Morton Presbyterian Church

What did Jesus mean: “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last”? The parable of the vineyard owner who paid the last hired just as much as he paid those who had worked all day can be tough to take. Like Jonah we still wish people would get what they deserve, or at least not get what they don’t deserve. Jesus models for us how to take our focus off where we stand in the line, how we rank compared to others, and to put the focus on God’s desire to lavish grace on everyone. As the line moves through the gate into God’s kingdom, we can actively help others get there, like holding a door open to let others enter first.