In Old Testament times, surpation of the leader's rights over the land was a fairly frequent affair, but murdering seventy of one's own brothers to take over was not heard of. Gideon, having led Israel to victory in several battles, had been offered kingship over them, but he refused, declaring that Yahweh was their rightful ruler. His son, Abimelech, had no such qualms. He had abandoned Yahweh for the worship of Baal, and he ruthlessly murdered his seventy half-brothers. With the help of his mother's relatives from Shechem, he made himself king.

In today's Gospel reading, the early labourers in the vineyard felt their rights to a fair wage for their hard work was usurped. The master of the vineyard, on the other hand, explained that he fulfilled his part of their contract and that he had the right to do what he wanted. In Old Testament times, the vineyard was a symbol for Israel and its owner for God. So, in this parable, the emphasis is on the overflowing generosity of God's love which treats all fairly and equally. It is also clear, in this parable, that one cannot calculate the degree of God's reward. As followers of Jesus, whatever we do is is done by the grace of God, and we cannot expect preferential treatment from God, and whatever is given is to be shared by all. Envy has no place in the kingdom of God.