Blowing in the Wyoming Wind by Rodger McDaniel

The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
The Parable of “Occupy the Vineyard” - The Sagebrush Gospel Version

Matthew 20:1-16

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

 The struggles of the middle class began with vineyard workers in the time of Jesus. In those days a landowner didn’t have a steady workforce. He went early each morning to hire laborers. If he said, “I need all of you” they’d have enough leverage to negotiate higher wages. So, he took fewer workers than needed from those waiting for work, pitting hopefuls against one another.

After agreeing with a few laborers on wages slightly higher than Pharaoh paid his Hebrew slaves, he sent them into his vineyard. He returned about nine o’clock and saw other unemployed workers standing idle. This time there was no negotiation. The boss simply ordered, “You also go into the vineyard. I’ll pay you whatever is right.” So they went, not knowing what wage he thought was right. They needed the work. This might be their last opportunity that day.

He went out again about noon and about three o’clock, each time hiring fewer workers than needed, causing the unemployed workers to quarrel among themselves about who would work harder for less.

About five o’clock, near the end of the workday, he found others standing around. Although he knew they weren’t working because of his scheme to keep wages down, he mocked them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” as though their idleness was their fault. They said, “Because no one has hired us.’ He said, “Go into the vineyard.”

When evening came, the owner said, “Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock received the same wages offered those who’d been hired first, those first hired grumbled, “These last worked only one hour, and were paid the same as us who have borne the burden of the entire day and the scorching heat.”

The employer replied, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for this wage? Take what belongs to you and get lost; this is my business and you are a worker. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?”

Eventually, the workers formed unions and elected representatives to negotiate with landowners so they couldn’t pit one against the other. Soon they were paid fairer wages, benefits and safer working conditions.

This was unacceptable to the owners.

The owner of the vineyard turned to friendly politicians. Pharaoh’s heirs took campaign contributions from owners in exchange for passing laws they called “right-to-work.” These and other laws made it difficult for workers to band together. Owners were once again able to pit underemployed workers against one another.

Still the landowners were displeased with laws putting minimums on the wages they could pay workers and workplace regulations such as overtime pay, child labor limits, and worker safety among others.  He cried out, “I built this business (conveniently overlooking the significant contributions of his employees and his customers). Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?”

And so he globalized the marketplace. Instead of hiring workers among his own countrymen, he outsourced their jobs, pitting workers throughout the world against one another.

If workers in his country demanded minimum wages, he could find workers in other countries willing to work for whatever he wished to pay them. Workplace safety and child labor laws didn’t exist in other countries. Environmental responsibility was no longer an issue. The Pharaoh again assisted, negotiating international trade agreements assuring him he could sell products throughout the world.

Money that once went to worker salaries now went instead to shareholders. Technology reduced the need for workers. Competition for diminishing numbers of jobs motivated workers to produce more for smaller wages.

Alas, the owners found that the last…will be last, the first will be first, which is Biblical for “the rich will get richer and the poor…”well, you know!

That’s the Sagebrush Gospel version of the Parable of the Vineyard Workers in Matthew 20.