Matthew 20:13-16 New International Version (NIV)
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Wed. August 19 - Matthew 20:13-16 What does “the last will be first and the first will be last” mean? That the kingdom of God is for everyone! Every time Jesus talks about the last, the least, or the lost he is talking about his love for them. All of them. To be sure, not all of the last, least and lost will receive Jesus, but he nonetheless freely offers his grace, forgiveness and love to them just as he offers it to the first, finest, and familiar. The problem is that the first, finest, and familiar look down on free gifts. They think their efforts are what matters. That is why they come in first! And are the finest! But those things don’t matter if Jesus offers something for free. Free things cannot be earned. Jesus will not let us stand on anything but his cross. This is why the last, the least, and the lost are so excited! Before Jesus came they didn't think they had a shot!