Joel Russell-MacLean

Summer Series at First Baptist:

The parables of Jesus from the Gospel According to Matthew.

Jesus engaged listeners with his parables. They weren’t straightforward and required reflection. Even after hearing the same story, time after time, there seems to be still more. Jesus also used them to present people with a choice. Would they hear and understand? Would they listen?

This week, we are reflecting on the story of the manager who paid his labourers the same amount regardless of the number of hours worked. Those who had worked an hour received the same as those who worked all day through the heat. Jesus’ story provokes us to ask, “Does envy of others prevent me from being grateful for what I have? Am I willing to start early and work longer even if it won’t mean more money for me?”