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"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard..."
Matthew 20:1 NLT
This story that Jesus tells is in response to the disciples questions from Ch18:1 about who's going to be the greatest in the Kingdom, and 19:25 about who can be saved, and 19:27 where Peter says "we've given up everything to follow you (Jesus), what will we get?"
They were still seeing Jesus in some kind of transactional way. We do all this work for this New Kingdom you keep talking about, what do we get in return?
Jesus tells a story in reply of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like (most of Ch19), a story that seems to be designed to stir the disciples up, to look at Jesus and others thru a different lens, to experience what feels like the unfairness of Grace. 
Welcome to the Kingdom where Grace rules, where Love wins, where the hierarchies, transactions and ideas of power in the culture, of who is important, are tipped on their heads.
Welcome to the Upside-down Kingdom.

"He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! 
Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage?
Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 
Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? 
Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?'

"So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last."
Matthew 20:13-16 NLT 
#wordsofJesus
#redletterBible 
#upsidedownKingdom
#gracethatischallenging

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