The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard forms our Gospel today. Going out five different times throughout the day to hire laborers, we get a sense of the urgency the householder has in wanting to bring workers into his vineyard. When payment time comes not only are the last to be hired paid first but they are paid a full day’s wage and those who have worked a twelve hour shift object to this generosity. Diving into the original Greek we see God defend his generosity as an attribute of his very self.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Vol. 3. International Critical Commentary. London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004.
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009.
Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
Mass Readings Explained with Dr. Brant Pitre