Rewards and Greatness in the Kingdom

Setting and Overview
Matthew 19 ends up the first part of an inclusio that concludes after the parable of the workers in the vineyard, tying the parable to the last section of Matthew 19. Following its conclusion, Jesus gives his third prediction of his death and resurrection, which then is followed by the mother of James and John asking Jesus for them to have positions of honor in the kingdom. Although the three sections each have a different focus, together they serve well to guard against misunderstanding the promises of Matthew 19:28-29

Exposition
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard comprises the first fifteen verses of Matthew 20. It begins with a familiar introduction of “the kingdom of heaven is like” (Matthew 13, 18:23) and the continues with a familiar setting of a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard. He gets an original batch in the morning around 6, promising them a day’s wage each. For whatever reason, he needs more workers and returns at 9, 12, and 3 to get more, promising them in turn that he will give them what is right. He finally returns back at 5, finding even more men who have not been able to get work all day, and he sends them to the field with no promises at all. Surprisingly, when it comes time to pay, he pays the last men first and gives them a full day’s wage, far more than what was expected. When he gets to the first men hired, they assume that he will pay them more than what was originally negotiated and are upset when he gives them the same amount that he gave those who were brought last. The landowner questions why they would be envious (lit. have an evil eye – Deuteronomy 15:9, I Samuel 18:8, Matthew 6:23) of his generosity toward the other men, especially when they received all that they had been promised. In verse 16, Jesus gives the application of the parable, a repeat of 19:30 that shows that earthly measures of reward and status will mean nothing for eternal standing.
After giving the parable, as Jesus and the disciples continue toward Jerusalem, he gives the third prediction of his death and resurrection. A couple new details are added this time - the Gentiles will be involved, and he will be crucified – but he again tells them that he will be raised on the third day. No indication is given that the disciples understand any better this time. Following that, the mother of James and John, who is also likely Jesus’ aunt (Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25) asks for her sons to be positions of honor in the kingdom. Jesus asks the men if they are willing to accept what attachment to him will mean, and while they respond affirmatively, their answer belies their ignorance of the suffering to come. Despite their ignorance, Jesus says that they will suffer with him but that the positions of honor are not his to assign. The other disciples are upset about the request, as we would expect, but Jesus doesn’t just respond by correcting James and John but rather them all. While those outside of the kingdom use power for personal advantage, and while such aims would be very tempting for those who have suffered under unjust political rule, Jesus teaches that those in the kingdom should seek first to sacrificially serve others, rather than to desire to be served. Jesus concludes by pointing to himself as the example that they should follow, himself coming to serve others and to sacrifice his very life for them.

Examination and Application
While Jesus did want the disciples to know that their sacrifices would not go unrecognized or unrewarded (Matthew 19:28-29) the following sections not only warn against viewing such rewards transactionally, but also show the futility of trying to compete against others for position in the kingdom. If we were to pursue such rankings, then the rewards would ultimately be about us, instead of being about God. Just as our salvation points to God’s grace (Romans 3:24, I Thessalonians 5:23, Ephesians 2:6-7) and our works and perseverance point to his sovereignty (Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 13:21, I Peter 5:10-11) so too do the rewards that follow reveal his goodness. Therefore, rather than jockeying for position, we are free to live out the good work that God has done in us, and take equal joy in how he reveals his grace both in us and in others.