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However,that passage says nothing about those who came early,may have worked three,four hours and decided "the heck with this" and went home. To prove your point,the passage would have had to show that the landowner sent his servants out to find the ones who left midday and insist that they take the dinaro that evryone else received. It seems to me that the message is,if you "work" in my fields and your here at the end,I will reward you as I please.No?

That's not the idea I am addressing. I am addressing the idea that grace is analog, that somehow our [believers] standing with God is on a scale. This seems to say that our reward is the same for the late arrivers and the early arrivers. That would seem to negate the idea of grace on a scale. If the one who works all day receives the same reward as the ones who worked a short time, it would seem to say that God's grace is given to all who believe, regardless of "time served."

This seems to say that our reward is the same for the late arrivers and the early arrivers. That would seem to negate the idea of grace on a scale. If the one who works all day receives the same reward as the ones who worked a short time, it would seem to say that God's grace is given to all who believe, regardless of "time served."

Yeah, but if grace is truly a transforming grace those of us working all our lives have had more of this transformation already accomplished. The end result may be the same eventually. If the "reward" is a mere acquittal then you are absolutely correct. If the reward is sufficient grace to sanctify ourselves then I am right.

And then there's purgatory...