To properly understand this lengthy parable We should first read Peter’s question to Jesus after Jesus had spoken about the difficulty of someone who is rich entering Heaven
_Mat 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mat 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
___________________________The Parable___________________________________
Mat 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Q. What is it that Vineyard workers do?
Pg.2
Mat 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Q.1 Who is the landowner here?
Q.2 What is representative of early in the morning in this parable?
Q.3 Workers for the vineyard, who are they?
Q.4 What are the details about a payment agreement?
Q.5 What is significant about what one strives for in this life?
Q.6 In this parable what does the denarius represent?
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
3 "About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5 So they went. "He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'
Q.1 What does His call mean to those who, are called later in life?
Q.2 What is meant by “Whatever is right”?
Q.3 What is the reason for the additional calls?
Q.4 In those days what reward is there for those who do not go to work in the vineyard?
Q.5 Why does He continue to search for workers? What is the significance of verse 6?
Heb 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Colossians 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
John 4:41 And because of his words many more became believers.
Mat 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Q.1 Have you ever been left out of some event, or function, or out of work?
Q.2 Is this verse referring to those who never heard the call
Exodus 33:19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Q What result is the owner of the vineyard expecting?
Pg.3
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Q.1 What is meant by the phrase “when evening came”?
Q.2 Why pay the last hired before the first hired?
Q.3 What happens when the work force starts grumbling about their pay?
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Q.1 Is there a principle of fairness being abused in this situation?
Q.2 What more than salvation is to be expected for ones work in the vineyard?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Q.1 Isn’t this a foregone conclusion, all of the workers will be paid the same wage (salvation)?
Q.2 Do not some come to it earlier, as well as some who come to it later in life?
Q What message does Jesus teach in this parable?
The first group of workers in the vineyard resented receiving the same wage as the last group. Their attitude was similar to that of the Pharisees, who were incensed at Jesus’ teaching that others could inherit a heavenly kingdom they thought was reserved for them alone. They despised Jesus for offering the kingdom to poor, oppressed, weak sinners whom He made equal to them. In verse 15, the landowner asks, “Is your eye evil because I am good?” The “evil eye” was a Hebrew expression referring to jealousy and envy. God’s goodness and mercy produced in the self-righteous Pharisees the evil eye of envy. The rest of the workers received their wages without complaint or envy of others. In the same way, as Christians, we should rejoice when others come to the Savior, as we should rejoice in the service others render to Him. He is faithful to reward us for our service as He has promised, and how He rewards others should be of no consequence to us, nor should it affect our devotion to Him.
The message in verse 16, “the last will be first, and the first last,” is that no matter how long or how hard a believer works during his lifetime, the reward of eternal life will be the same given to all—an eternity of bliss in heaven in the presence of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43), whose life of service was limited to a moment of repentance and confession of faith in Christ, received the same reward of eternal life as the apostle Paul. Of course, Scripture also teaches that there are different rewards in heaven for different services, but the ultimate reward of eternal life will be achieved by all equally.
Pg.4
Meditation
Many are not moved to answer the call (Jesus Christ), at first. There are many even today that choose not to answer. Heaven is open to all who will work to enter therein, God’s plan includes open access to his Heaven to all who enter through the narrow door (Jesus Christ), and the call to work in his vineyard is answered on an individual basis. The Jews were the first to be called and then all others. There are some who heed the call at later times. It is never too late to Accept the call.
Not everyone is called at the same time, some have never heard the call. Jesus Christ makes it so everyone is welcome. in God’s Kingdom. There must be the desire to enter there. At the last hour(death) if one has not accepted the offer of salvation, one will find the door to Heaven shut, and God will say I do not Know who you are. To avoid hearing these dreadful words from the mouth of God it will be well for all who seek to spend eternity in Heaven, to seek to find work in His Vineyard, and center ones life’s work there rather than any prospect of rewards at any other time or place. Now is the time.
It is significant that we understand that Christ came to open Heaven to all. Jesus came and brought the Gospel to the Jews, and many of the Jews believed him. That is represented by the first call, made by the landowner who opened his vineyard to them and made an agreement with them so that they could earn the denarius, (salvation), eternal life, the result of accepting the call to work in the vineyard. God’s promise is being fulfilled
God is debtor to no man; a great truth, which the contents in our Bible give as the scope of this parable. That many who begin last, and promise little in following Jesus in the way of their lives, sometimes, by the blessing of God, arrive at greater attainments in knowledge, grace, and usefulness, than others who have responded to the call for workers at an earlier time, and who had greater promise of good works. Much is meant by the later calls, there are still others, The Jews first, then the Gentiles,
Others are called by God’s grace in middle age, and go work in the vineyard, at the third, sixth, or ninth hour. The power of divine grace is magnified in the conversion of some, when they are in the midst of their pleasures and worldly pursuits, Those such as Paul. God has work for all ages. There is no wrong time to turn to God; none can say, “It is all in good time”, for, whatever hour of the day it is with us, apart from the vineyard, that we have served sin; Go ye also into the vineyard. God turns away none that are willing to be hired, for yet there is room.
Others are hired into the vineyard in old age, at the eleventh hour, when the day of life is far spent, and there is but one hour of the twelve remaining. None are hired at the twelfth hour; when life is done, opportunity is done, the door is shut, God does not open his door for the unrepentant but “while there is life, there is hope.” There is hope for old sinners; for if, in sincerity, they turn to God, they shall doubtless be accepted; true repentance is never too late.
There is hope for all sinners, that they may be brought to true repentance; nothing is too hard for Almighty Grace to do. It must remain though, that entrance into his Vineyard is not mandatory, It is God’s will that you have a choice to make. Make it sooner rather than later, and put all other questions about your salvation to rest.
Opening Ptayer
Father God Bless this group tonight as we gather to study your word in the Parable of the Laborers in the vineyard, help us to grasp the understanding from this parable that it is not contingent upon how much or how little time we spend in your service, But that it is by Your gracious mercy that our salvation is assured. . Just as your words of assurance, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ Spoken to Moses, let us hear them as well. And now God please be with those of our group who are not here tonight, and share our blessing with them. In Jesus Name Amen
Closing Prayer
Father God bless us now as we leave this study, and help us to be willing workers in your vineyard, for we know that Heaven awaits the faithful believer. We pray for your strength comfort to be delivered to those who need your healing touch_____________-Offer those mentioned here tonight your comfort and healing and bless each one of us as we go on our way
And bring us back to your study next week as we study more of Jesus Teaching through the Parable of the Dishonest Steward. We offer this prayer in the name of Jes
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