[Below is an bit of commentary on Matthew 21:34. It was originally written as commentary, and not as a blog, so please be gracious and don't expect it to have the feel of a popular level or rhetorically flourished literary flower. The standing question, as you will see, is where you fit in this parable about two kinds of workers: are you a slave of God or a servant of God?].

21:34

The master is intent on fruitfulness. Even while away he is intent on claiming the fruit produced by his vineyard. The responsibilities entrusted to the tenant farmers is secondary. The service of his slaves is secondary. The master intends for his field to bear fruit and he intends to claim that fruit as his own.

Two kinds of workers are in view: the tenant farmers and the slaves. The tenant farmers serve their own purposes by renting the master's land so that they have income and a place to stay. They may be concerned for the bounty of the land insofar as it affects their own interests, that is, keep it fruitful or lose their job. But even if the tenant did work hard on the land and see that it produced a good crop, he still may be doing it just to keep his job and not really because he is concerned about the crop itself nor because he loves the master enough to work hard for him. Their's is a contractual relationship to the master and in it, they are allowed great personal autonomy. On the other hand, the servants have no such thing. The term used, douvlo" (doulos), is also translated "slave." If they are indeed slaves, then they own no land nor do they own themselves. Their task is more simple in its directness, but more difficult in its variety. They simply do what the master says. They do not have autonomy like the tenant farmers do. They have great responsibility but little authority. From a worldly perspective the slaves are in the least enviable position. At core, these two kinds of workers differ in ownership. As such, they differ in the person for whom they are working. The tenant farmers work for their own interests through their job over the vineyard. The slave works simply for the master. Understood with these subtle clarifications, this story takes on a new level of spiritual signifance (and preachable application). Christians are challenged to consider whether their walk with God is more like the tenant farmers or like the slaves.