The Gospel According to Matthew Copyright© 2006, Darroll Evans Chapter 20: 1to16 Matthew 20:1-2 1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Verses one through nineteen of this chapter are a continuation Jesus discourse in the last part of chapter nineteen. Jesus told his disciples, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a landowner. He went out early one morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay the men one penny, a denarion, or one silver coin a day then he sent them to work in his vineyard.” Matthew 20:3-4 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Christ continued, “And, when he went out about nine AM, he saw others standing idly in the marketplace. So, he hired them to work in the vineyard. He told these men, ‘I will pay you what is right.’ So, they too went to work.” Matthew 20:5-7 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. Later that day, about noon and again at about three PM, them land owner hire others. Then, at about the five that afternoon, he went out again, and found others standing idly, and said to them, “Why have you stood here all day doing nothing?” They responded, “Because nobody hired us.” So, the landowner said, “Go to work in the vineyard; and I will pay you whatever is right.” Matthew 20:8-9 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. That evening, the vineyard owner said unto his foreman, “Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.” And, when they came to be paid those that were hired about the Five PM were paid a silver coin. Matthew 20:10-12 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But, when the first hired came, they thought that they should have received more, but they likewise were paid one silver coin. And when they were paid, they complained saying, “These last have worked just one hour, and you have made them equal in pay to us, and we worked hard in the heat of the day.” Lesson: God’s rewards for our labor are equal among all who labor. Paul will receive exactly what you will receive, Matthew 20:13-16 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. The landowner told them, “Friend, I did you no wrong! Didn’t you agree to work for one silver coin? Take it, go your way. I will pay those hired last, the same as I paid you. Isn’t it legal for me to do I what with what is mine? Are you angry, because I am generous?” God’s rewards in Christ are determined by God. His gifts are also determined by Him. Rom 9:15-16 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Finally, Jesus said, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen.” God rewards the work. Grace is not a work. The timeframe does not enter into the determination of rewards. It is His choice! He is God!
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 02:06:36 +0000
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