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예수님은 ‘먼저 된 자로서 나중 되고, 나중 된 자로서 먼저 된다’ 하신 말씀이 무슨 뜻인지를 포도원 주인의 비유로 설명하십니다. 

[ 마태복음 20:1 - 20:16 ] (찬송531장)

1천국은 마치 품꾼을 얻어 포도원에 들여보내려고 이른 아침에 나간 집 주인과 같으니 2그가 하루 한 데나리온씩 품꾼들과 약속하여 포도원에 들여보내고 3또 제삼시에 나가 보니 장터에 놀고 서 있는 사람들이 또 있는지라 4그들에게 이르되 너희도 포도원에 들어가라 내가 너희에게 상당하게 주리라 하니 그들이 가고 5제육시와 제구시에 또 나가 그와 같이 하고 6제십일시에도 나가 보니 서 있는 사람들이 또 있는지라 이르되 너희는 어찌하여 종일토록 놀고 여기 서 있느냐 7이르되 우리를 품꾼으로 쓰는 이가 없음이니이다 이르되 너희도 포도원에 들어가라 하니라

 8저물매 포도원 주인이 청지기에게 이르되 품꾼들을 불러 나중 온 자로부터 시작하여 먼저 온 자까지 삯을 주라 하니 9제십일시에 온 자들이 와서 한 데나리온씩을 받거늘 10먼저 온 자들이 와서 더 받을 줄 알았더니 그들도 한 데나리온씩 받은지라

 11받은 후 집 주인을 원망하여 이르되 12나중 온 이 사람들은 한 시간밖에 일하지 아니하였거늘 그들을 종일 수고하며 더위를 견딘 우리와 같게 하였나이다 13주인이 그 중의 한 사람에게 대답하여 이르되 친구여 내가 네게 잘못한 것이 없노라 네가 나와 한 데나리온의 약속을 하지 아니하였느냐 14네 것이나 가지고 가라 나중 온 이 사람에게 너와 같이 주는 것이 내 뜻이니라 15내 것을 가지고 내 뜻대로 할 것이 아니냐 내가 선하므로 네가 악하게 보느냐

 16이와 같이 나중 된 자로서 먼저 되고 먼저 된 자로서 나중 되리라

[ Matthew 20:1 - 20:16 ]

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,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 worker as I give to you.15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Who is God like? 

Thinking & Understanding

The story of a master of a vineyard and his labourers illustrated how the last would be first, and the first would be last (19:30; 20:16). The master symbolised the gracious God who transformed us sinners into citizens of heaven (vv. 1-7). After a day's work, the owner gave all the workers a day's pay regardless of how many hours each had worked. Heaven was also a place where sinners who were spiritually hungry would enter because of God's generosity. He who came to heaven last would enjoy the same grace as he who came first. (vv. 8-16).

Who is God?

Vv. 8-16 God gives everyone their daily bread. The Jewish considered themselves as the chosen people and first-class citizens, and expected special treatment. However, the Lord went to those who were considered inferior and brought them in as citizens of heaven. Salvation is not the prize of hard work but the good gift of God’s grace.

What lesson is God teaching me?

 Vv. 1-16 According to worldly economy, the expectation is that ‘you get as much as you work for’.  According to the economy of heaven we get more than we could ever work for. It is a grace we cannot work for and it is a grace that cannot be compared to any work we do. This is the “economy of gifts" (oikonomia doni), in which unparalleled rewards are given as gifts. We Gentiles have been saved in a similar manner as the workers that were hired last. Remember that the life you have is God’s gift and freely share what you have received with your neighbours as an agent of God’s kingdom.

Prayer

Lord, there is nothing that is not the result of Your grace. Thank you that I can never be outside the reach of your grace.