Matthew 20:8-10 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.”
What is “the eleventh hour”? It means the latest possible time before it is too late. In the parable described above, the owner of a vineyard hired workers at different times throughout a 12-hour workday and then called them at evening time to pay them their wages. He called the ones who were hired at “the eleventh hour” to pay them first, which was one denarius. At that time, one denarius was equivalent to one full day’s wages. Then he called the others who began working at various times throughout the day and paid them the same, one denarius. Even those who worked a twelve-hour day.
Imagine that, the workers who worked one hour were paid the same as people who had worked the entire day! That’s the favor of God. That’s the grace of our Lord Jesus. We are in the eleventh hour of God’s grace. Some might say, “that’s not fair!” They’re right. God’s favor isn’t fair. God’s favor causes us believers to receive preferential treatment, extraordinary advantages, being given things by people that we didn’t ask for. Receiving houses we didn’t pay for. Raises and bonuses, gifts and surprises, and living a debt-free life. That’s the abundant life that Jesus has waiting for us as “eleventh hour” children of God. Our part is just to receive it as part of our covenant blessings. Enjoy!
