And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. 20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ 7 They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard *said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ 9 When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 10 When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

Matthew 19:23-20:16

Dear God, there is a neediness and insecurity in Peter’s question of Jesus. After the “rich young ruler” leaves, Peter wants to make sure that 1.) Jesus is proud of him and 2.) this is all going to be worth it.

And Jesus seems to affirm him. I might have thought Jesus would have gotten on to him, but Jesus has some teaching to do. And this story about the vineyard workers applies to Peter and the disciples in two ways. First, they are the laborers that joined later in the day. Second, one day, they will be the ones welcoming laborers even later in the day. So the good news is that the master hired them and they are working in the vineyard. They have the grace of a full day’s wage for only partial work. The bad news is that it will soon be their job to hire more workers who get the same wage (except for the sitting on thrones and judging the twelve tribes of Israel part) and they will need to be accepting of it.

I got to visit with a friend yesterday about our faith and how we work that out as individuals. While we talked, I hoped to share with her some of the things you’ve taught me over the last 30 years. And she was able to share her life lessons with me as well. My perception is that she is already part of your vineyard staff, but she is still figuring out how you would have her work. What does living out her faith on a daily basis look like? How does she approach her children, parents, husband, etc. when it comes to her faith and relationship with you. I pray that you will help her to find the answers for which I think she is searching.

Father, help me to be at peace and to not have Peter’s need to know that the reward is on its way. I don’t want to simply use this relationship with you for my ultimate reward. I want to be in this relationship because you love me, you gave yourself for me, and you are my source of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen