Love and Justice

Today, we read the parable of the vineyard owner in Matthew 20. There is always an element of surprise in the parables of Jesus. This one is no exception. Briefly, the story goes like this.
Early in the morning before six, the owner of a vineyard went out to hire labourers to harvest grapes. After agreeing to give them a denarius a day, the standard wage at that time, he sent the labourers working in his vineyard at 6 a.m. in the morning. He went out several times (at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.) to hire more workers, promising them a right wage. At last, at 5 p.m., he went out for the last time and hired the last batch of workers.
When the sun set at 6 p.m. in the evening, the owner of the vineyard gave the labourers wages, beginning from the last batch. Here comes the surprise, he gave workers of all batches the same wage, one denarius! Of course, the workers who had been working all day long since 6 a.m. in the morning grumbled. The owner of the vineyard told them off (Matthew 20:1-15). Then Matthew concludes that
So the last will be first, and the first last (Matthew 20:16).
A search in the Gospels reveals 4 such verses in the Synoptic Gospels. They can be classified into two groups. The first group talks about the hundredfold rewards for those who give up everything to follow Jesus to preach the gospel. They would receive 100 times the things they have given up: houses, children, brothers and land etc. This promise of hundredfold reward is concluded with this last-first statement (Matthew 19:30, Mark 10:31).
The second group talks about the Gentiles overtaking the Israelites in the Kingdom of God because they accepted Jesus while the Israelites rejected (Matthew 20:16, Luke 13:30).
But parables are such a rich source of spirituality. Their meanings are literally inexhaustible. This Gentiles-vs.-Israelites understanding should not be the only interpretation.
Question#1: Does the owner encourage laziness?There is a criticism commonly directed against (Chinese) Communism. "Work and (you get) ¥36. Not work and (you still get) ¥36." Communism does not encourage people to take the initiative, to work harder and earn more. Communism encourages people to be lazy. Does the owner of the vineyard (God) make the same mistake? Does God support Communism?
I think we should look at, not the hired labourers, but those who failed to be hired! As the parable goes, some people failed to secure a post in the vineyard.
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' (Matthew 20:6-7)
I think all are called, but not all respond, even less are chosen. Many parents fight hard to send their children to elite schools. Only a handful can be enrolled. Some students succeed during the first attempt. Others may need to fight for several years before they get a place. In the end, whether they study for one year or 7 years, they all emerge as the graduates of elite schools. Do these elite schools encourage people to be lazy? I doubt very much. Does God encourage us to fold our hands and wait for His salvation? I think this question has been wrongly phrased.
Question#2: Has the owner been unfair to the first batch of workers?
First of all, early workers did not know what the owner had promised to workers who came after them. Moreover, had the owner handed out the wages from the first batch to the last, they had no way of knowing what the latter workers received. They could only know it much later some time in the future if the workers had a chance to meet again. Conspiracy theorists would accuse the owner of deliberately revealing the truth to stir up the jealousy of the early workers and to create disputes among them. Then, workers would not be united to demand higher wages! It is an interesting interpretation but obviously not biblical.
The Bible consistently conveys a message about God. He does not want us to think that we earn our own salvation through our merits. He deliberately helped the weak, the underdogs, the fleeing Israelites chased by Egyptian chariots and armoured soldiers, 300 men facing an army of more than a hundred thousand, a David against a Goliath etc. No. Nobody is able to earn his own salvation through his own efforts. Rather, it is God's love and mercy that save us. The wages the vineyard labourers earned was the generosity of the vineyard owner. It was not an exchange of labour for money.
Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity? (Matthew 20:15)
Question#3: Does love overwrite justice?If law enshrines justice, the answer is positive. Jesus breached the law. He healed on Sabbath. For him, charity/mercy/love is more important than justice/judgment/law. James once said the following.
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)
God's mercy to men triumphs over justice. He sent Jesus to die for us, to satisfy the requirements of all justice and judgment. God is generous to us. At the end of the world, even Satan could not challenge His generosity towards men.

My dear Advocate, may honour and glory be Yours forever and ever. Amen.