THE HOLIESTCommentaries on St. Matthew
Tablet Thirty
Chapter 20
"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard."
"And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard."
"And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,"
"And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way."
"Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise."
"And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?"
"They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive."
"So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first."
"And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny."
"But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny."
"And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,"
"Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day."
"But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?"
"Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee."
"Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?"
"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." (Matthew 20:1-16)
<1>As it was explained, many will put much effort to reach Pure Consciousness in a selfish way by only using techniques, overcoming, or calling themselves the Elected Ones (first). However they will be last. <2>Although they might have started much earlier than many others, they will receive the same reward (Pure Consciousness). Others may have started much later but rightly, which is, that they progressed and at the same time helped others to progress also, "many be called, but few chosen."
<3>Also this parable completely supports that the day started at six o'clock in the morning (according to our clocks) in the time of Christ, and mid-day was at the sixth hour of the day. That is because the owner of the vineyard went out the third hour of the day (nine o'clock in the morning), the sixth (mid-day or noon), the ninth hour (three o'clock in the afternoon) and the eleventh hour (five o'clock in the afternoon). The day finished at the twelfth hour (six o'clock according to the present timing) because those who had been hired at the eleventh hour worked only one hour: "these last have wrought but one hour" (until the twelfth hour).
<4>So even then the hours of the day were divided logically from six in the morning as the beginning of the day, and the twelfth hour of the day would have finished at six in the afternoon. Night then would start and its twelve hours would finish at six the next morning. This is the most logical acceptance of the hours and is the closest to the natural relation of the days and nights.
<5>This logical set-up was upset by the Romans as they had many illogical ways for human existence, such as their holidays instead of God-centered Holy Days which are commanded by the Lord in chapter 23 of Leviticus to be observed forever. For more detail, read the chapter about the Holy Days and the hours of the day in the book Essays I.
"And Esa going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,"
"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem: and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,"
"And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Matthew 20:17-19)
<6>He again repeated The Plan for him which should be fulfilled. <7>Also he would be delivered to the Gentiles (who were the Romans) who symbolize the intellectuals and are the fourth kingdom in the book of Daniel (for more detail read Commentaries on Prophecies in Daniel, Period of Intellectual Domination).
"Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him."
"Then he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom."
"But Esa answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able."
"And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." (Matthew 20:20-23)
<8>His disciples thought that he owed them something because they followed him. Even the mother of Zebedee and his sons thought that they could prepare a better position for themselves by asking him to grant that in advance before he was crucified. This shows how gross is the heart of man and how egoistical can be his thoughts.
<9>Esa answered them that they are not even ready to follow him and are still in their lower natures. How then could they ask to sit on the two sides of him? <10>Even if they went through a great effort, progressed, and were ready to reach Christhood, "Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with," still he had no power to grant any position in heaven. It is completely up to the Father to choose the people in the Hierarchy as it fits His Purpose and Will, "it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father."
"And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren."
"But Esa called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them."
"But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;"
"And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:"
"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:24-28)
<11>This thoughtless request also invoked anger in the rest of his disciples, and their lower natures were stirred. They forgot all about his teachings that in the Kingdom Of Heaven, the last will be first and the first the last. <12>Those who want to enter it selfishly, "Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom" (Matthew 20:21), will be spued out of His Mouth (Rev. 3:16) and will be lost. <13>Also he taught that all men are equal in the Kingdom (Pure Consciousness) and no one is higher than any other. Even in flesh, the true sons of God are equal, with different tasks to fulfill.
<14>But because his disciples could not understand these things in this state of their progress, he had to call them together and give them instructions of how they should be after he left them. <15>Whoever was greater was the most humble, and there should be no dominating personality among them, that each should do His Work with no false pride.
<16>Only those who have overcome this world, are in their higher selves, and have no desire for the praise of the men (Paravipras) are worthy to assume the leadership of humanity.
"And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him."
"And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Esa passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David."
"And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David."
"And Esa stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?"
"They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened."
"So Esa had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." (Matthew 20:29 34)
<17>Again people asked him for favors and miracles.