Matthew 20:1-16….Working

Matthew 20:1-16….Working

20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.  2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.  3 “About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the market-place  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 the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “Because no-one has hired us they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard”. )8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work  and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them, Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the last man the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money. Or are you envious  because I am generous? 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (For Complete Expository See Book)

Extended Sermons

“Teaches how Jesus doesn’t owe us anything. It should be a privilege and joy of being a part of His Kingdom work.” ⇒We should just be grateful that we have the opportunity to serve Jesus the King of Kings. This profound sense of gratitude should permeate every aspect of our lives, driving us to live in humble service and unwavering devotion. Recognizing that our very presence in the Kingdom is a gift of grace. It is a reminder that our efforts, no matter how great, could never earn us this invaluable gift; it is given freely and undeservedly.

“Displays the Gracious heart of God for all people, even those who come in the eleventh hour.” ⇒ There’s a great example of this in the bible during Jesus’ crucifixion. Where next to Jesus also being crucified were two criminals/thief’s one on His left and the other on His right. To which one mocked Jesus saying: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. “Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. To which Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”-(Luke 23:39-43) And yet even though this criminal came at the eleventh hour he was still Saved and received the glorious inheritance of paradise. And that’s a great example for us, that it’s never to late to repent and receive Christ as your Lord & Savior. Yet, we need to be careful. Don’t think I’m just going to live my life, sow my oats and then I’ll come to the Lord. You don’t know the day or the hour! You can dies tomorrow in a car accident.  Not only that, but just think of how much time you wasted when God had great things for your life.

Additional Notes & Applications 

Teaches how the bases of our Salvations is not on how long we have known Jesus, it is that we know Jesus. Whether we know Him for a moment or known Him for our entire life.

Teach how God treats all believers equally. (There’s not ranking in heaven)

Gives hope that no matter how how young in life or old in life we can commit to Jesus.

Teaches how the favor of God is based on our faithfulness to Jesus, not our time in or how much we served.

Note: God’s grace and justice transcend human understanding of fairness. In the grand tapestry of divine providence, what may appear unequal or unjust to us is part of a greater plan orchestrated by the Almighty. This teaches us humility and trust in His ways, acknowledging that His wisdom far surpasses our limited perspective.