Hello Marco Polo.
I see what you are saying. We know there are differing levels of glory in Heaven according to what one has done (in grace) on this earth. Yet Matthew 20:9-10 seems to contradict this.
I too have wondered a lot about Matthew 20:9-10. I suspect this “equal wage” is only part of the story and probably refers to various Covenantal relationships of peoples throughout time with God. These Covenants eventually culminate in its final fulfillment—the New Covenant and Baptism.
I have focused on the fact that these guys are “grumbling” in the passage. I may be wrong here. Certainly in the book of Revelation the Martyrs ask God when there will be justice done for the injustices of the wicked.
But I wouldn’t characterize the Saints in Heaven as “grumbling”. “Grumbling,” reminds me more of something still in **this ****world **and not the situation in Heaven in Revelation.
MATTHEW 20:9-10 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?
In a micro-cosmic or individual sense I have received a wage, yet I still catch myself “grumbling”. When I get to Heaven (God-willing) I won’t be “grumbling”.
In a macro-cosmic sense (a sense of various epochs throughout time) I especially thought of the Israelite Nation who toiled many years in various Covenantal relationships with God. Then these “Johnny-come-lately” Gentiles come in, and can be baptized without having to undergo more toil (“Don’t THOSE GUYS need to be circumcised too? And what about all the time our forefathers have put in for you God?”) this caused lots of grumbling. Just look at what St. Paul had to battle against in this area.
The term “grumbling” seems like it still reflects **this world **and brings me back to the Exodus event and the grumbling against Moses and God in the Wilderness (and John 6:41 when Jesus explained He was the fulfillment of that Manna).
This Covenantal relationship, that is Baptism, (an equal wage for all) is the seal or imprint of God upon the recipient and now allows us the possibility of salvation (certainly not the guarantee of salvation). But we can still be caught “grumbling”.
Once in this Covenantal relationship, that’s the part where our “wages” now start to differ according to how we responded to grace in this lifetime.
I have placed a couple of quotes from the Catena Aurea below with a few of my musings.
REMIG; A denarius was a coin anciently equal to ten sesterces, and bearing the king’s image. Well therefore does the denarius represent the reward of the keeping of the decalogue. And that, Having agreed with them for a denarius a day, is well said, to show that every man labors in the field of the holy Church in hope of the **future **reward.
Notice that they receive something that bears the king’s image. And now they have a hope of a **current **reward? No. A **future **reward or the “cashing in” of their denarii. This fits with Covenantal relationships but especially Baptism (considering the kings image aspect).
St. Gregory focuses in on this “epoch” aspect.
GREG. The third hour is the period from Noah to Abraham; of which it is said, And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the market-place idle. . . . The sixth hour is that from Abraham to Moses, the ninth that from Moses to the coming of the Lord.
St. Jerome here seems to take this to an even more rudimentary level than a Covanental relationship and includes rationality itself (or the fact that we are ALL made in the image and likeness of God).
JEROME; A denarius bears the figure of the king. You have therefore received the reward which I promised you, that is, my image and likeness; what desires you more? And yet it is not that thou should have more, but that another should have less that you seek. Take that is yours, and go your way.
Perhaps the most helpful in what I think you are looking for is St. Augustine.
AUG. Because that life eternal shall be equal to all the saints, a denarius is given to all; but forasmuch as in that life eternal the light of merits shall shine diversely, there are with the Father many mansions; so that under this same denarius bestowed unequally one shall not live longer than another, but in the many mansions one shall shine with more splendor than another.
I suspect as with so many teachings, there are multiple layers here that are all true (the individual, rationality, Covenantal relationships, etc.). I hope this stuff helps in what you were looking for. God bless.
