Evidence for God from Science

While I think I understand it's application in other instances, I don't think I understand why Jesus said that after the parables of the labourer who're hired at different hour.
Mt Henry liken it to the Jews & Gentiles...but I'm not convince.

Mt 20:
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

I think its just an illustration of God's grace. Giving us what we don't deserve. However, the system is fair, since the labourers were given the agreed wages. Since God's system of rewards is different from ours we should just agree with Apostle Paul - We cannot understand the richness of His grace.

I think Jesus was referring to those that were christian for long time as opposed to those who become Christian much later in life. The ones who were Christian longer(the first batch of workers) are annoyed because they've served God all their life, while the others only did it for a short part of their life, yet they all get the same reward in heaven. Jesus tried to get the exact same point across in his parable of the prodigal son.

Well, obviously it can mean a lot of different things.

I've also sometimes compared it to the Western world, which has been largely Christian for a very long time, but who's now getting more and more secularized, while at the same time there's a huge increase in Christians in Africa, China etc. We were some of the first, but now we're on our way to be the last. We've become so rich that we don't care about God anymore.

But I guess you others have been into the main purpose of this parable..

Úcarindo wrote:Well, obviously it can mean a lot of different things.

I've also sometimes compared it to the Western world, which has been largely Christian for a very long time, but who's now getting more and more secularized, while at the same time there's a huge increase in Christians in Africa, China etc. We were some of the first, but now we're on our way to be the last. We've become so rich that we don't care about God anymore.

But I guess you others have been into the main purpose of this parable..

That would be a rather useless interpretation since the parable was given so that the few of that time could understand it. Then again, it IS amazing how Jesus's words still apply today, nearly two thousand years later.

Read quite a couple of commentary.
All all them except 1, liken it to the Jews & Gentile issue. That the Jews received 1st, but the Gentiles responded later.

The one that differ gave the answer I was looking for.

Chp 19 talk about the man who was told to sell all in order to be perfect.
Peter then went on to ask Christ about his "rewards" since he had given up all. Christ promise honour to him, but then followed by Chp 20 parables of the labourers...& last shall be 1st.
The parables of the labourer could be addressed to those who seek greater rewards just because they think they sufferred more. Christ may be trying to check such attitude of serving...in Peter or anyone else.

If we serve for the purpose of rewards, then our service is not done for God's glory. Salvation may be obtained, but rewards will be few.

I found the above to be in line with the flow of the passage.
Was just surprise that so many other commentaries gave the 1st views.

Hello everyone. As I understand it, it refers to something very spiritual. It means that those who place their own self interests above others first will be last to be considered in heaven. This refers to having material self-interests placed first, and spiritual understanding of others lacking. How many times has one seen examples of people who have everything they could possibly want, while others have nothing yet those who have everything ignore the plight of those who don't.
Jesus was referring to his obhorrence of selfish greed for our own gain. It does not imply that those who became Christian first are going to be considered last in Heaven. It was simply a message to us all that we all live in this world, and that we have a moral obligation if we have been fortunate to have the privilege to have everything we should remember and assst those who dont. For if we dont, what right do any of us have to expect God to consider our desires first.