Mt 20 Workers in the Vineyard

read 20:1-16

The facts

When did the landowner go out? and what agreement did he enter into with them?

Let's say 6am.

Time: Agreed Wage: hours: Actual Wage

(After 2nd Group, Weren't they rather trusting? I'd probably want a more solid agreement, wouldn't you?

(Why had they been standing idle? Nobody's hired us!

5 pm and the vineyard owner comes and hires people to work in his vineyard. Interesting picture, some all day, some 1 hour.

What would you have said to yourself if someone came along at five to hire you? It's too late–it couldn't pay much. I'd be dividing the penny into twelve parts and saying, well a 12th of a penny is better than none at all. But let's notice what did happen.

When evening came, who did the owner choose to pay first? Who else was still there watching? All the rest.

How would you have felt if you'd been a 12 hour person, how would you have felt observing this. When they came, what pay did they receive? 1 D that's a full day's wage. If I've only worked an hour I don't really deserve a full day's wage, do I? I can imagine them looking at that Denarius and saying, "There's been a mistake. I only worked an hour and you're giving me a full day's pay."

V 10. When those hired first came, what thoughts started going through their heads? They thought they would receive more. That makes sense logically, comparing themselves with those who'd only worked one hour. But when they received their pay, what did they get? The same as the 11th hour people?

Did you notice the relationship between the amount of work done and the pay received? What was it? No relationship! Is that what we'd expect? No. And neither did the 12 hour workers.

What was their reaction? When they received it they grumbled at the the landowner, saying "These men have only worked an hour, and you've made them equal to us who've born the heat of the day."

The landowner reminded them of something they'd agreed to, what was it? "I'm not doing you any wrong, didn't you agree to work for a denarius?" No legitmate cause to grumble. "Take yours and go I wish to give to others the same."

No comes a key verse. Those who worked 12 hours failed to recognize something very significant, something many of us are also missing. 2 minutes to talk with your neighbor, and tell me what they failed to comprehend, which if they'd comprehended it they never would have grumbled. –not just the contract, we've already got that out, in addition

They failed to see the landowner's unselfishness or generosity. Here they are watching him give a great gift to these people, and what are they doing? Grumbling. What should they be doing! Rejoicing! He's just done something beautiful and they don't even notice how generous He is! How could they miss it?

Instead of taking this demonstration as an opportunity to learn something about the character of the landowner, how did they see this demonstration? As a put-down. They were offended.–Offended at God being generous, for loving people who were in need–that's like Getting mad at the local soup kitchen for feeding the hungry, or at the make a wish foundation for taking someone to Disneyland.

Why is Jesus telling this parable? Who needed to hear it? Who in the context is in danger of having this attitude of the 12 hour workers?

Disciples–what then will there be for us?

But Lord, "But I've been a Seventh-day Adventist all my life. I went to a Christian school. I went to Bible class, and church, and Sabbath school, I've read my Bible and prayed! Isn't there something in it for me? Don't I get more?

What more did the workers in the vineyard expect? More than 1 D. But what does that really mean? For that we have to understand what the 1D is. What does God give generously to those who are willing to work for him, irrespective of the amount of work they do?

Eternal Life–this was the big issue for the Rich Young Ruler that started this whole thing. What are we asking for, then if we want more? What did our Eternal Life cost God? Jesus own life–God doesn't have any more to give. He emptied all of heaven to buy us back, He is actually offering us the perfect life and death of Jesus in our place, and we want more? More than Jesus? God is offering You Jesus' perfect life. When He looks at You, He doesn't see your weak will and polluted thoughts and corrupt actions. Instead He sees the perfect life of Jesus in place of Yours. Can you be any more perfect than that?

What do those who want more believe about God's labor system? They believe he's keeping track of how much work they do in order to give a greater reward to those who've worked more. They actually think their own work can help God save them! "Lord," they say, "I really appreciate all you've done to save me, but here's what I've done. Don't I get any credit?"

No, you don't because our salvation is not dependent upon human effort! What does it depend upon? God's generosity! He's already given all He had to get us, and there's nothing more we need.

What are you saying to this generous God this morning? Are you letting Him love you? Or are you resisting all the way? Are you trying to work up enough credits to feel that you deserve eternal life, or are you coming to Him just as You are to receive His generous gift?

Who would like to praise Him for how he treats you this morning?

The big issue in salvation is are you seeing God, and without exception when I run into people who are confused about do you know what I find? I find their focus is on self or someone else and their performance. The only way to understand the issues of salvation is to see Christ. 'Cause when you see Him, the one thing that comes through is how generous he is.

If you look from him and start looking at your own performance or someone else's, you'll end up as confused as ever about salvation and become like those people who say, "What if I get hit by a truck, am I going to make it?" That kind of talk comes from not seeing God. Like woman who came depressed. "I'm so discouraged about salvation. I don't think I'll be saved, I don't think God can save me." Tell me more about this God, I don't think I've met him. He sounds rather impotent. Tell me about him. She said, "Well I'd rather tell you about myself." "What's happened?" Divorce, failure, 3 kids, no husband I'm certainly not deserving of salvation. Good news, God doesn't change the rules in the middle of the game. I doesn't matter tonight if you've messed up.