Wait in Prayer—He Will Surely Answer.

Imagine standing in a long line, hoping for an opportunity. As time passes, you watch others step forward, chosen for something meaningful while you are left waiting. You feel invisible, overlooked, and perhaps even unworthy. Just as you are about to give up, a voice calls your name. Unexpectedly, you are given what you had longed for—but then you see others grumbling, questioning why you, the last one chosen, have received the same as those who were first.  

This is the essence of Jesus’ parable in Matthew 20:1-16 —the story of the workers in the vineyard. Some were hired early in the morning, others at midday, and some just an hour before quitting time. Yet when the wages were handed out, every worker received the same full-day’s pay. Those who had worked the longest complained: “These who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day” (Matthew 20:12).  

The landowner responded: “I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? … Are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:13-15).  

This parable isn’t just about fairness—it reveals the grace of God. His kingdom does not operate by earthly logic. The last will be first, and the first will be last. God’s generosity goes beyond human expectations, showing that salvation is not earned but freely given.  

Today, we will explore:  

1. How this story challenges our view of fairness,  

2. The pain and hope of those who wait, and  

3. The overwhelming generosity of God’s grace.  

Fairness is something we all instinctively desire. From a young age, we learn to say, “That’s not fair!” when we feel we’ve been treated unjustly. We want to be rewarded based on our effort, experience, and merit. In the world, this makes sense. Those who work harder expect to receive more. Those who put in years of service expect greater recognition than those who just started. This is the way human society operates.  

Jesus’ parable, however, challenges this entire perspective. The workers who had labored since dawn expected to be paid more than those who arrived later. They had endured the scorching heat, spent hours toiling in the vineyard, and believed they were more deserving of a greater reward. But when the landowner gave every worker the same wage, regardless of when they started, those who had been there all day were outraged.  

They grumbled, saying, “These who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day” (Matthew 20:12). In their minds, it was unfair. They had done more, so they deserved more.  

The landowner, however, reminded them: “Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?” (Matthew 20:13). He had given them exactly what was promised. Their real issue was not injustice, but envy. They were not upset because they were underpaid—they were upset because others were overpaid.  

This is the struggle we all face. We look at others and think, Why do they get the same blessings when I’ve done more? We compare ourselves to others, feeling resentment when God seems to be more generous with someone else.  

But Jesus turns our perspective upside down. In God’s kingdom, rewards are not based on effort, merit, or seniority—they are based on grace.  

The truth is, none of us deserve what God gives. Eternal life is not something we can earn through work; it is a gift given freely by God’s grace. The workers who were hired last did nothing to deserve a full day’s wage—just as we do nothing to deserve salvation.  

Paul reminds us in *Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” The Pharisees, like the early workers in the vineyard, believed they were entitled to more because of their religious efforts. Yet Jesus made it clear: the kingdom of heaven is not about what we do, but about what God gives.  

When we compare ourselves to others and feel resentment, we must ask ourselves: are we focusing on fairness, or on the generosity of God? Instead of grumbling, we should be grateful that God gives freely—because if fairness were truly applied, none of us would be worthy of His grace.  

In the end, the workers who had been there all day had received exactly what they were promised, but their joy was stolen by comparison. Let us not fall into the same trap. Instead, let us rejoice that our God is generous, giving freely to all who come to Him.

Imagine standing in the marketplace from sunrise to sunset, hoping for work but never being chosen. You see others get called in the morning, then more at noon, then even more in the afternoon. With each passing hour, your hope fades. You watch as the work begins in the vineyard, knowing that someone else was chosen instead of you.  

The last group of workers in Jesus’ parable knew this feeling all too well. They waited all day, believing they had been overlooked, rejected, or deemed unworthy. By the final hour, most had probably resigned themselves to going home empty-handed. They had no reason to expect anything more.  

Then something unexpected happened. The landowner came back and saw them still standing there. “Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?” he asked (Matthew 20:6). Their answer was simple: “Because no one has hired us” (Matthew 20:7).  

In that moment, the landowner did something radical—he invited them to work, even though the day was almost over. There wasn’t much time left, but they went anyway, grateful for even the smallest opportunity.  

This is the nature of God’s grace. He sees those who feel forgotten and left behind. He calls those who believe they are unworthy. He welcomes those who have spent their whole lives waiting, feeling like they don’t belong.  

Sometimes, we feel like these workers. We watch others succeed, receive blessings, or find purpose while we wait in uncertainty. We wonder if God has overlooked us. But the truth is, His timing is not ours. He does not forget us, and He is never late.  

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25).  

Even in our waiting, God is working. Even when we feel unseen, He sees us. And when the moment comes, His grace will be more abundant than we ever imagined.  

The last worker in the vineyard did not earn a full day’s wage, yet he received it. Not because of his effort, but because of the landowner’s generosity. Likewise, we do not receive God’s love because we have worked for it, but because He freely gives it.  

Waiting is painful, but it is not wasted. The workers who remained in the marketplace could have given up and gone home. But they stayed, and in the end, they were rewarded beyond what they could have imagined.  

If you are in a season of waiting, do not lose hope. God sees you. He knows your struggles, your disappointments, and your silent prayers. And when the time is right, He will call you—not because of what you have done, but because of who He is.  

So keep waiting, keep trusting, and keep believing. The landowner is coming. And when He calls you, you will find that His grace is more than enough.

When the landowner finally addressed the complaints of the early workers, he challenged their sense of fairness: “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?” (Matthew 20:13). The workers had received exactly what they were promised. Their frustration was not about being treated unfairly—it was about others receiving the same reward for less effort.  

“Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:15).  

This is a profound statement about the nature of God’s grace. It is not about fairness—it is about generosity. The world operates on fairness, where rewards are earned. But God’s kingdom operates on grace, where blessings are given freely.  

Jesus emphasized this with the conclusion: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16). In human terms, those who worked all day should have received more, but in God’s economy, salvation is not about what we do—it is about what He gives.  

Imagine a child receiving an expensive gift on their birthday. They did nothing to earn it, yet they receive it with joy. In the same way, we cannot work our way into God’s love. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”* 

God’s grace is a gift that cannot be earned. Whether we have followed Him for a lifetime or have just come to Him, the reward is the same—eternal life.  

This is good news for everyone. No matter where you are in life, no matter how late you feel you have come to God, His grace is for you. It is never too late. The workers who came at the last hour received the same reward because the landowner’s generosity was greater than their effort. Likewise, God’s love for you is greater than your past, greater than your failures, and greater than any effort you could make to earn it.  

The beauty of this parable is that it reveals God’s heart. He is not keeping a record of who deserves more; He is inviting everyone to receive freely. When we truly grasp this, it changes the way we see ourselves and others. Instead of comparing our blessings to those around us, we rejoice in the overwhelming generosity of our Father.  

This is the challenge for us today: will we accept His grace with gratitude, or will we compare and grumble? Will we rejoice when others receive blessings, or will we envy what they have?  

God’s grace is for all, and it is always more than enough. It is a gift freely given, not a wage earned. Will you receive it with joy?

The parable of the workers in the vineyard reveals a profound truth about God’s grace: His ways are not like ours. In the world, rewards are based on effort, experience, and status. But in God’s kingdom, the last can become first, and the first can be last. Those who worked only an hour received the same wage as those who labored all day—not because they earned it, but because of the landowner’s generosity.  

This is the beauty of salvation. No one earns eternal life. It is not a payment for effort or good deeds; it is a free gift given by a loving God. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  

Perhaps you relate to the last worker—the one who waited all day, feeling unseen, unworthy, or too late. But God’s grace is not limited by time. He calls each person at the right moment. No matter how long you’ve waited, He has not forgotten you. His invitation remains open.  

Jesus reminds us, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). No matter when you come—early in the morning or at the last hour—He welcomes you with open arms.  

Will you accept His invitation? Will you trust in His grace, knowing that it is not about what you do, but about who He is? His love is ready to embrace you today.

Let’s pray together.

Lord, we come before You, humbled by Your grace. We confess that we often measure fairness by human standards, forgetting that Your ways are higher than ours. Help us to see Your generous grace, not with envy, but with gratitude.  

For those who feel unseen, remind them that You call each person in Your perfect timing. For those who feel unworthy, reassure them that Your love is not earned—it is freely given.  

Thank You for inviting us into Your kingdom, no matter when we come. We surrender our pride, our fears, and our doubts to You. Teach us to trust Your goodness and rest in the joy of Your grace.  

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.