AD SENSE

Workers in the Vineyard

The parable of the workers in the Vineyard Matthew 20:1-16

 

The parable of the workers in the Vineyard

Introduction

Grace is the central theme of this parable. In it we meet a group of laborers whose master wasn’t very happy (in Matthew 20:13 “friend” is used ironically) because they failed to identify the grace he expressed unto them. Likewise today there are Christians in the church who don’t walk in the grace of God. Needless to say such behavior doesn’t impress God at all. In this parable I recognized three reasons as to why we fail to walk in God’s grace and how to overcome them.

1. The spirit of judgment

A. These wicked laborers decided the late comers didn’t deserve a full day’s wage. It was non of their business!
B. Jesus was pointing his finger at Pharisees who judged others while pretending to be spiritual power houses.
C. Today we are are walking around judging our own brothers and sisters, just like those Pharisees who did not know the grace of God.

2. The spirit of competition

A. It’s interesting because these laborers were not offended by what they received but what was given to others.
B. In the world there’s competition. Church is God’s house of grace in which we find rest for our souls.
C. Sadly, we have turned it in to a place of far more competition than the world.

3. The spirit of rebellion

A. The laborers verbally rebelled against the master simply because his actions seemed very unfair to them.
B. Christians when fail to live by grace become rebellions and think they are fighting injustice.
C. Their false sense of justice can’t do anything but divide the church, the body of Christ.

4. Application

A. Don’t judge, (James 4:11-12)
I. James has three arguments. First, Judging is speaking evil against each other. It is also speaking evil against the law (word of God) and judging the law.
II. Secondly, those who judge others are not actual doers of God’s word.
III. The master asked, “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money?” God alone is the judge and lawgiver.
B. Don’t compete, (Philippians 2:3-4)
I. Three advises here. First, “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit”. Christian ministry becomes politics when performed out of rivalry or conceit.
II. The laborers in the story counted the late comers are less significant. Paul says, “count others more significant than yourselves”. This is the antidote against competition not only in the church but everywhere else.
III. Thirdly, don’t be selfish. (Let each of you not look into his own interests…) Where do you think we would be today if Jesus had looked into his own interests?
C. Do not rebel, (1 Samuel 15:23)
I. Rebellion is a serious offense. The Bible likens it to witchcraft and rejecting God’s word.
II. When we rebel we seek to manipulate God’s love and grace, (are you envious because I am generous?)
III. How do we rebel against God? In complaining against authority. In criticizing leaders God has appointed over us.