The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agriculture
The purpose of this article was to investigate the potential that the labour and subjective theory of value in the agricultural context may have for the interpretation of Matthew 20:1–16. This investigation highlighted the divergence in wages between workers, the exuberant remuneration strategy of t...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2023-02-01
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Series: | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
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Online Access: | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8303 |
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author | Mark Rathbone |
author_facet | Mark Rathbone |
author_sort | Mark Rathbone |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The purpose of this article was to investigate the potential that the labour and subjective theory of value in the agricultural context may have for the interpretation of Matthew 20:1–16. This investigation highlighted the divergence in wages between workers, the exuberant remuneration strategy of the landowner, his generosity, the indignation of the labourers hired first and the landowner’s reluctance to reimburse them. I argued that the classic labour theory of value provides an explanation of why the indignant labourers were angry and felt unjustly treated. However, it fails to account for the divergence in remuneration more appropriately addressed by subjective theory of value that focuses on the use value of goods and marginal utility. Finally, the agrarian theory provides perspective on the unwillingness of the landowner to reimburse the indignant labourers and the mystery of meaningful labour in agriculture that serves as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven.
Contribution: In the article, labour and subjective theory of value were introduced from an agrarian perspective to enlighten the hermeneutics of the parable. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:13:08Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-ab097dc58f204f60bcaacd402e053f40 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 0259-9422 2072-8050 |
language | Afrikaans |
last_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:13:08Z |
publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
publisher | AOSIS |
record_format | Article |
series | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
spelling | doaj.art-ab097dc58f204f60bcaacd402e053f402023-03-02T11:47:33ZafrAOSISHTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies0259-94222072-80502023-02-01792e1e810.4102/hts.v79i2.83035624The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agricultureMark Rathbone0Department of Management, Faculty of Economic and Management Science, North-West University, PotchefstroomThe purpose of this article was to investigate the potential that the labour and subjective theory of value in the agricultural context may have for the interpretation of Matthew 20:1–16. This investigation highlighted the divergence in wages between workers, the exuberant remuneration strategy of the landowner, his generosity, the indignation of the labourers hired first and the landowner’s reluctance to reimburse them. I argued that the classic labour theory of value provides an explanation of why the indignant labourers were angry and felt unjustly treated. However, it fails to account for the divergence in remuneration more appropriately addressed by subjective theory of value that focuses on the use value of goods and marginal utility. Finally, the agrarian theory provides perspective on the unwillingness of the landowner to reimburse the indignant labourers and the mystery of meaningful labour in agriculture that serves as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven. Contribution: In the article, labour and subjective theory of value were introduced from an agrarian perspective to enlighten the hermeneutics of the parable.https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8303matthew 20:1–16labour theory of valuesubjective theory of valueagriculturehermeneuticsadam smithdavid ricardokarl marx. |
spellingShingle | Mark Rathbone The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agriculture HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies matthew 20:1–16 labour theory of value subjective theory of value agriculture hermeneutics adam smith david ricardo karl marx. |
title | The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agriculture |
title_full | The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agriculture |
title_fullStr | The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agriculture |
title_full_unstemmed | The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agriculture |
title_short | The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agriculture |
title_sort | labourers in the vineyard theory of value and agriculture |
topic | matthew 20:1–16 labour theory of value subjective theory of value agriculture hermeneutics adam smith david ricardo karl marx. |
url | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8303 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT markrathbone thelabourersinthevineyardtheoryofvalueandagriculture AT markrathbone labourersinthevineyardtheoryofvalueandagriculture |