What does the Parable of the Cent Mean?
Contrary to what is commonly known, here is a revelation that is taking place right now. There are a limited number of people that the Father has ordained to work for him. Each of these individuals will receive a penny. Contrary to popular perceptions, this is a great reward.
“And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the middle of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see that you hurt not the oil and the wine” (Revelation 6:5).
The ultimate fulfillment of this prediction is here and now. More workers are being called with each passing day. It would be a good idea to find out the meaning. A measure of wheat is going to cost a penny. Three measures of barley will cost a penny. The other three horsemen had something very negative to bring to this earth. Why is the third horseman giving us a bargain?
It only looks like a bargain because we are using the modern meaning of the word penny. What it really depicts is extreme hyper-inflation. The penny spoken of here (a denarius (”denarion” in the Greek)) was a coin that was given to people for working a day’s work. So you may work for a day and get one penny. So, “…three measures of barley for a penny…” means you are trading a day’s wages for a small loaf of bread. This borders on slavery. And, there will be slavery in the last days (Revelation 18:13).
The denarius (the penny) was a Roman silver coin. This is the coin Christ held up when he said, “…render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s” (Luke 20:24). This was in response to the trickery of the people asking if they should pay tax to Caesar or not.
The Parable of the Penny is explained, as follows:
This prophecy is being fulfilled right now. A few men and women are working for the Father. Others are being drawn into service with each passing day. Will you become one of them?
“…the kingdom of heaven is like a man, [that is] a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard” (Matthew 20:1).
The parable is about a man who is a householder. Christ said that in his father’s house are many mansions (offices, positions of employment). If it were not so he would have told us so (John 14:2). Those positions, as we will see, will be right here on this earth.
“And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard” (Matthew 20:2).
So the first people he works with know exactly what they are getting. They are getting a day’s wages for working a day. They are getting a penny. Remember this penny is a denarius, which is worth a day’s wages.
“And he went out about the third hour and viewed others standing idle in the market place” (Matthew 20:3).
This is symbolic of the Father drawing people to the Son. No man can come to the Son unless the Father draws him (John 6:44).
“And he said unto them; Go also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way” (Matthew 20:4)
Notice he was not specific in what he promised. So those called in later are working with less knowledge and understanding than the earlier laborers.
“Again he cameout the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise” (Matthew 20:5).
So he continues to bring people in to labor. This is reminiscent of another parable in which people invited to the wedding didn’t come, so invitations went out to the highways to get people to come in (Luke 14:15-24). Realize there may be laborers dropping out. Those laborers will have to be replaced.
“And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why stand here all the day idle? They said unto him, Because no man has hired us. He said unto them, Go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, [that] shall you receive” (Matthew 20:6-7).
Late in the day (symbolically close to the end) the Father allows more to become laborers. These have the least understanding of all the labor pools. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.
“So when evening had come, the head of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them [their] hire, beginning from the last unto the first” (Matthew 20:8).
Notice the sequence. Many of the last will be first and the first, last (Mark 10:31).
Everyone received a penny (Matthew 20:9-10). But the laborers who worked all day complained that the people hired later received the same wages (Matthew 20:11-12). The reply was: “I do you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a penny?” (Matthew 20:13). God does not have a seniority system. Some of these people had the spirit of competition and pride.
“Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is your eye wicked because I am good?” (Matthew 20:15).
Everyone who labored received a penny. What does the penny represent?
The Penny represents one day’s wages. If the Father has drawn us, he wants to give us a penny. The reward given, the penny, represents one day.
“…one day [is] with the Eternal as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).
The day the Father is giving us as a reward lasts 1000 years. He is seeking out laborers right to the end.
“Blessed and holy [is] he that has his part in the first resurrection. On such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6). This will be a one thousand year utopia.
And the thousand years can be just the beginning. For more information go to Ask Bible.
“…he that overcomes, and maintains my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations” (Revelation 2:26).
P.S. Find out how emotional freedom technique has helped people to find the path to spirituality.