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Matthew 20:1-16

Laborers in the Vineyard

[1] “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. [2] After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. [3] And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, [4] and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ [5] So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. [6] And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ [7] They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ [8] And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ [9] And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. [10] Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. [11] And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, [12] saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ [13] But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? [14] Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. [15] Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ [16] So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Notes:

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Subject: This is a parable that teaches us why God does what He does.

1. The Complaint: “You have made them equal with us” (verse 12). 

2. The Clarification: “Friend I do you no harm” (verse 13).

3. The Contract: “Did you not agree with me for a denarius?” (verse 13b).

4. The Copious Result: “I wish to give this last man the same as you—Is it not      lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?” (verse 15).

5. The Character of God: “I am generous” (verse 15).

6. The Conclusive Truths:

            1. God seeks you out and calls you to His place of blessing.

            2. God alone established the terms. We must trust His actions.

            3. God gives what He promises.

            4. The cost is at His expense.

            5. When we are all in the “field of blessing” it doesn’t matter where we stand in line.

            6. God expects our response to be one of gratitude.

7. The Closing Thought:

1. God does what He does because He is God.

2. He treats people with His generous blessing, that is, His grace.

3. God is more interested in our need than He is our productivity.