INTRODUCTION
Segway
Historical Setting
· At this point in Christ’s ministry, we find Him going from Galilee through Perea to His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
· There are All three synoptic Gospels record four events between Galilee and Jerusalem (by AT Robertson’s Harmony of the Gospels organizing).
· Three of them surrounds our text that is unique to Matthew.
123. CHRIST AND CHILDREN AND THE FAILURE OF THE DISCIPLES TO UNDERSTAND THE ATTITUDE OF JESUS / Matt 19:13-15 Mark 10:13-16 Luke 18:15-17
124. THE RICH YOUNG RULER, THE PERILS OF RICHES, AND AMAZEMENT OF THE DISCIPLES. THE REWARDS OF FORSAKING ALL TO FOLLOW THE MESSIAH WILL BE GREAT, BUT WILL BE SOVEREIGN (PARABLE OF THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD)--In Perea / Mark 10:17-31 Matt. 19:16 to 20:16 Luke 18:18-30
125. JESUS FORETELLS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION TO THE DISCIPLES AGAIN (COMP. §§ 83, 85, 86, 88), AND REBUKES THE SELFISH AMBITION OF JAMES AND JOHN--Probably in Perea / Mark 10:32-45 Matt. 20:17-28 Luke 18:31-34
126. BLIND BARTIMÆUS AND HIS COMPANION HEALED--At Jericho / Mark 10:46-52 Matt. 20:29-34 Luke 18:35-43
127. JESUS VISITS ZACCHÆUS, AND SPEAKS THE PARABLE OF THE POUNDS, AND SETS OUT FOR JERUSALEM--Jericho / Luke 19:1-28
PART XI THE LAST PUBLIC MINISTRY IN JERUSALEM
128a. JESUS ARRIVES AT BETHANY, NEAR JERUSALEM--Friday afternoon / John 11:55 to 12:1, 9-11
128b. HIS TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM AS THE MESSIAH--From Bethany to Jerusalem and back (Sunday). / Mark 11:1-11 Matt. 21:1-11, 14-17 Luke 19:29-44 John 12:12-19
· Only Matthew inserts the “Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard” in event 124 about the rich young ruler.
· Parable Definition: A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. --OxfordDictionaries.com
Encourage the kids to listen & study the picture while we read and draw the pictures while I tell the story.
Scripture Reading
Context:
Richard C. Trent, in his classic work, Notes on the Parables of our Lord, notes that “It is a parable which stands only second to that of the Unjust Steward in the number of explanations, and those diverging the most widely, that have been proposed for it; and second to that, if indeed second, in the difficulties which it presents.
Let’s look through our passage’s context for clues to the meaning of our text.
1. What specific question or problem is the basis for the parable?
2. How much of the parable is explained in the text?
· Jesus receives the children (19:13)
14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
· Encounter with the rich young ruler (19:13) who 22…went away sorrowful, for he had many possessions.
· Peter’s Question (#1.)
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”
Before and after the parable we find these statements (#2.)
30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
16 So the last will be first, and the first last.
· Foretelling his death (humiliation) and resurrection
· James and John (with their mother) ask for the best seats in the Kingdom. The other disciples were displeased.
· Jesus responds
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
“The parable was designed to rebuke Peter’s self-seeking spirit that had prompted him to ask in effect, ‘What are we going to get out of all this?’ ” --John Philips in Matthew (Exploring the Gospels by Loizeaux Brothers)
Big Idea:
20:30 Many who are first will be last,
and the last first.
Many who are thought great in this world will have a low place in the Kingdom. The Kingdom will have a different operating system than this world operates on.
BODY
“Remember that Jesus used illustrations from everyday life that people back then would have immediately understood.”
A. The Hiring of the Workers (20:1–7)
1. Who were the day laborers?
· Wealthy landowners often hired temporary workers, especially during harvest season, when workers were needed for short periods of time. Work began around sunrise, about 6 a.m. before the day became hot.[1]
· Many of these would be the poor who depended on their daily wages to buy food for that day.
· This is why the Old Testament law required employers to not withhold wages, but pay each day.
· In the New Testament the word "hireling" (misthotos) occurs only in John 10:12 f, where his neglect of the sheep is contrasted unfavorably with the care and courage of the shepherd who owns the sheep, who leads them to pasture and lays down his life for their protection from danger and death. -- http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/H/hireling.html Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2. What was a Denarius?
· “However, some classical historians have discovered that a common day's pay for unskilled labor was equal to one denarius. Roman infantry soldiers were paid slightly less and Roman officers were paid slightly more.” --https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-a-denarius-768439
3. Time of hirings
· (hired 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 11th hour)
· The day started at about 6 AM, so the 3rd hour was 9:00 AM, etc. The 11th hour was a 5:00 PM, just one hour before everybody quit for the day.
· The passage does not say why the owner returned four more times to hire more workers. Desperate? Compassion?
4. Details to notice:
· The first group had a specific agreed upon what we think was a typical wage of one denarius.
· The last group agreed to go with the understanding they would be paid “whatever is right.”
· Nothing is said of why they had not been hired earlier.
· Nothing is said about how hard they worked or how they felt about the owner until they were paid.
B. The Dispute over the Pay (20:8–15)
1. The workers paid in reverse order (vv. 8–10)
· Deuteronomy The order to pay them “from last to first” (v. 8)
· Can you imagine the surprise and delight of the eleventh-hour workers when they are given a whole denarius? (v. 9)
· Can you imagine how puzzled the full day workers were when the one-hour workers were paid for a full day. Do you think they hoped for more?
· Can you appreciate their sense of injustice when they are paid the same denarius after having worked through the heat of the day? (v. 10)
2. The complaint about the equal pay (vv. 11–12)
· What was the heart of their complaining?
1. These last men have worked only one hour and you have made them equal to us.
2. We have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.
· Do you hear Peter’s question in the laborer's complaint?
“We have left everything to follow you!
What then will there be for us?”
· Do you hear the coming request of Zebedee’s sons (Jesus’ cousins) and mother?
Grant these two sons of mine to sit on your right hand and left hand.
3. The owner’s reply (vv. 13–15)
· He was just giving at least what was agreed upon (v. 2) (v. 13)
· His generosity was as surprising as it was expansive. “There is an element of human tenderness in this parable.” –William Barclay
· It was his money was his to be generous with.
· Instead of goodwill and being happy for those who would be able to buy food for their families, resentment and envy filled their hearts.
· Envy: It is to be distinguished from jealousy.
"We are jealous of our own;
we are envious of another man's possessions.
Jealousy fears to lose what it has; envy is pained at seeing another have"
(Crabb's English Synonyms). --http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/E/envy.html
"We are jealous of our own;
we are envious of another man's possessions.
Jealousy fears to lose what it has; envy is pained at seeing another have"
(Crabb's English Synonyms). --http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/E/envy.html
· Envy (the evil eye*) is close kin to strife. (Rom 13:13; 1Co 3:3; 2Co 12:20; Jas 3:14,16)
*Evil eye, glance believed to have the ability to cause injury or death to those on whom it falls; pregnant women, children, and animals are thought to be particularly susceptible. Belief in the evil eye is ancient and ubiquitous; it occurred in ancient Greece and Rome, in Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions, and in indigenous, peasant, and other folk societies, and it has persisted throughout the world into modern times. Those most often accused of casting the evil eye include strangers, malformed individuals, childless women, and old women.
The power of the evil eye is sometimes held to be involuntary; a Slavic folktale, for example, relates the story of a father afflicted with the evil eye who blinded himself in order to avoid injuring his own children. More frequently, however, malice toward and envy of prosperity and beauty are thought to be the cause.
C. Conclusion: The Great Reversal (20:16)[2]
You see this theme in Luke.
Those who attain recognition and greatness on earth are often spiritually bankrupt face a bleak eternity.
· The beatitudes in Luke 6
24 But woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.
25Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall morn.
· The account of Lazarus and the rich man. Luke 16:19-31
· The foolish rich man who built bigger barns Luke 12:13-21
APPLICATIONS
1. The expansive generosity of God should change our disposition (from envy to rejoicing) and cause us to praise God.
Envy often a result of ungratefulness.
Envy is often the fruit of a proud, entitled heart.
Envy is evidence of a lack of faith in God to reward us.
· More focus on gratitude and blessings and less on “my rights.”
· Enjoy and practice God’s generous kindnesses.
2. The danger of an “evil eye” should be humbly avoided.
· Proverbs 14:31-32
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
32 A sound heart is life to the body,
32 A sound heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.
· Generosity and rejoicing is way better than envy.
·
3. Kingdom principles should change our perspectives and aspirations.
You can tell where your heart is by what kind of clothes you wear.
A servant’s heart is the sign of greatness in the kingdom.
4. We should take care to learn from the disciple’s poor example and adopt Jesus’ purpose.
Three times the Gospels record Christ telling his disciples about his coming death.
Each time their thoughts turned to who would have the highest position in the Kingdom.
Our focus and thoughts ought to be on serving Christ as we serve and love others.
When we are too important or busy to associate with the poor man in filthy clothes, when we shame the poor in the church with our heartless selfishness, we have lost our way.
5. We should maintain an attitude of gratefulness for all of our undeserved blessings.
Do we believe that God is good all the time? Do we believe that He is a just and generous God who will reward at His judgment seat?
A thankful heart glorifies God and exults His goodness.
· Romans 1:20 … although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts
· Colossians 3:15 …be thankful.
· Ephesians 5:3-4 … fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
· 1 Timothy2:1 giving of thanks be made for all men
· Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
6. We should rejoice with those who rejoice.
We should take such pleasure in God’s grace and generosity that we are pleased to see God’s goodness and mercy even on those less deserving than ourselves.
How sad when disbelief and envy rob us of the joy of fellowship with others.
Romans 12:15-16
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice,
and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another.
Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own opinion.
BENEDICTION 2COR2.13
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Mt 20:1.
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