Does This Parable Exist?

[Lucy]

During class today my teacher was lecturing and, out of the blue, started to talk about one of Jesus' parables. He said he could never understand the moral of the story.

The parable he was telling us was about this one man who hired some men to work for him. These men came early in the morning to work and were payed 3 dracmas (spelling?). Then the man hired a couple more men who came at mid morning to work and they were also payed 3 dracmas. At noon, more men showed up, had something to eat, then worked and were payed the same amount as the first two groups.

My teacher couldn't understand why all the men were payed the same amount when some got up really early to work and the others got to "sleep in" and even have somethin to eat before they went to work. He also said this parable was about redemption.

I have never come across this parable and don't think it's actually even in the bible. But I could be wrong.

Is there a story like this in the bible? If so, where is it?

[cmotherofpirl]

Some people are faithful catholics from childhood, some join the Church in their twenties. Some convert before death.
All of them go to heaven.

[Mateo el Feo]

The parable is from the Gospel of Saint Matthew ([url="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew20.htm#v1"]link[/url]):[quote name='Matt 20:1-16']"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'

They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.'

He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'

When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage.

And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.'

He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."[/quote]

[Paddington]

It reminds me of when the prodigal son's father told his other son, "everything I have is yours."
There was really no difference between what the brothers had. At the time, it looked like the prodigal was being favored.

It also reminds me of how heaven was described by an EOC man that I know. He said that the saints (canonized) are "further along," but everybody gets the same gifts at some point. It is easy to see how eternity allows everybody to get the same gifts. That was in the context of his belief that heaven is a never-ending journey. That belief also makes him feel easier about rejecting purgatory. His rejection of purgatory is what actually brought on the whole explanation.

Another thought is that if God is completely self-giving, then why would one person have more than another person? And another thought is how a person having the image of God restored in him could possibly receive less than another person having the image of God restored in him. People in heaven are like Christ.

I've heard a couple people in my life complain about this parable. Both were Christians, so they were actually just saying, "I accept it, but it sounds wrong."

[Aloysius]

how does the Eastern Orthodox man explain Jesus' statement that to even enter heaven, you must be perfect even as the Heavenly Father is perfect?

there are certainly different levels in heaven; and beyond that we cannot even begin to imagine what the fullness of eternity will be like (it's not like a progression of time that never ends, it is existing completely outside of time) but we all get the Beatific Vision which is the ultimate gift anyone could ever get. I don't think there's really a moving-up through the ranks whilst in heaven, you will be perfect and perfectly content with your role in heaven.

haha sorry... I guess I can't debate the Eastern Orthodox guy through you

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Paddington' post='1168846' date='Jan 18 2007, 01:28 AM']
It reminds me of when the prodigal son's father told his other son, "everything I have is yours."
There was really no difference between what the brothers had. At the time, it looked like the prodigal was being favored.

It also reminds me of how heaven was described by an EOC man that I know. He said that the saints (canonized) are "further along," but everybody gets the same gifts at some point. It is easy to see how eternity allows everybody to get the same gifts. That was in the context of his belief that heaven is a never-ending journey. That belief also makes him feel easier about rejecting purgatory. His rejection of purgatory is what actually brought on the whole explanation.

Another thought is that if God is completely self-giving, then why would one person have more than another person? And another thought is how a person having the image of God restored in him could possibly receive less than another person having the image of God restored in him. People in heaven are like Christ.

I've heard a couple people in my life complain about this parable. Both were Christians, so they were actually just saying, "I accept it, but it sounds wrong."
[/quote]
It makes perfect sense when you think about it.

[Lucy]

Thankyou everyone for your comments!
It makes more sense now.

[scardella]

Well, a friend of mine explained it like this:

Imagine you have a beer mug and a keg. When you fill them both up, they're both perfectly full. However, since the keg has more capacity, it has more beer in it to be full...

The gift of heaven is perfect, do you want to be a mug or a keg?

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1168756' date='Jan 17 2007, 10:44 PM']
Some people are faithful catholics from childhood, some join the Church in their twenties. Some convert before death.
All of them go to heaven.
[/quote]

What if they're goats?

[Paddington]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1168984' date='Jan 18 2007, 03:04 PM']
how does the Eastern Orthodox man explain Jesus' statement that to even enter heaven, you must be perfect even as the Heavenly Father is perfect?

there are certainly different levels in heaven; and beyond that we cannot even begin to imagine what the fullness of eternity will be like (it's not like a progression of time that never ends, it is existing completely outside of time) but we all get the Beatific Vision which is the ultimate gift anyone could ever get. I don't think there's really a moving-up through the ranks whilst in heaven, you will be perfect and perfectly content with your role in heaven.

haha sorry... I guess I can't debate the Eastern Orthodox guy through you
[/quote]


With me (non-believer), I can only talk in "this is conceivable, that is conceivable." Sorry for being so lame.

The EOC definitely believes people are perfect in Heaven. As far as explaining it....maybe like a freshly baptized baby is perfect but still has a lot of growing to do.
Christians are united to Christ in his death, but also in his resurrection. So growth isn't always painful. (The last 2 sentences, I'm talking outside of my qualifications. So, correct me if I'm wrong.)

As far as the "outside of time" thing....well, the Book of Revelation does talk about trees in heaven giving fruit "in their season." Now I'm further outside of my qualifications than before.

[Mateo el Feo]

[quote name='Paddington' post='1169958' date='Jan 19 2007, 03:56 AM']As far as the "outside of time" thing....well, the Book of Revelation does talk about trees in heaven giving fruit "in their season." Now I'm further outside of my qualifications than before.[/quote]I believe you're talking about Rev. 22 here. If so, the "trees of life" produce fruit twelve times a year, which seems to indicate a promise of constant fruitfulness to those in heaven (along with the "river of life-giving water").

In any event, the book of Revelation is rich in symbolism. It isn't a reporter's account of what's going on in heaven.