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And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Matthew 20:2
Numerous structures, such as Solomon's temple and the Temple of New Jerusalem in heaven, were associated with the number twelve. It was commonly used in ancient Israel. A
day, for instance, was divided into 12 parts. The common way to determine time was by ordinal numbering. Early in the morning, 6:00 AM, was the first hour, while 6:00 PM, was the 12th hour.
This is how we know Jesus died at 3:00 PM. The Bible says, “And about the ninth hour Jesus
cried with a loud voice,” Furthermore, “when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” Christ once asked, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?” This same text continues by remarking that one ought to do all things while “he seeth the light of this world.”
Jewish thinking recommends that workers find something to do in the early morning hours, while the sun is still up. The eleventh-hour workers, however, would only be about an hour away from the end of the workday. Upon being asked, “Why stand ye here all day idle?” They did not have a resume to present, even for a million denarius. These candidates could not boast about their past skills nor provide references. In response to this wise question, they could only offer the following response: “Because no man hath hired us.” It is not uncommon for people in their shoes, at the eleventh hour, to be turned away in a matter of seconds by many employers in this day and age. Their application is rejected and they are passed over.
To hire such a person requires a great deal of compassion and risk-taking. In any case, the landowner was willing to give them a chance; the opportunity to fulfill their most basic duty, namely providing food for their families. Otherwise, they would not be able to comply with Paul exhortation when he stated: "For we hear that there are some walk among you disorderly, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” Moreover, “if any would not work; he emphasized, “neither should he eat.”
What pressure would have been placed upon these men with only one hour remaining to earn a day worth of income and support their families? Oh, what stress this would have
caused! Dear reader, have you been in this position before? Possibly, you are struggling
through this right now with your occupation. You can make ends meet. Perhaps you feel your
health is at its eleventh hour and wonder, how could I ever recover from this present situation? Or maybe you feel like you are at the eleventh hour of mercy and haven found a way to escape. As you examine yourself, you realize there is nothing within you that can atone for your current situation. There is hope for a sinner in the story of these workmen. Let your soul be reminded of that beautiful old hymn:
"Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone"
The concept of the eleventh hour, which shakes the strongest of men and causes the
greatest heroes to tremble, cannot move even one strand of hair on God's s head. This, the cross illustrates with the salvation of the thief–being crucified with Jesus. Bound to the rugged Roman cross, hands and feet, all He could say to Jesus was: “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
How powerful is the cross! One glance was all the thief needed. One glance made it clear to him who God is. Salvation can only be achieved through the cross of Christ. Perhaps the thief's nailed hands and feet stand today as a testament to that fact. He couldn’t, with his bound hands, heal the sick nor help the poor. He couldn’t, with his bound feet, seek the wanderers. Nevertheless, with trembling lips, he could choose to utter the cry:
"In my hand no price I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling."
This devotion was written by Pastor Deivon De Andrade and if you with to read more devotional thoughts like this, get the full book “21 Questions from Jesus” on the button bellow.
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