Matthew 20:1-6

THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Matthew 25:1-16
Gods Word
1 "The kingdom of heaven is like a
landowner who went out at
daybreak to hire workers for his
vineyard.

2 After agreeing to pay the
workers the usual day's wages,
he sent them to work in his
vineyard.

3 About 9 a.m. he saw others
standing in the marketplace
without work.

4 He said to them, 'Work in my
vineyard, and I'll give you
whatever is right.' So they
went.

5 "He went out again about
noon and 3 p.m. and did the
same thing.

6 About 5 p.m. he went out and
found some others standing
around. He said to them, 'Why are
you standing here all day long
without work?'

7 "'No one has hired us,' they
answered him. "He said to
them, 'Work in my vineyard.'

8 "When evening came, the owner
of the vineyard told the
supervisor, 'Call the workers, and
give them their wages. Start with
the last, and end with the first.'

9 "Those who started working
about 5 p.m. came, and each
received a day's wages.

10 When those who had been
hired first came, they expected
to receive more. But each of
them received a day's wages.

11 Although they took it, they
began to protest to the owner.

12 They said, 'These last workers
have worked only one hour. Yet,
you've treated us all the same,
even though we worked hard all
day under a blazing sun.'

13 "The owner said to one of them,
'Friend, I'm not treating you
unfairly. Didn't you agree with me
on a day's wages?

14 Take your money and go! I
want to give this last worker as
much as I gave you.

15 Can't I do what I want with my
own money? Or do you resent my
generosity towards others?'

16 "In this way the last will be
first, and the first will be last."

The grumbling workers are to be taken as the
impersonations of an evil principle that often
exists in Christian hearts; they correspond to
the elder brother in the parable.
There is much of the hireling disposition even
in true disciples. Work in this spirit, however
great it may seem, is small in the sight of God.

The perfect and the chosen labour for love.
The first bargained with the householder; the last
trusted to his generosity without question. To
those late he was better than they expected.

To the hireling He shows Himself a hirer; to the
trustful worthy of confidence.
The bargainers are filled with dissatisfaction, the
confiding ones with joy.
This view does not approve late coming into the
vineyard.

Service is not determined by duration, but by
spirit,



Motive gives character to work.
The parable teaches a change of place
between the first and the last; not unusual.

There will be first who shall remain first.

Make your calling and election sure
2Peter 1:10
Work and wages
I. The Church of God is brought before us as a place of
work. By no means the ordinary idea. Members, not
workers.
II. There is much work to be done, and many kinds of
work, and, therefore, that there is room and need for
many workers of many kinds.
III. That no work shall be left without wages.
IV. That the wages are not proportioned to the work.
(Anon.)


1. God hires labourers into his vineyard.
2. At different periods has God made Himself
known to the children of men.
3. They labour until the evening arrives.

Love makes labour light
Two young girls were going to a neighbouring town, each carrying
on her head a heavy basket of fruit to sell. One of them was
murmuring and fretting all the way, and complaining of the weight
of her basket. The other went along smiling and singing, and
seeming to be very happy. At last the first got out of patience with
her companion, and said, How can you go on so merry and joyful?
your basket is-as heavy as mine, and I know you are not a bit
stronger than I am. I dont understand it. Oh, said the other, its
easy enough to understand. I have a certain little plant which I put
on the top of my load, and it makes it so light I hardly feel it.
Indeed! that must be a very precious little plant. I wish I could
lighten my load with it. Where does it grow? Tell me. What do you
call it? It grows wherever you plant it, and give it a chance to take
root, and theres no knowing the relief it gives. Its name is, love, the
love of Jesus. I have found out that Jesus loved me so much that He
died to save my soul. This makes me love Him. Whatever I do,
whether it be carrying this basket or anything else, I think to myself,
I am doing this for Jesus, to show that I love Him, and this makes
everything easy and pleasant. (Bible Jewels.)

Disadvantage of Envy
The benevolent have the advantage of the envious,
even in this present life; for the envious is tormented
not only by all the ill that befalls himself, but by all the
good that happens to another; whereas the benevolent
man is the better prepared to bear his own calamities
unruffled, from the complacency and serenity he has
secured from contemplating the prosperity of all
around him. (Colton.)