The Laborers in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16

 

 

I. THE SETTING

 

   A. THE CONVERSATION WITH THE RICH YOUNG RULER - Mt 19:16-22

      1. Jesus had been approached by this man with a question concerning eternal life

      2. In the course of their conversation, Jesus challenged the young man to give up all and follow Him

      3. The man went away sorrowful, unable to accept the challenge

 

   B. THE DISCUSSION WITH THE DISCIPLES - Mt 19:23-26

      1. Jesus used this opportunity to teach how difficult it is for the rich

           to enter the kingdom of heaven

      2. This causes the disciples to wonder who then could be saved?

      3. Jesus' response is that with God all things are possible

 

   C. THE QUESTION RAISED BY PETER - Mt 19:27

      1. Unlike the rich young man, Peter and the other disciples had accepted the challenge to give up all and follow Jesus - cf. Mt 4:18-22

      2. So he asks:  "Therefore what shall we have?"

      3. It appears that Peter wants to know...

         a. If the rich can be saved (though barely, and with the help of God).

         b. What more will those receive, who have given up all to follow

              Christ?

      4. Peter's motive may have been pure, in which case Jesus' complete answer may have been designed to be a "pre-emptive strike"                against any improper motives

 

   D. THE REPLY GIVEN BY JESUS - Mt 19:28-30

      1. First, an assurance...

         a. Specifically, to the apostles - Mt 19:28

            1) In the "regeneration", they will be judging the twelve tribes of

                 Israel

            2) This promise could refer to their special role following the return of Christ when He comes to judge the world - cf. Mt 25:31 and following

         b. Generally, to all disciples - Mt 19:29

            1) In this life, a "hundredfold" houses, brothers, sisters, etc.

            2) In the age to come, "everlasting life" - cf. Mk 10:29-30

            3) I.e., those who give up all will receive more than enough in

               return

      2. But then, a warning - Mt 19:30

         a. "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

         b. A rather cryptic warning, one repeated again in Mt 20:16

 

[Since this warning both precedes and follows the parable we are studying, it is evident that the parable was told to explain the warning!  And since the warning was first given in response to Peter's question, any explanation of the parable should be based upon the setting that preceded its telling.]

 

II. THE PARABLE AND ITS MESSAGE

 

   A. THE PARABLE SUMMARIZED...

      1. Early in the morning, a landowner hires laborers to work for an agreed upon wage - Mt 20:1-2

      2. Later, at different hours of the day, he finds more and hires them also, for a fair but unspecified wage - Mt 20:3-7

      3. At the end of the day, they are all paid equally, which irritates those who had worked all day - Mt 20:8-12

      4. The landowner responds to the complainers...

         a. I treated you fairly, for you received according to our agreement

              - Mt 20:13-14a

         b. I wish to pay the others the same - Mt 20:14b

            1) Do I have not the right? - Mt 20:15a

            2) Are you envious, because I am gracious? - Mt 20:15b

      5. Jesus concludes by repeating the warning - Mt 20:16

 

   B. THE MESSAGE OF THE PARABLE...

      1. Many and varied have been the interpretations; for example...

         a. The various bands of workers are the O.T. saints; those called at

            the eleventh hour are the apostles

         b. The workers first called are the Jews, those called last are the

              Gentiles

         c. The parable represents the whole gospel age up to Christ's return, and the workers are groups saved at various periods

         d. It refers to different periods of a person's life in which he may respond to the Lord: some responding early, others late in life

      2. Since this parable is in response to Peter's question, I suggest...

         a. That the first workers represent the apostles and others like them

            1) Who are called by Christ through the gospel early in life

            2) And who therefore may labor long and hard in the "vineyard"

                 (i.e., the kingdom of God)

         b. The other workers represent those who are called by Christ via the gospel at various times

            1) Some of whom are called late in life

            2) Who do not have opportunity to do as much for the Lord

      3. In light of this interpretation, the main point of the parable is...

         a. What everyone receives will be more than "fair" ("Did you not agree with me...?")

         b. No one has the right to question the "generosity" of the Lord ("Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?")

         c. Those who may serve long and hard should not be "envious" if others receive the same reward ("Is your eye evil because I am good?")

         d. Therefore no one should serve the Lord with a commercial or mercenary spirit!

            1) The very danger Peter was close to falling into by the question he raised!

            2) A danger to which we are all susceptible!

      4. Perhaps I should stress that this parable is NOT saying that those who purposely put off obeying Christ until the last moment can be saved!

         a. If that were the point, the parable would have been worded differently

            1) Notice that those who responded at the late hour of the day had not been working "Because no man hath hired us" - Mt 20:7

            2) They accepted the offer as soon as they heard it, though late in the day

            -- They were not people who turned down many opportunities to accept the offer to labor in the vineyard, only to accept at the last hour!

         b. Whether one can be saved at the last moment after lifelong rejection of the gospel is another question

            1) One which only the Lord can rightfully answer, though I believe I have seen it happen.

            2) However, notice what is said of those who remain in a condition of rejecting the gospel:

               a) They judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life

                    - cf. Ac 13:46

Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

               b) They are storing up for themselves wrath in the day of wrath       - cf. Ro 2:4-11

Romans 2:4-11
⁴ Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? ⁵ But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; ⁶ Who will render to every man according to his deeds: ⁷ To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: ⁸ But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, ⁹ Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; ¹⁰ But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: ¹¹ For there is no respect of persons with God.

 

CONCLUSION

 

1. It is my understanding that the proper application of this parable is this…

   a. When we are called by the gospel to obey Christ, we should respond at once!

      1) For some, we may hear the invitation early in life, and we have extra reward because of how much better our life is!

      2) Others may not come to know of the gospel until late in life

   b. As laborers in the vineyard (i.e., the kingdom), we should work diligently in whatever time we may have left

      1) We may be blessed to offer a full life of service to the Lord

      2) Or we may only have a short time

   c. We should do whatever we can without a commercial or mercenary spirit (e.g., "Do I get more because I gave more?")

 

2. With this parable, we learn more about those in the kingdom of heaven...

   a. Just as the parable of "The Unmerciful Servant" teaches us there is no place in the kingdom of heaven for "an unforgiving spirit"...

   b. So the parable of "The Laborers in the Vineyard" teaches us there is no room in the kingdom of heaven for those with either "a mercenary spirit" or "an envious spirit"!

 

3. My fellow Christians, what is our attitude toward our service to Christ?

   a. One of gratitude?

   b. Or one of commercialism?

   -- There is only one attitude that is acceptable!

 

4. For those who are not yet Christians...Why not let the gracious spirit of the "landowner" revealed in this parable encourage you to accept the grace of God in humble obedience to His gospel?  Why not live out the rest of your life in grateful service to Him?