"But many who are first will be last, and the last first." ~ Jesus
Sup with that?
Q: Ever felt like you've been treated unfairly? Ever felt like you were mistreated like from someone over you who seemed to become more generous with another person? Or perhaps you really have been mistreated, with bias.. unequally? Man, have I got a parable for you (this is the theme of Matthew 20), but first...
Remember back in the day, how there was this faithful prophet named Ezekiel who would remind beloved Israel of their sins.. for example, the wrongdoin's that caused them to experience 70 years of exile and captivity in Babylon far away from home.
He reminded them so that they would repent, learn, believe, and have a proper view of their God. Two times in chapter 18 versus 25 and 29 Ezekiel told Israel that God was fair and that they as people were not.
“Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth therein; in his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?" asv / kjv
The Bible teaches that God is no respecter of persons meaning He doesn't play favorites with bias, (except for this fact: if you're God's child, we're all equally His favorites because of simple faith in His Son).
"God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, Sends them in the right direction. He gives the rejects his hand, And leads them step-by-step." psalm 25:8 msg
"The whole cosmos attests to the fairness of this court, that here God is Judge." Psalm 50:6 msg
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelations 22:17 #emph.mine #ComeNow! #HesFairToAll
I love that old hymn: "Whosoever will may come. Whosoever will, whosoever will; Send the proclamation over vale and hill; 'Tis a loving Father calls t1he wand'rer home: Whosoever will may come."
True fairness is everyone gettin' exactly what they deserve, and that's why I praise God for the Cross. You and I don't want Hell! The Cross put all of us believers (saved-sinners) on the blessing side of God's perfect justice and fairness so He can in all fairness give more grace.
"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." Romans 9:15 kjv
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree..'” Galatians 3:13
"By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:14 esv
You know the world-system is not fair, but God is.
The circumstances of life here are not fair or just, but God is.
Companies and many work situations aren't fair, but God is.
Governments, their senators, their congressmen, their agencies, their most influencial politicians (on both sides), and the elections of many Banana Republic Countries are often not fair, but God is. He remains fair as always!
It's sadly true that not all presidents, courts, judges, lawyers, or earthly dictators are fair, but God unflichingly always has been. (..but we here in the USA wouldn't know about all that though would we?). God's precious promises and good character never alter even an inch!
Think on this.. even in some churches, and denominations, the leaders are sometimes not fair, but our Heavenly Father IS indeed. He stays steady -- His holy righteous nature ain't periodic. It never changes in any way.
Even in schools, in universities and in homes the leaders are sometimes not fair, but God is.
I too have not always been fair every single time as a dad with my three sons (sure tried to be)..and then found out some facts later on. It didn't rep Him well. Had to repent. Yet from toddlerhood on upward, every one of us have an innate yearning inside for fairness, complete equity and flawless justice (we long for a real location called Heaven instead of that other real location). When my little sister Kathy (a mother of 2 tiny boys) was murdered by a stalker in Corpus Christi some years back, I wanted ..and still want justice. It's how we're all made. God cares and He saw. This is the theme!
Please think Bema Seat and Great White Throne. "A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” Galatians 6:7–9
Back in the day in Southern California, on a track team I used to run in some races. It was during my Dunsmore Elementary and Dana Hills High School days and less so later on, but like a whole lot of us guys, I too ran in some races to win a prize. Did some long jumps and a little pole vaulting as well.
Yes, I remember running in some short events; the 50-yard dash, a 70-yard sprint, and I was on the relay team as well. Ever run the anchor leg in one of those?
My mom bought my two brothers and me some lame plastic shoes, but we all just loved to run. (Having three boys and a little cheerleader daughter all involved in these contests was not so cheap).
Later on my older brother Kevin did some distance running and he got me into that some. With the right shoes, it wasn't bad at all. I even ran some 10K in places, but he was more competitive than I who simply enjoyed time out in nature.
I even remember foolishly running on the wet and dry sand at T-Street Beach down to Cottons Point and back in San Clemente. You lose ground in the dry sand--it's a whole lot of work. But me and my two brothers from a very young age used to race at times.
Part of that was because my dad was a passionate football coach which meant that he was zealous to get us three into shape (via beach races, or anywhere races..) in order to get ready for football competition later on.
So, I used to run races--we all used to do that. Not bad at all, running your race to win. Perhaps earlier you also ran in races?
"But many who are first in this world will be last in the world to come; and the last, first." Matthew 19:30 amp
If you did run, just go back to the memory of your athletic days and then prayerfully look at Matthew 20. It'll help you see what is meant by Christ's last first and first last proverb (maxim, truism) that clearly illustrates His following parable.
It's one thing to be last in a race ..only last.. or to be first in a race and stay that way, but if you are first and last, or last and first.. if you are running first and last to the finish line you all end in a dead heat. That's marvelous!
Again, to be clear. Listen, a child could see this at the finish-tape. If you’re running last all the way; then you’re indeed last in that race. But if y'all are last and first, and if you’re first and last, guess what. That means you all end the same. Same reward!
Man, if you were the cameraman their with your son or daughter at the end next to the line where all the runners would stick out their noses and chests to break the tape to win.. you'd both see and record it.
Can't emphasize this enough. The only way to be first and last at the same time is to reach the finish line altogether with all noses, left or right feet, or chests on the line.. for same blue ribbon or trophy/reward. Very simple, and remember this, believer, no other reward comes close to comparing with finishing your race having your torch still lit, where you see Christ face to face! All believers will there be equally blessed (Pssst: I'm in competition with me, want to be better in Christ than I was yesterday)!
"What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." Romans 9:14-16 kjv
Yep, it means everybody finishes the race in a dead heat gaining the same ultimate reward. That's the theme -- the Proverb (maxim) and the Parable that marvelously illustrates it.. are fascinating. Let's now talk about this day-laborers in the vineyard parable.