Matthew 20:1-16: Laborers in the Vineyard
What type of laborers we are.
  by Rev. David McKinley

Matthew 20:1-16: Laborers in the Vineyard

Date: May 3, 2009

INTRODUCTION
          “I’m entitled to what I deserve!” says the person that has worked hard at their job, only to get picked over for the promotion they should have had.  “I’ve earned it!” says the person who brings home a nice paycheck.  “The selection committee finally got it right!” says the recipient of the award.  Maybe this is not what we verbalize, but we’ve thought it, if we’re in any situation where compensation is due. 

Human nature says: “I better receive what I deserve!”  What type of laborers are we?  How do we understand the kingdom of God?  This sermon has to do with our understanding of how God works versus how man works.  Jesus’ comments are in reference to rewards and the kingdom of heaven. 

In our passage, Jesus is bridging from 19:30, which says: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”  You remember from last week that Peter posed a question concerning what the disciples would receive on account of their personal sacrifice.  His inquiry comes out of comparison to the rich young ruler’s inability to follow Christ.  That question is found in 19: 27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" Jesus then said that they would not only be placed in positions of judgment, but that God would reward them generously.  The parable of the workers provides a humbling point, that we must take notice of today.  Jesus introduces it by saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like….”  What follows is an explanation of the grace of God.  The answer might surprise you. 

The kingdom of heaven is like….  This was a common introduction of Jesus, especially in the Gospel of Matthew.  Remember that Jesus is the promised king.  Jesus was in the line of King David, and by virtue of His deeds is qualified to be known as the promised king, coming from heaven to us.  It makes sense that He would talk often about the kingdom of God.  Matthew 1:1 says: “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham….”  What can we learn about the parable? 

I.  GOD IS THE LANDOWNER, THE MANAGER OF THE VINEYARD.

Our story is about a landowner who has a vineyard.  He needs workers in his agricultural operation.  So he agrees to hire some for a denarius per day, a common one day’s wage in first century Roman world, a good one according to some Rabbinic literature.  There’s was a 12-hour work day, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  At different times throughout the day, more workers are needed, so more are hired at the 3rd hour, the 6th hour and the 9th hour.  All were hired at the agreement: “Whatever is right, I will give you.”  The last group, hired at the eleventh hour, agrees to work for the same amount of money- one denarius.  Yet, they only had time to work one hour! 

          When evening had come and the pay was being made, the last received their payment first!  This is a bit ironic, for they worked the shortest amount of time, yet got the same amount of pay- one denarius, as those hired in the morning.  At this, the morning workers complained.  Verse ten reads: “So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' Ultimately, it was the landowner’s prerogative to pay who and what.  He determined the stipulations. 
We are servants of God.  Anything He gives us is not because we deserve it, but because He is a God of grace.  Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  Our standing before God is not something we work for.  Rather, it is ours because of what Christ did for us on the cross.  He has the right to do with us as He pleases; and reward us as He pleases. 

II. SINCE GOD IS THE LANDOWNER, LET US WORK WITH GRATITUDE AND DILIGENCE.

Note the Landowners’ explanation.  Matthew 20:14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'  Verse 16 functions as a summary.  16 "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."  Some manuscripts add to verse 16 the statement: “for many are called, but few chosen."  Being a worker in God’s kingdom is privilege enough. 

What are the lessons to be learned?  First of all, positions of honor or prestige in this life by no means assure heavenly approval.  The reverse can be and often is true.  Positions of honor and fame can be a curse.  Popularity can be an outward blessing, but can also bring much pain.  Be careful of what you think you deserve from God, either in this life or the life to come.  Don’t ever look at what He does for you as something you deserve; or grumble against Him if He deals with you in a certain way through providence. Thomas and Gundry state: “Jesus warned against the Twelve’s assuming that their favored position in the kingdom would be the result of longer service or more work performed.  Ultimately all rewards will issue from the sovereign grace of God, who may, on the basis of his judgment of motives, grant richer rewards to those who have labored less.”1 

Secondly, the length of earthly labor may not correspond to one’s heavenly reward.  If you leave much for Christ, you will get much from Christ.  The New Geneva Study Bible states: “This parable is only a hard saying for those who fail to recognize their absolute dependence on grace for any good thing from God’s hand.  There is no room for a Christian to be jealous of the good gifts God has given to another.” 2  God promises great things to those who are His.  1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

Remember that God is the landowner.  He is sovereign.  There is a general call of the gospel; then there is the type of call only to those who truly respond are chosen.  There is no human merit involved.  Each Sunday, I issue a call for a response.  Many are called to believe and trust in Christ.  Yet there is something called effectual calling.  Listen to the Westminster Shorter catechism’s definition: “Effective calling is the work of God’s Spirit, Who convinces us that we are sinful and miserable, Who enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and Who renews our wills.  This is how He persuades and makes us able to receive Jesus Christ, Who is freely offered to us in the gospel.” 3 

For these, the response is a product of being born of God (John 1:13); being born again or born from above (John 3:3) and born of the Spirit (John 3:8).  In James, one’s Christian faith is described as a process of spiritual birth, being brought forth by the word (James 1:18).  Just as a baby does not contribute to his own physical birth, so we do not add to our spiritual birth.  There is nothing good in us.  The good comes from what God does in us!! Martin Luther described in this way: the entire Christian life is lived from a perspective of thanksgiving and worship, not of merit and accomplished objective. 
           
CONCLUSION
          At the very least, we must understand that God does not work as humankind does; nor does He operate on our level of understanding.  His ways are not our ways, as Isaiah 55: 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Today, we’ve learned that He is the Landowner and we are His servants.  If He gives us anything, it is out of grace, and not because of what we deserve.  He is a fair, just and gracious God. Yet, human nature teaches us to look out for ourselves first.   

          Survivor Eva Hart remembers the night, April 15, 1912, on which the Titanic plunged 12,000 feet to the Atlantic floor, some two hours and forty minutes after an iceberg tore a 300-foot gash in the starboard side: “I saw all the horror of its sinking, and I heard, even more dreadful, the cries of drowning people.” 

          Although twenty life-boat and rafts were launched- too few and only partly filled- most of the passengers ended up struggling in the icy seas while those in the boats waited a safe distance away. 

          Lifeboat No. 14 did row back to the scene after the unsinkable ship slipped from the sight at 2:20 a.m.  Alone, it chased cries in the darkness, seeking and saving a precious few.  Incredibly no other boat joined it.  Some were already overloaded, but in virtually every other boat, those already saved rowed their half-filled boats aimlessly in the night, listening to the cries of the lost.  Each feared a crush of unknown swimmers would cling to their craft eventually swamping it.