How Matthew Presents Jesus: Insights for Ethical Leadership and Workplace Values

1. Case Study: Where to Work
2. Tentative Thesis Statement: Through Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus, we can set the framework to understand better where to work by following the laws from the Sermon on the Mount and judging our actions from the parables mentioned in Matthew.
3. Introduction

The many leadership books vital for understanding guidance and procedures to run a business include “Jesus the Businessman.” Other than discussing how specific Christian communities participate in blasphemy, the book further outlines critical reinforcement in the workplace Christian should align with particularly (Bailey, 1984). As noted, Jesus’s business was structured upon specific principles of ethics which should be abided in the workplace. Correspondingly, the English Standard Version various books such as Matthew in its various chapters, titled the Sermon on the Mount, articulates the new era commandments that the workforce must adhere to particularly (Coogan, 2018). The Sermon follows God’s commandment issued to David, encompassing various virtues and values Christians should follow regardless of their workforce setting.

Matthew Chapter Five through Seven outlines central practices business personnel should align to particularly. For instance, Matthew Chapter 5:27-30, whose central theme is adultery, connects it to a business setting (Heil, 2018). Thus, he argues workers to incorporate the correct business practices in their organization without getting involved in adverse acts. Also, Matthew 5:31-32 argue employees, when leaving workforces to consider the best working premises aligning with the principles of welfare. On the other hand, Chapter 5:31-37 insists that business personnel should avoid swearing falsely in their line of duty. Avoid lying on business premises means spreading the gospel on various values and virtues organization members should prompt. The latter also follows loving your enemy in the workforce, as highlighted in Matthew 5:43-48. As incorporated in the Sermon in the Mount, it is critical for organizational leadership and managerial personnel to note their competitors (Kim, 2019). As a result, they should focus on strategies prompting their competitive advantage instead of destroying their competitors’ reputations.

Matthew 13:1-30 and Presentation of Jesus

Matthew 13 at large centralizes on various parable series. In the beginning, Jesus is describing the parables to the crown at the Galilee Sea Shore (Heil, 2018). Later the incidences occur in the house, and that he explains vast parables among them includes the parables of the weeds, the sower, and the fish caught. After that, he travels to Nazareth, teaching his sermons in the synagogue.

Matthew 13:1-9 and 18-23 fully provides the parable of the seed, which is an allegory and discussing the Kingdom of God.  The parable states that a man went out in the field sowing his grains. The man, as noted, symbolizes God, where his message is based on the sowed seeds. In the contemporary world, the seed planned begins growing just as God’s word begins growing in a person’s life (Kim, 2019). On the other hand, some of the seeds fall on the path and are eaten by the bird. The birds signify Satan, and the path symbolizes individuals who hear God’s message but fail to abide by it. As noted in today’s society, the people indicate people who, despite knowing God’s teaching, the primary focus is on the world’s materialistic things (Coogan, 2018). Matthew’s teachings also note that some seeds fall on rocks, and as time goes by grow, though when the sun showed up, they choked and die. The seeds on the rocky group symbolize individuals who respond enthusiastically but fail to abide by the teachings while listening to God’s world. When faced with world troubles, the group fails to abide by God’s teaching and seek a solution to the world’s pleasures. The group rampantly fails to commit to the Christian teachings.

The parable also notes that some seed in the process falls in the thorn bush. In the parable, the thorns in the bush choked the plants. People who are only concerned about their lives and worldly riches will die with respect to human beings. The group in the contemporary world represents people who are overthinkers, angry, jealous, and only focusing on materialistic things (Heil, 2018). Lastly, the sermon teaching notes that some seeds fall on good soil and that the plant produces corns. The good soil in the chapter presents individuals who listen and apply the learned Christian teaching in their daily lives. Such categories of Christians are dedicated as they have strong faith in Christian teaching even when faced with difficulties.

Mathew 13:1-30 indeed outlines why, regardless of its type, the organization members should align with set Christian principles, virtues, and values in a business setting. In times of difficulty, they should refrain from unethical practices which will limit their growth, company reputation, and belonging in God’s Kingdom (Kim, 2019). Besides that, business personnel who follow Christian values will likely retain top talents and boost its organization’s growth (Coogan, 2018). Leaders and managerial personnel practicing Christian values such as patient, honesty, and humility, as indicated in the parable of sow seeds, are likely to boost their employee’s morale and retain them (Bailey, 1984). Consecutively, they are likely to encounter limited risks. Practical Christian values in the workplace help the company refrain from various risks as they act morally right.

Matthew 13:31-43 and Presentation of Jesus

Matthew 13:31-32 introduces additional parables illustrating growth. The Chapters mentioned above distinguishes between a mustard seed and tree sizes. Matthew 13:33, on the other hand, outlines the role of yeast in dough, while Matthew 13:34-35 discusses how various prophecies elaborate what Jesus in his second coming will do mainly. Matthew 13:36-43 discusses the reality of good versus evil (Heil, 2018). As noted in the teachings, Christians know what is right and wrong even when faced with severe challenges in the world. Christians, thus despite the challenges, must focus on what brings them positive life and growth. The chapters in Matthew mentioned above efficiently explain Jesus’s teaching to the disciples while paying attention to the parable of the seed. Jesus argues disciples follow Christian teachings. Additional parable included is the parable of the weeds and wheat (Talbert, 2010).  According to the parable of the weeds and the wheat, God, since time immemorial, has had plans for Christians. Thus, Christians are expected to be patient, and even when faced with tragedies and accidents, they should present their obstacles to the lord.

Generally, the parables of the weeds and seeds, as elaborated in 13:36-43, remind leaders and managers in an organization that God has a plan for their development and growth and that He continuously works to accomplish them (Talbert, 2010). Even in times too difficult, organization personnel should focus on remaining patient and avoid indulging in unlawful activities. They should be patient and trust God that He will help them manage their obstacles (Coogan, 2018). Additionally, the parable of the weeds and wheat remains workforce personnel that they should remain alert as other earthly powers are focusing on disrupting their God-ordained plan for them. The actions of the enemies and equivalent to devil plans remind organization members that they should focus on Jesus’s Ministry (Bailey, 1984). They should subsequently ignore the devil’s schemes.  Also, for an organization to be more fruitful, it must orient its practices to God’s purpose. Therefore, they should understand via the parable of the weed and seeds that they are the seed, and as God desires them to be fruitful, they should be humble enough to weigh for God’s set purpose and fruits in the organization.

Matthew 20:1-6 and Presentation of Jesus

Matthew 20:1-6 discusses the parable of the workers in the vineyard. The parable, as noted, is connected to the 9^th and 10^th Commandments and, from an in-depth understands, the parable of the workers in the vineyard is based on the notion of converting (Heil, 2018). It is based on human frustration with God’s grace as it applies not to them but others. Correspondingly, the parable of the workers in the vineyard is about human ongoing economic expectations. As noted in the parable, workers are compensated for their respective labors (Morgan, 2017). The elements incorporated in the parable of workers in the vineyard are further aligned in Revelation and other Gospels. The parable profoundly means that individuals considering their actions most important in God’s Kingdom are those aligned with the good deeds.

Correspondingly, in the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus profoundly discusses the work of a wealthy man whose role is employing workers at fair wages (Blanchard et al., 2016). The set wage as indicated is agreed upon between the boss and the employees before they work. In the contemporary world, the parable of the workers in the vineyard insists that employees should pay their workers for the job well-done. As noted in the parable, at the end of the work, the firm owner sends his steward to pay all the laborers. Employees hired the last are paid first, whereas those who were hired first are paid last. Therefore, the organization owners must pay all their laborers regardless of their days working (Blanchard et al., 2016). The parable also told to teach various modern labor practices and reminds organization leaders to remain just in their various operations.

On the other hand, the workers in the parable are reminded to endure despite various difficulties experienced in the workplace to the end. The parable emphasizes that laborers who work to the end of the day are paid for their well-done jobs. Regardless of their various workplaces, such as harvesting and planting, they receive their wages in due time. Thus, the employees are reminded to love their respective jobs. Also, they should remember that God’s Kingdom is like a vineyard consisting of laborers (Kim, 2019). While each worker is hired for a specific purpose, they should love their work. Loving one’s job allows a worker to seeks and stay in it continuously. Besides, loving one’s work is a way of preparing for God’s Kingdom. The parable of the workers in the vineyard consecutively reminds employers why it is critical to have a fair wage’s day agreement with thee employees. The latter creates room for employer-employee agreement. As a result, the workers are adhesively protected from unduly paying. It helps create an equitable and just share in the organization, and that proper compensation for the employee’s well-done job makes them feel valued and enjoy the fruit of their labor. Besides, the firm’s overall morale is boosted, and that workers remain motivated.

Also, the parable of the workers in the vineyard focuses on the advantages of fair wages to the community and state’s economic situation and the organization (Talbert, 2010). Primarily, fair wages among organization members necessitate worker’s protection. Besides setting fair wages being economic stabilization and that employees afford primary needs, it also means protecting and retaining top-talent workers (Blanchard et al., 2016). Various empirical findings and evidence noted that employees with fair wage pay are likely to retain their workers. Generally, if organizations have an effective salary structure and have good wages, they are likely to attract and retain qualified, suitable, and experienced employees, boosting organization growth.

Matthew’s Gospel and Contemporary world

Matthew’s gospel provides various Jesus’s teachings through distinctive parables which would be applicable by various workforces. The various gospel lessons than highlighting and describing how organization leaders and managers would implement practical values and virtues, also discuss employers’ Christian practices (Coogan, 2018). Matthew’s teachings at large note how business personnel should avoid corrupt practices which would otherwise affect their firm’s reputation. Also, they would limit their chances of receiving God’s set Kingdom for them.

Tyson Foods Company is one of the well-known companies necessitating Christian values and virtues, as noted on various parables presented in Matthew’s gospel. As one of the American Multinational corporations situated in Arkansas, Springdale, Tyson Foods Corporation has remained one of the world’s best food company marketers and processors (Morgan, 2017). To meet such titles, Tyson Food Corporation, in its daily operations, incorporates Christian values. While focusing on meeting its daily set goals and objectives, the firm also meets its set core values. The firm applauds the set Christian core values: autonomy, integrity, fairness, empathy, compassion, friendship, humility, kindness, and hard work.

In Tyson Foods Corporation, applying Christian’s core values in the organization setting has aided their recruitment and retention processes. Since time immemorial, employees have longed to work with organizations adhesively aligning with their core values (Kim, 2019). Also, it has helped Tyson Foods Corporation incorporate the proper steps in decision-making processes. Vital decision-making processes aligning with the firm and Christian values help make the right choices easier (Blanchard et al., 2016). Also, the latter shapes a firm’s organizational structure and culture as every practice is based on Christian teaching practices and core values. Thus, in the long run, it prompts the firm’s overall success. One of the major factors promoting Tyson Foods Corporation’s success is its practical application of Christian core values such as integrity and autonomy. As a result, they have had a better outcome in the marketing and human resources department and their product identification and creation (Coogan, 2018). Generally, Christian leadership styles and core values, as applicable in Tyson Foods Corporation, have ensured it retains high-skilled employees, boosts their morale, and contributes to the firm’s success and growth.

Counterargument

Matthew 13:47-50 outlines the Parable of the Net and argues that fishers, having placed their nets in the water, come up with bad and good fish. The group separates the bad and the excellent fish, with the bad one being thrown away. The parable concerning the workplace educates the leaders and managerial personnel, and workers that in the world of business, there are various suitable activities, and so are the bad ones (Morgan, 2017). Thus through Christian leadership, it is the responsibility of the organization members to participate only in suitable activities. In any problematic situation testing their Christian faith, organization members should focus on Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus. Through its respective leaders, the organization should thus set the framework to understand better where to work, specifically by following the laws from the Sermon on the Mount and judging out their actions from the parables mentioned in Matthew.

Matthew 13:47-50 also discusses that God will judge every person in the future depending on their action (Morgan, 2017). The people, including organization personnel in various workforces, should therefore note that to receive the Kingdom of God, they should thus participate in righteous activities. Organization members must introduce principles, values, and virtues, thus promoting their engagement in righteous activities. Leaders in the organization’s core principles should remember that their distinction from the fiery furnace and God’s judgment on them will be final and based on their early behaviors. Besides that, organization members note that God’s Kingdom attracts all kinds only if they adhere to a good deed. As illustrated in Matthew 13:47-50, which outlines the last parable in Matthew’s gospel reminds workers that God’s Kingdom and Kinship are only meet for those doing good deeds (Morgan, 2017). The net symbolizes the Kingdom of God, which everyone is attracted to particularly. Therefore, just like the Kingdom of God, workers are likely to work in an organization with good governance (Blanchard et al., 2016). Other than such institutions providing nations with vital economic prosperity, they provide their employees with suitable living standards.

Conclusion and Personal Reflection

Through Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus, we can set the framework to understand better where to work by following the laws from the Sermon on the Mount and judging our actions from the parables mentioned in Matthew. Mathew 13:1-30, for instance, indeed outlines why in a business setting, regardless of its type, the organization members should align with set Christian principles, virtues, and values. Also, it discusses why Christians should work in a God-fearing organization.  Also, it notes in times of difficulty; they should refrain from unethical practices which will limit their growth, company reputation, and belonging in God’s Kingdom. Besides that, business personnel who follow Christian values will likely retain top talents and boost their growth. Leaders and managerial personnel practicing Christian values such as patient, honesty, and humility, as indicated in the parable of sow seeds, are likely to boost their employee’s morale and retain them.

Also, business personnel must know in their line of duty that following Christ’s teaching is essential. Thus they should work in a successful organization abiding by Christian teaching. Also, other than working in an organization abiding by Christians’ values, Christians should ensure they enjoy their respective works as outlined in Mathew 13:1-30. Work as God’s command to Christians should also remain enjoyable. Also, as Christians’ work matters to God and their eternal life, they must enjoy it for humankind’s betterment. God has provided us with unique capabilities and skills, talents, and gifts to work in respective organizations, and that it is vital, we enjoy the work. Christian workers should enjoy their work while ensuring they abide by God’s fundamental commands as provided in Jesus’s parables.

References

Bailey, R. (1984). Book Review: Sentenced to Life: A Parable in Three Acts. Review & Expositor, 81(2), 347–347. https://doi.org/10.1177/003463738408100255.

Blanchard, K. H., Hodges, P., & Hendry, P. H. (2016). Lead like Jesus revisited: lessons from the most outstanding leadership role model of all time. W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. https://doi.org/10.1177/073989131701400227

Coogan, M. (2018). New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0036930600036681

Heil, J. P. (2018). The gospel of Matthew: worship in the kingdom of heaven. James Clarke & Co. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvj4sw2d

Kim, Y. S. (2019). Justice Matters, But Which Justice? Justice Matters, But Which Justice? In the Case of Jesus’ Parables. https://currentsjournal.org/index.php/currents/article/view/192

Morgan, G. C. (2017). The gospel according to Matthew. Wipf and Stock Publishers. https://doi.org/10.31826/9781463229047-006

Talbert, C. H. (2010). Matthew. Baker Academic. https://doi.org/10.1177/002096431006400408