The Workers in the Vineyard
Summary
Matt Crummy explores Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard, where God’s justice and mercy meet in ways that unsettle our instincts about fairness. The landowner pays each worker the same, keeping his promise to the first while showing unexpected generosity to the last. For those measuring worth by comparison, this feels like loss, and Jesus names it the “evil eye”—a vision clouded by envy. In contrast, the “good” trusts that God’s resources are abundant, not scarce, and that his generosity to others does not diminish his care for us. The kingdom is not a zero-sum marketplace but a place where grace is given as a gift, not a wage, and where blessing is multiplied when it is shared. We are invited to lay down rivalry, resist the pull of comparison, and see others’ gain as a sign of the same goodness we ourselves receive from the hand of the generous landowner.
Questions for reflection
When have you found it hard to rejoice in God’s generosity to someone else?
How does the image of the “evil eye” versus the “good” speak to the way you view God’s provision?
Where in your life do you most easily slip into measuring worth by comparison?
What practices could help you trust that God’s care for others does not reduce his care for you?
How does the parable challenge your understanding of fairness and reward in the kingdom of God?
What would it look like this week to celebrate another person’s blessing as if it were your own?
