Here is a glimpse of the kingdom - doesn't sound very capitalistic does it?

Question

Matthew 20: 1-16

"...9 And when those men came who had gone to work at the eleventh hour, they were given every man a penny.
10 Then those who came first had the idea that they would get more; and they, like the rest, were given a penny.
11 And when they got it, they made a protest against the master of the house,..."

that first answer knocked the ball out of the ballpark...

Wow, great insightful answers! My point was that you aren't earning your keep (as in a capitalistic society), you just recieve and at any time...

Answer 1

The passage you partially quote here in its original context is Jesus' dealing with the religious rulers of his day. They saw themselves as superior to those who put their faith in God at the last minute before they died. The moral of this parable is that whenever someone puts their faith in God, whether early or later in life, they are all equally admitted into Heaven.

Jesus' parables use earthly analogies to teach deeper spiritual truths. Just because money is used in this earthly analogy to teach this deeper spiritual truth doesn't mean that Jesus was a communist.

Answer 2

What is being said here is that everyone who accepts Christ and enters heaven is equal. Those who had converted shortly before their death were equal to those who had lived their entire lives for Christ.

The workmen who had "worked all day" protested but when all have eternal life with the Father who can complain about anything?

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Answer 3

1jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.