Matthew 19:30 -20:16  " But many who are first will be last; and the last, first."  The disciples had just watched the rich young ruler walk away from Jesus. They heard Jesus say that it was "hard" for the rich to enter God's kingdom.. hard but not impossible.. because "with God all things are possible".  Peter asked Jesus what would happen to them.. those who followed Him.. those who had given up everything.. and Jesus promised them a great reward.. "But.. "  they needed to learn about being last instead of trying to be first... a lesson that they would take a while longer to learn.. 

Jesus tells another parable to teach this lesson.  It is about a landowner who hires some workers for his vineyard.  The first group is hired and agree to do a day's work for a day's pay... 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.   But.. more workers come.. at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, and even at 5:00.. All of these are called to come and join the work.. agreeing that the landowner would give "whatever is right".  They probably thought that anything would be better than nothing... 

At the end of the day.. 6:00... it was time for the pay to be handed out. The landowner called the last group that worked first. Everyone was shocked when he paid them for a full day when they only worked 1 hour. And then he did the same for those who had worked 3 hours, 6 hours, and 9 hours.. and those who had worded the whole 12 hours.  Everyone got the same.  And everyone rejoiced.. except the first workers.. they grumbled.  They wanted more than those who hadn't worked as long or as hard.  But.. the owner said. "did you not agree with me for a denarius?"  They had no argument.  It was the landowners right to be generous. Their problem was that they were "envious".  Jesus repeats the point of His story...  "Thus the last shall be first, and the first last." 

The "first" workers turned vicious.. or as other translations render it.. "evil".. when they witnessed the landowner being "good".  He had been good to them too.. hiring them.. paying them what they asked for.. but they were so angry that they weren't getting rewarded more than the others.. that they forgot to be thankful!   Jesus tells this parable to teach the disciples what it means to be "last".

It still wasn't sinking in!  The mother of James and John approached Jesus as they headed towards Jerusalem.  He told them what was going to happen... but they were still thinking that the Kingdom was about to come in its fulness and James and John wanted to be right at the top.. sitting to the left and right of Jesus on those thrones He had told them about.  Jesus asked them a question, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?"  They were sure that they would be able... and they would.. but not until they came through the other side of what was coming.. through His crucifixion.. His burial.. His resurrection.. and His ascension.. through the coming of the Holy Spirit.  They would drink His cup.. but that did not mean they would be given the places they wanted in the Kingdom.. for that was the Father's place to grant... and whatever He gave them would be "good"!

The lesson that they still needed to learn was the lesson of being last.. being the ones who served.. not the ones lording over the rest.. not the ones with authority.. but the ones being the slaves.  They needed to see Jesus as the One who came "to serve.. to give up His life  a ransom for many.."  They would learn that lesson very soon. 

Father in heaven, we are so quick to want our own way and our own desires.. and so slow to be humble and thankful and "last".  Teach us to walk in Your Light, Lord Jesus. Make me a vessel that You fill and use the way You choose.. to serve.. to lay it all down and follow You. Amen.