葡萄園的主人與工人：恩典的顛覆性法則 The Vineyard Owner and the Workers: The Subversive Law of Grace

文 / Cathy Chen

這樣，那在後的，將要在前；在前的，將要在後了（馬太福音20：16）

一、受僱之前：Home Depot 門口的閒站之人

二十多年前剛搬到洛杉磯時，我曾跟著公公婆婆到 Home Depot 選購建材。在那加州炎熱的夏季，我看到店門口有好些說著西班牙文，正站著或蹲著的人。我好奇他們在做什麼，公公告訴我，他們是在等待被臨時僱用。有些承包工程的人來這裡買建材時，會就地僱用需要的臨時工。

「通常要這樣站多久才能被僱用呢？」我好奇地問。 婆婆說：「不知道吔，看運氣囉，從幾個小時到半天一天都有可能。但有時等了好多天也不一定有機會工作，有些人可能還得養家呢⋯⋯」

那一幕深深刻在我心裡。我猜想，那些渴望被雇用，又無法掌握何時能有工作的人，內心對前途應該充滿著焦慮與不安吧。

幾年後我信了主，在聖經上讀到耶穌的天國比喻「葡萄園的工人」（馬太福音 20: 1-16）

二、受僱之後：天國的顛覆性法則

這比喻彷彿是 Home Depot 那一幕的續集，只不過，鏡頭的焦點轉向了葡萄園主人──那位主動尋找人的神。

主人從清晨開始，多次出門（清晨、上午九點、中午十二點、下午三點），直到酉初（傍晚五點），仍積極的一再出去尋找，呼召閒站的人進園工作（馬太福音 20:1）。能進入葡萄園（神的國度）是何等大的恩典，但這故事的張力，卻在於發工資的時刻。

工人們的反應

園主（神）與清早的工人講定了一天一個銀幣的工價。然而，當他支付酉初才進園、只做了一小時的工人一樣的工資時，整天勞苦受熱的工人立刻發出抱怨：「我們整天勞苦受熱，那些後來的只做了一小時，你竟待他們和我們一樣嗎？」（馬太福音 20:12）

的確，「按時間、按產能、按公平」是世界的法則，但是比喻中園主對清晨工人的回答，徹底顛覆了我們：

「朋友，我沒虧待你，你與我講定的不是一個銀幣嗎？拿你的錢走吧！我樂意給那後來的和給你的一樣，難道我的東西不可隨我的意思用嗎？因為我作好人，你就眼紅了嗎？」（馬太福音 20:13-15）。

此時，我腦海浮現起了多年前那些 Home Depot 門口的工人。或許傍晚的工人正握著沉甸甸的那枚銀幣，難以置信的看著園主，眼神中充滿了困惑與感激，在這份意料之外的慷慨，對他們等待了一整天的家庭而言，不只是工資，更是心靈的溫保與踏實。

天國的顛覆性法則

1. 無盡的恩典

天國的法則基於上帝的恩典，而非人先來後到的順序和功勞。神的恩典也是無盡的，也不是分完就變少的蛋糕。祂給別人的恩典，不會減少祂能給我的恩典。同樣的，他不會因為先給了我恩典，就少給其他人。

2. 信實不虧待

神是信實的。祂信守承諾，神所講定的必兌現，祂所應許的必成就。

2. 絕對的主權

上帝的道路高過我們的道路，祂的意念高過我們的意念。祂的慷慨和絕對主權，是我們有限的人性難以理解的。我們必須降服於：「難道我的東西不可隨我的意思用嗎？」

三、人心的盲點：從「蒙恩者」到「比較者」

1. 從蒙恩者到「應得」的優越感

提早入園，提早享受與園主的同在，提早發揮恩賜，提早和他人同工，這些本身就是無價的報酬。但當清晨工人將目光從園主的慷慨，轉向身旁同伴時，他們就從蒙恩者淪落為比較者，忘記自己也曾站在門外一無所有。那些傍晚的工人此刻心情，可能才是他們曾經純綷而未被比較之心所稀釋的感恩。

2. 隱藏在內心的病灶

我們口口聲聲要求公平，其實是出自內心的種種毒素作祟。耶穌一針見血地揭開內心的病灶：「因為我作好人，你就眼紅了嗎？」（馬太福音 20:15）這「眼紅」就是隱藏在底層的恐懼、嫉妒、虛榮和比較。

如果我們只關注表面現象或自己的情緒（不公平，被虧待），而不正視內心的動機狀態（見不得別人好），再好的事（找到工作）最後也會變成壞事（怨聲載道）。原本在前的，因為失去蒙恩者的心而成為在後的。

3. 擅自跨逾界限

人們會逾越界線，認為自己能評判神的權柄。這比喻提醒我們，真正的解方是降服於恩典，作恩典的完全領受者，承認自身的驕傲與傾斜，才能以寬容來做人處事。

四、天國法則的現代應用

我們來想想這些情境，思考如何用「恩典」而非「功勞」的天國法則，開出處方。

案例一：校園

一名轉學生遭到部份同學排擠。不被分在同一組，也不被歡迎在食堂同桌用餐⋯⋯

→ 天國的眼光：我們都曾經是那隔隔不入的轉學生，是從某一天恩典將我們納入了群體，我們該如何伸出友誼之手，讓新學生也能感受到無條件的接納？

案例二：家庭

一名曾經的媳婦如今熬成婆婆。她嫌棄媳婦不夠賢惠，不懂理家⋯⋯

→ 天國的眼光：我初為人婦時也曾笨拙不安，是時間與機會使我成長。我如今有的能力，是恩典的積累，而不是衡量他人的工具。我該如何以當年我希望別人給我的寬容，來對待現在手忙腳亂的媳婦？

案例三：職場

有位資深同事，敵視後來新進居上者，常藉口對新進職員百般刁難⋯⋯

→ 天國的眼光：資深同事的心態，正是清晨工人的翻版，他們害怕自己的勞苦功高被遺忘。如果我們在同一個組織，與其與他對抗，不如先去肯定他的貢獻與價值，讓他感到安全。上帝賜予新人的機會，不會減損我們所擁有的。這裡夠大，容得下所有的人一同發光，而不是一場零和遊戲。

案例四：教會

老會友把持各種資源，不願給新會友嘗試的空間。

→ 天國的眼光：教會是恩典的傳承與主權的交託。你會建議怎麼做呢？

五、結論

20多年後，當我回望那個 Home Depot 門口，彷彿看到了兩種人生的縮影。我們或許都曾是焦慮等待被呼召的閒站之人，然而蒙恩進入園子久了，也可能不知不覺變成了計較工時，忘記初衷的清晨工人。耶穌這則比喻是美好的提醒，願我們永不失去那閒站之人的謙卑與自覺，並為每一位下午五點才進園的人真心喝彩。因為在恩典的國度裡，我們的喜樂不是比別人做了多少，而是我們竟然有幸能夠一同在園子裡。

祈禱

親愛的主，
謝謝祢讓我看見天國是恩典的國度。
求祢讓我常記得我是蒙恩的人，而不是應得的人。
幫助我相信祢的恩典是無盡、不會被分完的，
使我不再害怕、不再比較、不再眼紅。
醫治我心中隱藏的恐懼與不信，
使我能以基督的心待人，
為別人蒙恩而真心歡喜，
並享受與祢同工的喜樂。
奉主耶穌基督的名求，阿們。

於 12/19/2025

The Vineyard Owner and the Workers: The Subversive Law of Grace

Cathy Chen, 12/3/2025

“So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16)

1. Before Being Hired:

The Day Laborers at the Home Depot Entrance

More than twenty years ago, shortly after I moved to Los Angeles, I went with my parents-in-law to Home Depot to shop for building materials. In the scorching California summer, I saw several people at the entrance—most of them speaking Spanish—standing or crouching as though waiting for something. Curious, I asked who they were. My father-in-law explained that they were day laborers waiting to be hired. Contractors would often buy supplies there and pick up extra hands on site.

“How long do they usually have to wait before someone hires them?” I asked.
My mother-in-law replied, “No one knows. It depends—maybe a few hours, half a day, sometimes a whole day. And sometimes they wait for days without getting any work. Some of them still have families to feed…”

That scene was deeply etched into my heart. I imagined their longing to be hired, their inability to control when work might come, and the quiet anxiety they must have felt about the future.

A few years later, after I became a Christian, I read Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard （Matthew 20:1-16）.

2. After Being Hired:

The Subversive Law of the Kingdom

The parable felt like a sequel to that scene at Home Depot—only this time, the camera shifted its focus to the vineyard owner, the God who actively seeks people.

From early morning (about 6 AM), the owner repeatedly went out—at 9 AM, noon, 3 PM, and even at 5 PM—continuously looking for those standing idle and calling them into his vineyard (Matthew 20:1).

To enter the vineyard—God’s kingdom—is sheer grace.
But the tension of the story appears when it is time to distribute wages.

The Workers’ Response

The vineyard owner (God) had agreed with the early-morning workers on one denarius for the day. But when he gave the late-afternoon workers—those who worked only one hour—the same amount, the early workers immediately complained:

“These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!” (Matthew 20:12)

Indeed, “pay by hours worked, output produced, fairness earned” is the law of this world.
But the owner’s answer overturns our logic:

“Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:13–15)

At that moment, I pictured those men at the Home Depot entrance. I imagined the worker hired at 5 PM holding that denarius with disbelief—his eyes filled with gratitude and relief. For someone who had waited the whole day with little hope, that coin was not only wages, but dignity restored and a quiet reassurance for his family.

The Subversive Laws of the Kingdom

1. Boundless Grace

The kingdom does not operate on seniority, merit, or the order of arrival. God’s grace is not a limited pie—what He gives others does not reduce what He can give to me. And His generosity toward me does not diminish His generosity toward others.

2. Faithful and Never Unjust

God is faithful to His promises. What He agrees to, He will certainly fulfill.

3. Absolute Sovereignty

God’s ways are higher than our ways; His thoughts higher than ours.
His generosity and sovereign freedom often exceed what our limited human logic can understand. We must yield to the truth:

“Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?”

3. The Blind Spots of the Human Heart:

From “Recipients of Grace” to “Comparers”

1. From Graced to Entitled

To enter the vineyard early—
to enjoy the owner’s presence,
to serve with others,
to use one’s gifts—
is itself priceless grace.

But once the early workers shifted their eyes from the owner’s generosity to the workers beside them, they turned from graced recipients into comparers. They forgot they too were once empty-handed, waiting outside the vineyard. Ironically, the late-afternoon workers were likely feeling the pure gratitude that the early workers had long lost.

2. The Disease Hidden Within

Our demand for “fairness” often masks deeper toxins—fear, jealousy, pride, comparison.
Jesus pierced through the surface issue:

“Do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:15)

If we pay attention only to our outward emotions (“This is unfair!” “I’m overlooked!”) without examining the inner motives (“I can’t stand to see others blessed”), even good things—like getting a job—can turn into bitterness and complaint.
The first will become last when they lose the heart of one who knows they have received grace.

3. Crossing Boundaries

We often overstep our boundaries and assume the right to judge God’s decisions.
This parable reminds us that only when we surrender to grace—acknowledging our pride and skewed perspectives—can we respond to others with patience and kindness.

4. Applying the Kingdom’s Law of Grace Today

Let us consider these real-life situations and ask:
How do we respond with grace, not merit?

Case 1: School

A transfer student is excluded by classmates, not welcomed into groups or lunch tables.
→ Kingdom perspective:
We were once outsiders too—grace brought us into God’s family.
How can we extend the same unconditional welcome?

Case 2: Family

A woman who used to be a daughter-in-law is now a mother-in-law. She criticizes her daughter-in-law for not being competent enough.
→ Kingdom perspective:
I was once inexperienced and nervous too. My current abilities are the accumulation of grace, not a weapon for comparison. How can I give the same patience I once longed to receive?

Case 3: Workplace

A senior employee resents a newer coworker who was promoted quickly and begins making their life difficult.
→ Kingdom perspective:
This is the early-worker mindset—fear of being forgotten.
Instead of reacting defensively, we can affirm his contributions so he feels secure.
God’s blessings for newcomers do not diminish our own.
There is room for everyone to shine; this is not a zero-sum game.

Case 4: Church

Long-time members hold tightly to resources, reluctant to give younger or newer believers opportunities.
→ Kingdom perspective:
The church is a place of grace and surrender to God’s sovereignty.
What would you suggest we do?

5. Conclusion

More than twenty years later, when I look back at that Home Depot entrance, I seem to see two kinds of lives. We were all once the anxious ones waiting to be invited into the vineyard, but over time—even after receiving grace—we may subtly turn into the early workers who calculate hours and forget our beginnings.

Jesus’ parable gently calls us back.
May we never lose the humility and awareness of the ones who once stood idle with empty hands. And may we sincerely rejoice for every worker who enters at 5 PM.

For in the kingdom of grace, our joy is not found in how much we have done compared to others,
but in the astonishing truth that we were invited into the vineyard at all.

Prayer

Dear Lord,
Thank You for showing me that Your kingdom is a kingdom of grace.
Help me remember that I am a recipient of grace, not an entitled one.
Teach me to believe that Your grace is boundless and never runs out,
so I no longer fear, compare, or envy.
Heal the hidden fears and unbelief within my heart.
Give me the mind of Christ to treat others with compassion.
Make me rejoice when others receive grace,
and help me delight in working alongside You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.