His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways

In preparation for this Sunday's sermon (Pentecost 19/St. Matthew), I found these words from Bo Giertz especially powerful and important. I'm sure St. Matthew, tax-collector and sinner, would have been brought to near tears when he first heard his blessed Lord tell the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. What comfort he must have always found in that teaching.

By nature we are all Pharisees. That is, we tend to be legalistic
self-righteous snobs. We know when we shine brightly, and we like to
remember our shining moments. We think people ought to recognize us for
these shining moments and are offended if they don't. We think it's unfair
if others, who have done much less, are given preference over us. And
since God is to be the final judge, we feel that He, if anyone, should judge us
fairly, according to our merits and skillfulness.

But God doesn't do that. For our sakes, it's good that He doesn't do
that. If He did, judgment wouldn't be in our favor at all.

Bo Giertz, To Live with Christ, CPH, 2008.
From Septuagesima, Matthew 20:1-16.