The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 291

HOMILms BY V.A.RIO US AUTHORS. Vere. 1-16.-The uwoure'l's in the vineyard. This parable is closely connected with our Lord's remarks in describing the rewards of the kingdom, and it may have been intended to convey a mild rebuke, or at least a gentle warning, to St. Peter, who had asked," What then shall we have?" The apostles are to receive great rewards.· But those who, like St. Peter, were called first, are not to assume that they will have any more than those who came in later. I. CHRIST SEEKS LABOURERS FOR ms VINEYARD. There ls work to be done in winning the world for Christ, and in training the Church that its fruit may be brought forth in abundance. For this work our Lord requires labourers. His· servants are not to be satisfied with receiving his grace. 'l'hat grace is given for the express purpose of its being used in his service. Christ calls 118 that we may serve him. II. CHRIST OFFERS A FAIR BEWARD FOB LABOUR. '.l'he so-called "penny n was evidently the regular wageB of the ordinary day labourer. Although Christ might exact servic.e on royal authority, he does not put forth this authority. He accepts each labourer on the man's free consent, and he offers him all that he could ask for. We talk of the sacrifice and toils of a Christian life. We should be honest to reckon up its gains on the other side. III. CHRIST HIRES LABOUREBS AT THE VARIOUS HOURS. The Church did not start fully equipped. By degrees the requisite forces have been drawn into the service of the kingdom. Those late hired may represent various classes. 1. The, later called apostles. St. Peter will not have pre-eminence because he was called earlier than St, Jude. When St. Paul came his caBe would be obviously met here. And yet the parallel is not exact, because the later apostles did not have a shorter season of work. 2. The Gentile,s. '.l'hese were called later than the Jewsi• but they were not assigned an inferior place in the kingdom. 3. The heathen. Even to-day, at the eleventh hour, some nations are being called in. 4. The aged. One who did not receive the gospel in youth will not necessarily be lower than one who had the privilege of knowi.ug it in his early days. IV. CHRIST REWARDS IN AN UNEXPECTED 11.ANNEB. Here we have a description of an equality of payment. Elsewhere there is an idea of diversity, e.g. Luke xix. 24-26. Each representation has its own lesson. In the case before us we learn that the final division may not be at all according to our expectation, The obscure may be on a level with the eminen~the Gentiles with the Jews, the new mission Churches of India and China with the old Christian Chnrches of Europe. V, Cmw!T BAS A BIGHT TO DEAL GENEROUSLY AFTER BE BAB ACTED JUSTLY, The payment looked unfair. But no one could complain, because every one had what he had a~eed to take, and beca111e no one had less than fair wages. Beyond this the householder was free to be as genero111 as he pleased in the disposal of his own property. Still, one can quite understand the dissatisfaction People are hurt when generosity does not seem to be equal and fair. It should be noted, however, that the later comers had excused themselves on the plea that no man had hired them. Possibly they were as willing to work all day as those who had done so. Now, Christ judges by the hean and the intentions.-W. F. A. • Ver. Ul,.......A great rever80l,. This is an often-repeated saying of our Lord's ; per- haps he uttered it more often than anything else--a. fact which shows its importance and also the difficulty people have in believing it and acting on_ it. Y,o are n_ot ~ suppose that there is a N emeeie that mocks at good fortune and delights m reversmg it. Pros- perity is not punished ae such, for it is not in itself an evil thing. God is gracious and generoua. He would not torment his children with needless disappointments. Let us, t;hen, look for the causes of the great reversal. L GOD JKIBS lllOT ,JUDGE MEN BY TREIB W0BLDLY l'OSITlON, He doef:I not punish rank. os. xx. 1-34.] 'fHE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 2!:l5