Question about Matthew 20:1-16?Moved from Bible Study, OP not a Christian.

[oem7110]

For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard… “Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.” So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:1-16

I don't understand the meaning of this words, does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions

[Frances]

It doesn't matter how long you have been a Christian when you die, Salvation is as all-encompassing however long one has been working for the Lord - a few minutes or many years of hardship.

[Bandit]

For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard… “Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.” So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:1-16

I don't understand the meaning of this words, does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Hello,

Let me offer my understanding. As per the parable, those hired last were paid first. I believe this is tied to how the end times (final payments) will occur. Those hired last (Christians) will be paid (because of the rapture) before the nation of Israel (which was called first).

We can spend a lot of time on this, but I have hit the key point, in my opinion (IMO).

P.S. Verse 19:30 in Matthew should really be grouped with chapter 20, as its first verse.

[svfox]

I thought a lot.
I think it means don't expect because you were saved before someone else that you will be greater, out rank them, in heaven.
Money would be salvation. That is what we are paid isn't it, eternal life.
So those who Jesus saved early are equal to those who were saved maybe right before they died.
There will be rewards but we will all be equal to one another in heaven.
There won't be anything like we had here on Earth where the white man thinks he is better than the black man.
You could also look at it like those that were slaves and had a hard life get paid equal to some guy living in a middle class lifestyle that gets saved.
There is nothing you can do on Earth that will impact your place in Heaven.
It is all up to God.
Look at the stars in the galaxy and how they are all different and all so beautiful. Don't expect to be someone's boss in heaven because you won't be anyones boss.
We will all be children of God.

[Dani H]

There was plenty enough work for all of them to matter and get paid for whatever it was they did, regardless of when they started.

It also means that chronology doesn't matter all that much. It's not about how soon anyone got there, it's how well they did when they did get there, the fact that they stuck around long enough to finish and receive payment, and that they fulfilled whatever agreement they and the vineyard owner made together.

In the end, they still all got paid, and exactly that which was agreed upon beforehand.

Also: Don't compare yourself to others. Cause God don't work that way.