“So the last will be first, and the first will be last,” says Jesus in Matthew 20:16, though He doesn’t only say it there. Jesus talks about the first being last and the last being first on five separate occasions in the Gospels: Matthew 19:30, Matthew 20:16, Mark 9:35, Mark 10:31 and Luke 13:30.
It’s not exactly the same phrase every time, because these aren’t five accounts of one speech. Jesus reused and reworked the saying, but the thrust is clear enough: when the Kingdom of God comes, things change. Our social system gets turned upside‑down.
It reminds me of what my socialist friends used to say to me at university — that when the revolution comes, everything changes. In their version, of course, the threat was that I might be one of the first lined up against the wall! Jesus’ revolution also threatens people, though it’s not obvious that anybody gets shot.
Jesus begins this teaching with “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard.” (Matthew 20:1)
It’s a long story by parable standards, but the storyline is simple: this landowner hires workers throughout the day and promises each of them a denarius — essentially the minimum wage of the time. It was enough to keep you going but never enough to make you wealthy.
Plenty of people were happy to work for a denarius. Many start early. Others start later. Some don’t start until late afternoon. No one complains about the wage until those who’ve worked all day realise that the latecomers are being paid the same amount. They protest: “These last fellows worked only one hour, yet you have made them equal to us who have endured the burden of the day and the scorching heat!” (Matthew 20:12). “It’s not fair”, they say — and that’s exactly what I would have said.
Anyone who has raised more than one child has heard those words a lot. If you doubt the innate human sense of justice, try dividing a stash of lollies between two young children. The complaint is never “I didn’t get enough” but always “she got more than me!” That’s why King Solomon came up with the principle that if you’re dividing a piece of cake between two children, one cuts and the other chooses (I think it was Solomon).
And it doesn’t stop when we grow up. We just get more sophisticated. A trade union leader once told me that there’s never been a strike over low pay — only over pay differentials. It’s not that what we’re getting isn’t enough; it’s that we’re not getting as much as the person next to us.
A hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s wage. That’s basic to our sense of justice. It’s what our parents taught us, and it’s what we teach our children: you get what you deserve. That’s what we were taught in school too. When lazy Joe asked to see my homework because he’d had a big night, I could say “sure,” knowing he was only hurting himself. Then the exam results came in, and lazy Joe and I got the same mark! It’s not supposed to work like that!
Good, honest, hard‑working people like us are supposed to be rewarded, while useless layabouts who spend their days at the pub and take up our tax dollars to buy weed shouldn’t get the same heavenly pay‑cheque at the final checkout.
This is a confronting story. If the Kingdom of Heaven isn’t about justice, what is it about? Surely if you’ve worked all day in the heat, you deserve some recognition. Have we got our concept of justice wrong? I don’t think so. The problem isn’t justice — it’s the vineyard owner.
He replies: “Friend, I’m not treating you unfairly. You agreed with me for a denarius, didn’t you? Take what is yours and go. I want to give this last man as much as I gave you. Am I not allowed to do what I want with my own money, or are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:13–15)
It’s hard to argue with his logic. It’s just not the logic of justice. It’s the logic of generosity — of mercy — and there is always tension between justice and mercy.
Jesus saying to the woman caught in adultery, “I don’t condemn you either” — that’s mercy, not justice. Justice would have seen her stoned. Jesus saying, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing” — that’s mercy, not justice. Justice would have seen His mockers strung up alongside Him.
“Doing unto others as they do unto you” — that’s justice. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” — that’s mercy, because that’s how we want to be treated. We don’t really want justice for ourselves, not if we’re honest.
Jesus concludes, “the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16) It doesn’t quite make sense, because the last aren’t really ahead — they’re equals. But if you were expecting those good‑for‑nothing layabouts to be miles behind you, perhaps it looks like they’re ahead when they’re suddenly alongside you.
The point, at any rate, Jesus says, is that the Kingdom of Heaven is like that.
Really? Is Heaven full of exhausted labourers and hung‑over latecomers? Is it a place of resentment and arguments? Is God not just?
If justice means everybody getting what they deserve, then maybe God isn’t just — at least not in that sense. What God clearly is, according to this story and according to the whole ministry and life of Jesus, is merciful.
If you’ve been to court, I’m sure you’ve seen Justitia – the Roman goddess of justice. She’s blindfolded, holding scales and sword, showing no partiality. The God of the Bible is never depicted that way. God’s eyes are open. God shows partiality, bending towards the poor, the needy, the weak, the oppressed, and God has mercy upon all.
Jesus’ parable isn’t trying to confuse us — it’s trying to convert us. The Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t run on the cold arithmetic of fairness but on God’s generosity. And if that generosity offends our sense of justice, then it’s our sense of justice that needs reshaping. For we are all held by mercy — from first to last, and last to first — and that, thank God, is the revolution Jesus brings.
Our Sunday Eucharist
We celebrated another wonderful Eucharist last Sunday, and a big thank you to Diane Bates and Andrew Logan for joining me on the panel. This was Andrew’s first reappearance after his six-month trek across the USA, Canada, and Europe with his partner, Gigi! He seems to be in remarkably good shape, and apparently Gigi is pregnant! Congratulations to you both!
I’ve clipped below a 12-minute excerpt from our discussion of Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 14. This was our final reading from Romans for this year so I was keen to give it proper attention.
Lots of communal wisdom was shared, and AI Saint Paul also chimed in with an excellent contribution. In order to keep the length under ten minutes and stay to focused on the passage though, I did edit out some of the discussion, including Diane’s critical evaluation of the musical, “The Book of Mormon”. If you want to hear that, you’ll have to listen to the complete broadcast on Rumble.
You’ll find the Romans clip at the end of today’s newsletter. This week’s most popular shorts are directly below.
This Sunday I’m looking forward to welcoming back Andrew Madray and Doug Pyeatt to the panel – a dynamic combination indeed! We’ll be starting at midday as usual (Sydney time). Join us via Rumble, Facebook, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, Instagram, Faithia and StreamYard.
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What’s On?
- Sunday, September 20 – Our Eucharist from noon @thesundayeucharist.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Faithia, StreamYard and Rumble.
- Tuesday, September 22 – Boxing at the Mundine Gym in Redfern from 7 pm.
- Thurs, Sept 24 – Bible Study @www.thesundayeucharist.com/bible from noon.
- Friday, September 25 – Boxing at Brofit Gym in Bankstown from 6.30 pm
- Saturday, September 26 – Boxing at the Legends Gym in Kensington – 3 pm.
It’s been a week of highs and lows for me – of exhaustion and elation.
The low was the death of my friend, Bob Williams.
Any of you who’ve been involved with our bush camp – Binacrombi – over the last ten years will know Bob. He was our longest-serving caretaker there and he made an impression on everyone he met. Bob didn’t always leave a great first impression. He could be crazy and cantankerous, but those who got to know him discovered the gold beneath.
I’m really sorry that the funeral has been scheduled at exactly the same time as my dear daughter, Fran’s, high school graduation ceremony, and I can’t not be at her graduation. Joy will represent both of us at the funeral.
I know Bob would support that 100%. He was a loving father to his children – Boe and Katie – and to his grandchildren.
Rest well until we meet again, brother Bob. ❤️🙏
The high for me last week was the wedding of Joel and Amanda. Many will know Joel’s work for the freedom movement and his role as national director of Turning Point, Australia. I didn’t’ get to take the wedding (which was at his old school chapel and taken by the chaplain) but I was privileged to say grace at the reception. 😊❤️
I know I had some lovely pics taken with Joel and Amanda but, bizarrely, I can’t find them! I can’t even remember who took them but, if you’re reading this, please send them to me (again, if you sent them already 🫤).
Below is a small collage of us with some of our other freedom-loving friends at the celebration.
The exhausting part of my week was driving from Melbourne to Sydney (a ten-hour drive). It’s also why this newsletter is late. I flew down to pick up the car I had given to my beloved daughter, Imogen, as I need to get it re-registered. It’s a long drive. Even so, spending time with my darling girl makes it entirely worthwhile.❤️
My major frustration of the week has been that I’m still no clearer as to whether I’m heading to Syria in the next week or two. Much is happening in terms of our activism for Dr Hassoun. We are working industriously to get more lawyers involved and to try to bring his case to the attention of the Australian government. Even so, nothing has been finalised in terms of me being there. I keep praying. God’s will be done. ❤️🙏
And before I let you go, let me urge you to join us for mid-week Bible study if you’re available. You might have noticed the new Bible-study graphic above. If you click the image, it will take you straight there.
I’m trying a new format at the moment. I’m streaming on Rumble rather than connecting through Zoom. There are a variety of reasons for trying this, but I did have one participant tell me last Thursday that he tried to connect on his phone and that Rumble wanted to charge him a subscription before letting him connect!
I know the phone connection requires you to download an app, but I didn’t think you had to pay for it. If you’re connecting via laptop or PC there’s nothing to download, and there’s certainly no charge. Anyway, please do join us on Thursday if you can and let me know if you have any problems connecting.
May the Lord bless and strengthen you for the work to which you have been called.
Your brother in the Good Fight,
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www.softwareresales.com
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www.israelandpalestine.org
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www.oldschoolboxing.academy
www.christiansandmuslims.com
www.christianswithdepression.com
About Father Dave Smith
Preacher, Pugilist, Activist, Father of four
