Prologue: Noah built the ark that carried God’s plan of redemption. From Shem (the Name) came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). They were the ones tasked with the first works, unable to receive the Messiah’s finished works until He died on the cross. There will be those who must toil longer than others to reach understanding, and those who simply believe (who have been, and will be admonished) are called foolish. Yet, they were given understanding and a measure of faith that Jesus completed all the works. He gave them to us freely, and we can choose to receive them freely or not. He was the ransom paid for many.
The parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, in Matthew 20:1-16, reveals that it is the right of the owner of the vineyard to do what he wills with his fortune for those who choose to work in his field. There is a rift between those who worked long hours in the vineyard all day versus those who came in to work at the last hour. Let’s put this in a spiritual sense: time is prepared for each person by the Father. No matter when they choose to work in his field, there will be those who get envious and feel they are victims, insulting the landowner’s free will, and those who will honor the landowner, accept their lot, and the amount of time they work in his field, along with the generosity of the landowner.
“But he [the landowner] answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:13-16 (NIV)
Next, in Matthew 20:17-19, Jesus predicts His death for the third time, immediately after telling them the story of the workers and the landowner. The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and teachers of the law, they will condemn Him to death, and hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified. But on the third day, He would be raised to life. Unbeknownst to them, both His followers (who had only seen a portion of His glory) and the chief priests and teachers, God emptied out Heaven of all its glory (honor, abundance, riches, splendor) into the Son of Man. The Father, the landowner, had commissioned Himself to be a servant in the vineyard, and knew at His death in bodily form, the field would be bought and paid for. That is where you and I live under the New Testament.
As the Scripture continues in Matthew 20:24-28, the mother of Zebedee’s sons came and knelt before Jesus, asking a favor. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom” (Matthew 20:21 NIV). Jesus quickly replies, “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” They foolishly answer that they can. Then, Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father” (Matthew 20:23 NIV).
Jesus called them together. The ten other disciples were irritated with the two brothers. Jesus explains, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant [attendant, waiter, deacon, to run on errands], and whoever wants to be first must be your slave [one who gives himself up to another’s will as in those who serve Christ and advance His cause]—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served [be ministered to], but to serve [provide, take care of, distribute all the things necessary to sustain life], and to give his life as a ransom for many [worth a lot, most valuable]” (Matthew 20:25-28 NIV with inserted editorial notations).
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Matthew 20:16 (NIV)
A Kingdom’s Rule
If you have never lived under a kingdom’s rule, such as Britain, you may have no understanding of its systems. One of my favorite shows was Downton Abbey. Its keen writing and portrayal of the world’s version of a “kingdom” is very enlightening. The hierarchy, from royals and the upper class to upper middle class/middle class, and servant class, shows signs of the same structure within each group. The show primarily focuses on the royal family of Downton Abbey and its household staff. You have the royalty and their titles and ranks of seniority, as well as the top-tier servants, upper servants, mid-rank staff, and lower staff. Each has its own duties. Both the royals and the servants have centuries-old expectations of their lots in life, and the possibilities of advancement in those positions were predicated by tradition and current British laws. Similarly, the Kingdom of Heaven has rules and regulations found in the written word that we are to follow. For this analogy, being a servant is our focus, along with the principles taught by Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter twenty covered in the prologue.
In the first season, episode two, we are introduced to Matthew Crawley, a distant cousin of Lord Grantham of Downton Abbey. Since he only had daughters and his closest male heir was lost on the Titanic, Matthew was the sole heir to Lord Grantham. Matthew describes himself as “a middle-class lawyer,” however, his mother redirects him to the classification of “upper middle class,” keeping with the hierarchy of the day. All this happens as they move from the city life in Manchester into the Crawley House on Lord Grantham’s estate, as he reluctantly explores the new role of Earl of Grantham he is being thrust into.
I’ll focus now on Matthew’s treatment of Joseph Molesley, the butler and valet for the Crawley House. A butler manages the overall household. He is the supervisor over staffing, organizing supplies, and events, and is responsible for setting the table and ensuring formal etiquette is maintained. He is also responsible for paying the household bills. A valet is a personal assistant in charge of meeting the individual needs of their master, such as assisting with grooming, dressing, ensuring their wardrobe is impeccable, and making travel arrangements. A valet takes over the management of his master’s personal effects, making sure they are in order and ready for use. He is to ensure his master is comfortable and that his day runs smoothly. He is a confidant and maintains a close personal relationship with his master. Being a valet is a highly prestigious position in the servant class, ranking only below that of a butler. Mr. Molesley is both since it is a smaller household. By being proficient in both his jobs, he never had to worry one day about provision because he was under his Lordship’s care.
Mr. Molesley greets Matthew, and he immediately dismisses his service, yet his mother gladly accepts the help with their luggage. Matthew continues to “buck against the goad,” not wanting to keep a butler, let alone a valet. He is a lawyer and has handled his own affairs quite well. She chides him later, reminding him that their circumstances have changed; it’s now a new life brought on by destiny, and she would like not to fuel the low expectations the Granthams would have of their “upper middle class” cousins.
A visit from Lady Mary, Lord Grantham’s oldest daughter, includes an invitation to dinner at Downton. We witness the convergence of three distinct lifestyles: the royal class, the middle class, and the servant class.
After dinner is finished, the scene changes to the servant area downstairs and to Mr. Carson, the butler of Downton Abbey. He informs William, a footman who was serving during dinner, that he is never to be in public with a tear in the seam of his livery coat again. He reminds him that “a good servant, at all times, retains a sense of pride and dignity that reflects the pride and dignity of the family he serves.”
A few scenes later, Mr. Moseley laments to Mr. Bates, Lord Grantham’s valet, how Mr. Crawley chooses his own clothes, and the only thing he has to do in his service to the next Earl of Grantham is take his clothes down to the laundry. He does it all himself and stands there “like a chump,” watching him get dressed instead of doing his job.
You continue to see Matthew’s dismissal of Moseley’s service throughout the episode. Taking his coat off and hanging it up, he served himself tea and refused a scone that was offered, but later took one. Dressing himself and telling Moseley that he doesn’t wish to be dressed like a doll. He requests that Moseley take no offense at his comment. However, Moseley is heartbroken and reminds Matthew that it is actually his job to help dress him. Matthew retorts, “It seems a silly occupation for a grown man.” Moseley is stunned, again. Matthew tells him he is sorry for the comment and leaves the room.
Matthew is set straight by Lord Grantham near the end of the episode. Lord Grantham asks him to stay for dinner, and Matthew takes the opportunity to ask him if he “would find it ungrateful to dispense of Moseley’s services.” That he is superfluous, that is, unnecessary to their style of living. He still hadn’t realized the life changes that were necessary to become Mr. Crawley, the Earl of Grantham. Lord Grantham calmly admonished him, asking, ‘Is that fair?’ To deprive a man if he’s done nothing wrong in his job? People derive a sense of satisfaction from their service. Their work gives them self-worth. Would you really deny him that? “We all have different parts to play and we must all be allowed to play them,” he said.
At the end of the episode, Matthew realizes his error. He brings Moseley joy by submitting to his new role as the Earl of Grantham and allowing him to serve as his personal butler and valet.
Are we insulting the dignity of the Lord’s finished works?
Wasn’t Matthew insulting Moseley’s dignity in his chosen field of work? Reread this article and replace Matthew’s name with yours and Moseley’s with Jesus Christ. What do you see? Are you resisting the changes you need to make to become the person you aspire to be, or are you allowing them to mold you into a new life? Have you accepted Jesus Christ and allowed Him to be the one in charge of taking care of your affairs? Do you have a close, personal relationship with Him? Are you listening to His instructions through the voice of the Holy Spirit? Are you dressed with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit?
Under the New Testament, a new destiny awaits anyone who will receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When one submits to Him, they are adopted into the heavenly royal family, and a new journey begins in the landowner’s (God’s) field for an appointed time. As a Child of God, we are expected to “work His fields,” doing what He would have us to do. Our lot in life is not solely based on what we do in this world under its twisted systems, but for believers, our eternal lot is based on how God sees us. All things are possible with Him!
Matthew was working the world’s field, doing just fine on his own (or so he thought), until he was pulled, chosen by destiny, into the spotlight and saw what royal life was like. He submitted to it and allowed Moseley to serve Him. And wasn’t Jesus sent to serve humanity?
Soon, the fullness of His glory will be revealed at the appointed time. As we await His return, we must allow the Holy Spirit, our helper, to lead and guide us, take care of our affairs, and clothe us. He is the one, the Spirit of Truth, who searches the mind of God. We must allow Jesus Christ’s service, in the field God gave Him, not to be in vain. If we refuse to acknowledge all the finished works He did for us, thinking they are superfluous, I imagine He is reacting the same way Mr. Moseley did. Do you think He is shocked that what He completed isn’t being received? Stunned that after going to Hell and back to make available eternal life, it was not being put on. Saddened that the children of God would flat out refuse to acknowledge the fullness of His miraculous position as Son of Man.
Come to the Lord as a child. Endeavor to put Christ first in all things now more than ever. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak life, the words of the Perfect Servant of God, to you. As a part of the heavenly royal family, you are in heirship and have the right to ask anything in His name, Jesus Christ, and it shall be done for you!
Believe it!
Feature Images: Castle on hill; elegant dinner; castle garden GENAI Text to Image; Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
