The Gospel of Matthew – Journey to Jerusalem

Matthew has many similarities to the other Synoptic Gospels.  We read about Jesus’ guidance on divorce, letting the children come forward, rich men entering heaven, Jesus predicting his death and providing a position for the disciples, James and John in the coming kingdom.

There are a couple of passages unique to the Gospel of Matthew in Chapter 20. 

The first is the parable of the workers in the vineyard.  The owner starts the day hiring people to work in the fields.  As the day goes on he continues to hire people, a group at noon, another about 3pm and finally a group about 5pm.  When it came time to pay the workers, each received one denarius, the typical daily wage.  When asked why everyone got the same wage the owner explained it was his prerogative to pay whatever he wanted.  The early morning group had agreed to one denarius for the day.  He would pay the rest what he felt was right.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.  The owner of the vineyard starts the day by hiring field workers.  The workers agree to one denarius for a day’s labor.  As the day goes on he hires additional people at noon, 3pm, and 5pm.  At the end of the day all are paid.  The first group are paid one denarius as agreed.  But then the owner pays the others one denarius, and the first workers object.  “Why should those who come later, and do less work, be paid the same amount?”  “Because I can,” replies the owner.  But what we really have is an allegory for Heaven.  All who come, either early or late, will receive entrance into heaven. Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard:  1769 by Johann Christian Brand, academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Vienna Austria.

The placement of the vineyard parable is interesting, because it follows the explanation of how hard it is for a rich man to enter heaven.  Taken as part of the Gospel’s story flow we understand entering the vineyard as an allegory for an entrance into heaven.  No matter when we recognize how God is moving us and accept his leading, whether early or late in life, we all receive the same reward, acceptance into his Kingdom.

Another story unique to Matthew is the healing of two blind men at the gates of Jericho.  The Mark and Luke chapters say Jesus heals a single blind person at the gates of Jericho.  Why are there two blind men in Matthew?  Healing the two blind men comes after a discussion between Jesus and Mary Salome, the wife of Zebedee and mother of the disciples James the Greater and John the Evangelist.  She asks Jesus to seat her sons in places of honor in the Kingdom.  Mary’s request leads to dissension among the disciples and Jesus explains that they have come to serve, not be served.  The two blind men provide a visual contrast to the disciples James and John. The two blind men are simply thankful and grateful that their sight has been returned.  On the other side we have the petty argument/discussion among the disciples about who is to have the most distinguished seats and position of importance.  The two settings give us a humble view of what is important. 

And we have arrived in Bethphage, ready next week for the triumphal entry into Jerusalem.