The Agape Love
Andres Nygren examines the subject of undefiled love in the book Agape and Eros. Nygren identifies four features of the Agape, which reveals its uniqueness compared to what humans express to their colleagues. He asserted that Agape is God’s love for a human, comes to humans as a matter of grace, it is unselfish, and it has an unmotivated and spontaneous nature. While one may disregard Nygren’s arguments, the parables of the “Lost Son” and “Workers in the Vineyard” affirms his four characteristic features of Agape as the Christian idea of love.
The parable of “Workers in the Vineyard” affirms that Agape is God’s love for humans. In the parable in Matthew 20:1-7, Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a master who paid full wages to all workers regardless of the time they entered his firm. In this case, the owner gave equal salaries to those who joined in the morning, noon, and evening. The example shows the love that God has for all humans, irrespective of the time they decide to serve him. The description that Agape comes to humans as a sacrificial generosity suits the parable of “Workers in the Vineyard” (Nygren & Watson, 1939). God rewards humans out of kindness and not justice. Besides, God rewards those willing to serve him abundantly. Hence, the parable “Worker in the Vineyard” affirms that Agape is the love that God expresses to humans through grace.
Agape refers to unmeasured love that comes to humans as a matter of grace. The servants who entered the firm in the evening, in Matthew 20:1-7, did not contribute to the intended work. From a critical point of view, their service did not warrant earning a wage. However, the master decided to reward them out of grace. The parable supports the explanation that Agape is the salvation that comes from God’s free will (Nygren & Watson, 1939). In this case, believers do not have to show significant effort in serving to receive redemption. However, God saves whomever he wishes. Thus, the parable of “Workers in the Vineyard” affirms the Nygren’s description of Agape as God’s love that comes from his grace.
The parable of “Lost Son” affirms Nygren’s description of Agape as unselfish love with has an unmotivated and spontaneous nature. The moral tale in Luke 15:11-32 gives an account of a father who welcomed his younger son after wasting the inheritance. The prodigal son had misused his birthright, but decided to return home and seek forgiveness. His father, likened to God, welcomed the sorrowful son and celebrated his return. Agape does not consider whether the loved deserves unmatched affection (Nygren & Watson, 1939). In this case, the older man did not remember the wrongs committed by his son. Instead, he expressed affection to an individual who did not deserve the right treatment. Hence, the parable asserts that Agape is selfless affection that God reveals to humans.
In summary, the moral stories of the “Lost Son” and “Workers in the Vineyard” supports the four characteristic features of Agape. The master who rewarded all servants equally regardless of the time they entered his farm proved that Agape is God’s love that comes to humans through grace. The father, who welcomed his careless son, reveals agape as unselfish love with has an unmotivated and spontaneous nature.