. It was the Lord Himself who came to seek us—prodigals who originally had no purpose, no home, and no eternal hope in this world, who could only temporarily fill our bellies with the pods fed to pigs; helpless, miserable, and hopeless wretched people.
Isaiah calls out: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). When is the time he may be found? When is the Lord near? It is right now, at this very moment, for this word is not far from you; it is in your mouth and entering your heart through your ears. In human history, wasn't the incarnation of the Lord Jesus—His coming into the world as a man—the time when the Lord was nearest to us, earthly sinners, and most easily found? God became man, like us in every way, yet without sin. The Lord Jesus came down from heaven to the world; the Word became flesh and dwelt among mankind, especially among us believers gathered together. There is no time when He is nearer or more searchable than this. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now—this very moment—or whenever you hear the Lord’s word and His call to repent and draw near to Him.
Just like that worker who stood idle all day because no one hired him, what do we have to complain about? What reason do we have to think higher of ourselves than others? What right do we have to look at those around us with envy, jealousy, or hatred? Is not everything we have derived from grace, mercy, and the great love of the Lord? Looking at it from another perspective, everything belongs to God; all things belong to Him, heaven and earth belong to Him, and we are His creatures. If He chooses to give more to someone else, it is His will—what does that have to do with us? “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:14–15). Since we have received this immense grace, and since the incarnate Lord Jesus Christ—who is the Way—has been given to us, giving us hope for heaven and for days of abiding with God, how can we not have the mind of Christ? As Paul said, for us to live is Christ... and our conduct should be worthy of the gospel of Christ. This gospel of Christ is not human philosophy from the earth, but the gospel of the kingdom coming from heaven. Since we have been called in to become members of God’s household, citizens of God’s kingdom, and messengers and servants of God’s gospel, we ought to serve faithfully without complaining, gladly suffering for the sake of the gospel even unto death. Just as Paul suffered imprisonment and chains without considering it anything to boast or grieve about, because Christ died and rose again, we too surely shall. For us, to live is Christ, and to die is gain, because we belong to Him. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.