Members of the Jury,

I now instruct you, Members of the Jury, to reach a verdict on this case. “The Matter of the First Hired v. the Vineyard Owner,” first brought to the attention of this court by Father Jeffrey Nicolas and read into the court record as Matthew 20:1-16. Not only will you find for the plaintiff or for the defendant. You will determine who God is for you.

As you have heard in this courtroom, the Vineyard Owner had hired laborers throughout the day to work in his vineyard. He had hired day laborers at dawn, 9 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, and 5 o’clock. At the end of the workday he had had his Foreman pay all of the day laborers the same daily wage whether they had worked one hour or since dawn. These are the facts of the matter.

You heard the Plaintiff, the First Hired, argue that the Vineyard Owner was an unjust Employer and owed restitution. The Vineyard Owner’s justification, “The last will be first, and the first will be last,” made the Fired Hired who had worked from dawn until evening equal to the Last Hired who had worked one hour. The First Hired argued, “An honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work,” and that justice demanded either greater pay for the First Hired or lesser pay for the Last Hired.

The First Hired had called as witness the Older Son of the Vineyard Owner. The full account has been submitted as evidence filed under Luke 15:11-32. The Older Son testified that his Father the Vineyard Owner had exhibited a history of unfair treatment of his servants. On one occasion, the Younger Son took half of the family fortune and squandered it. When the Younger Son returned home to the family vineyard, the Vineyard Owner greeted him with kisses and a robe. The Vineyard Owner slaughtered the fattened calf for an unexpected welcome home party.

The Older Son charged that the Vineyard Owner was unjust. While the Younger Son had wasted his life, the Older Son had worked in the Vineyard. He had followed the rules. Rather than waste money on wild living, he had saved his money. It was not fair, he claimed, that his Father the Vineyard Owner treated the Younger Son the same as or better than him.

On cross examination, the Older Son admitted that the Vineyard Owner had left the party and had come to him in the vineyard with his reason. “All I have is yours,” the Vineyard Owner had declared. “But we must celebrate. Your Brother [the Younger Son] was lost and now is found.” The account of the incident has been submitted as evidence filed under Luke 15:11-32.

From the Defense, you heard the Expert Witness testimony about the patronage system in Roman Palestine. According to the Expert Witness, the Patron is a landowner who gives protection and livelihood to his servants and family members in his household. For their part, the servants and family members give allegiance and obedience to the Patron.

The Counsel to the Defendant called the Foreman who testified that the Vineyard Owner was the local Patron consistent with the patronage system described by the Expert Witness. The Foreman confirmed an incident where the Vineyard Owner forgave the enormous debt of a Servant. Such was the well-known prerogative of the Patron.

On cross examination, the Foreman admitted that later the same day the Vineyard Owner had thrown the Indebted Servant to the torturers after he had discovered that the newly freed Indebted Servant had threatened another servant for failure to pay his debts. The reason given was that the Vineyard Owner expected his servants to forgive seventy-seven times. If they did not, they would be held accountable for their own debts. The account of the incident has been submitted as evidence filed under Matthew 18:21-35.

The Counsel to the Defendant in his summation argued that the matter of the First Hired v. the Vineyard Owner was not about a day’s pay for a day’s work, but about blessings. It was not about justice in the marketplace, but about family and the mutual concern of its members.

Members of the Jury, your charge is to find for the Plaintiff or for the Defendant. Be mindful that your decision has lasting precedent and will determine who God is for you.

If you find for the First Hired and agree that the Lord God is indeed your Employer and not your Patron, you will find satisfaction in your work and take pride in your accomplishments. You can without fault look down on others and favorably compare yourself against others.

You will also feel resentment when others despite lesser merit have more wealth, receive honor, and enjoy an easier life. When others ask you for a favor, you will keep a silent tally. You will hold suspect those who give to you without asking in return and find it difficult to accept their unconditioned love.

If you find for the Vineyard Owner and agree that the Lord God is indeed your Patron and not your Employer, you will forfeit your right to judge the state of others’ souls.

You will discover though that life is blessed. It will be easier to count your blessings, care for your blessings, and share your blessings. You will be able to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. You will live in joy and peace. You will be able to accept the Vineyard Owner’s greatest gift to you, his own Son. You will receive a share in his inheritance of abundant life.

The court now adjourns to await your verdict.

Father David Scotchie

Presiding Judge