Work and calling

The short answer

Jesus called ordinary working people: fishermen, a tax collector. He met them at work.

He also refused to measure people by how much they produced, as the story of the vineyard workers shows.

In the Gospels

1. Mark 1:16–20

   At the nets

   Jesus walks along the lake and calls two pairs of brothers from their fishing boats to follow him.

   Read Mark 1:16–20

   ¹⁶ Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.” ¹⁸ Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. ¹⁹ Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

   World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

   Jesus Calls the Fishermen, scene by scene on Free Scripture→

2. Luke 10:38–42

   Martha and Mary

   Martha is busy serving while her sister sits listening to Jesus. He tells Martha, gently, that Mary has chosen what is needed.

   Read Luke 10:38–42

   ³⁸ As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.” ⁴¹ Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

   World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

   Mary and Martha, scene by scene on Free Scripture→

3. Matthew 20:1–16

   The workers in the vineyard

   A landowner pays those hired at the last hour the same as those who worked all day. The first are offended at his generosity.

   Read Matthew 20:1–16

   ¹ “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. ⁴ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way. ⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. ⁶ About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’ ⁷ “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’ ⁸ When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ ⁹ “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. ¹⁰ When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. ¹¹ When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, ¹² saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’ ¹³ “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. ¹⁵ Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

   World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

   The parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, explained on Free Scripture→