The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

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The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

• Matthew 201-16

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Introduction

• In The Unmerciful Servant
• No unforgiving person as a place in the kingdom
• In this parable
• Another attitude which will not be in the kingdom
  is revealed

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The Setting

• Matthew 1916-22
• Jesus conversation with the rich young ruler
• Jesus challenge is the young man to give up all
• The man went away sorrowful
• Matthew 1923-26
• Jesus then teaches his disciples how difficult it
  is for the rich to enter the kingdom
• The disciples wonder who can be saved
• Jesus says, with God all things are possible

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The Setting

• Peter raises a question Matthew 1927
• The disciples had left all
• What would they have in return?
• If the rich could barely be saved with Gods
  help, shouldnt those who willingly give up all
  receive something more?

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The Setting

• Jesus answer Matthew 1928-30
• For the apostles
• They would sit upon 12 thrones
• They would judge the 12 tribes of Israel
• For all disciples
• They will receive many times as much as they gave
  up
• With a warning
• But many who are first will be the last and the
  last, first.
• The parable then follows
• The parable ends with the same warning
• So the parable explains Jesus answer and warning

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The parable

• Matthew 201-15
• In the morning, a landowner hires laborers to
  work for a certain wage
• At different times more laborers are hired for a
  fair, but unspecified, wage
• At the end of the day all receive the same wage
• The first laborers are upset
• The landowner responds
• You got the agreed-upon way, that is fair
• Dont I have the right to pay the others equally?
• Are you envious because I am generous?

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The meaning of the parable

• The owner is God
• The first workers
• The apostles and others who have given all (as in
  Peters question)
• The other workers
• Those who have not given as much as the first
  workers
• Perhaps those who were converted later in life or
  didnt have the opportunity or ability to do as
  much

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The meaning of the parable

• The main points
• Everyone in the kingdom receives the same reward
• That reward is more than fair and has been agreed
  upon
• Eternal life
• Those who give more should not be envious of the
  others
• Each of us serves God to the best of our own
  abilities and opportunities

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The meaning of the parable

• Another point
• Not saying that you can purposely put off obeying
  Christ until the last moment
• The last workers said, because no one hired us
• They accepted the offer as soon as made
• They had not been refusing offers in order to get
  out of work

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The Warning

• Matthew 1930 2016
• Just because you started out right and early
  doesnt mean youll finish
• If you finish, you are in the same position as
  all others in the kingdom
• But in order to finish, we have to start

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Conclusion

• God expects all His servants to do their best
  with the time, opportunities, and abilities which
  they possess
• God has promised eternal life as our reward
• We should not be envious of those who have not
  given as much, but rather rejoice in Gods
  generosity
• We dare not delay in accepting Gods offer
• No guarantee the offer will be made again
• Will you accept His offer?

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