The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 20 Part 2 The Parable Of The Laborers And The Vineyard: What is the Master Doing?

We are learning about Jesus' Parable of the Laborers and the Vineyard.

In this parable, a man who is a householder represents Jesus, who is Lord and Master of all.

The householder going out early in the morning, pictures the importance of each Christian prioritizing sharing the gospel with others, so that sinners might be saved.

The vineyard represents both Christ's church and His kingdom.

The laborers who are hired, represent mankind's response of belief or unbelief toward the gospel of Christ .

Notice how the time and intent of the householder's work pictures gospel ministry.

Matthew 20:1-2  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. 

A Master or Householder is entrusted with a family and its estate. 

He must pay the bills, make sure the properties are properly maintained, assign tasks to family members, and require each person to give an account of how they completed their tasks.

The Master or Householder must provide a safe and nurturing environment for the family and ensures that all basic needs are met.

In our last post, we explained how Jesus Christ is the Master and Householder of the entire family of God.

He governs the whole family of God, and directs all of it's activities.

He seeks to help each one of us grow and mature in our faith. 

He instructs us all Christians how to live for the glory of God.

As Master and Householder, Jesus feeds us His nourishing Word that strengthens our inner man.

Jesus clothes us in His righteousness and always intercedes for us as our Eternal High Priest.

As the Master or Householder of the family of God, Jesus keeps us safe in His mighty hands, and gives eternal life to us.

What is the householder doing in this parable? 

He is going out early in the morning, seeking to hire people to work in His vineyard. 

This is a most beautiful and tender display of the heart of God toward sinful humanity.

First, we must admit that we are all born as sinners and live in rebellion against God. 

Nothing good dwells in us and even good works we do with the right intentions are nothing better than filthy, polluted rags in His sight (See Isaiah 64:6).

Psalm 14:1-3  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2  The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 

The scripture concludes that all humanity are born as sinners and with depravity in our hearts.

No one seeks after God. No one is truly good and pure. 

All people in all the world in every generation of human history from Adam until the final day of judgment, are condemned by sin.

All people are unclean in the sight of God and fall short of His glory (See also Romans 3:10-23).

Second, the Master, Christ, the Householder of God's family came to seek and save each sinner from his or her sin, and to give eternal life to all who believe His gospel.

Luke 15:3-7  And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 

This parable pictures Jesus Christ, the good shepherd seeking one lost sheep, which represent Christ calling individual sinners to repentance and faith in Him.

This has always been the heart of God toward mankind, and in every generation. 

He has always provided a way for people to repent and follow Him.

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 

It pictures Jesus Christ who came to earth expressly to seek and save lost sinners, by the sacrifice of Himself.

Jesus came so that He could pay for our sins because we cannot atone for them.

He suffered the wrath of God upon Himself for our sins.

He died a cruel death on the cross in our place, so that all who place their faith in Christ will receive eternal life.

His resurrection is the perfect and only proof needed that the Father was satisfied with Jesus sacrifice.

The word "propitiation" means that the Father accepted Christ's perfect sacrifice as the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world.

Because the Father is well pleased with the word of His Son, He gives all spiritual blessings from heaven to each sinner who repents and trusts Christ for salvation. 

1 Corinthians 1:17-18  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

Thus, God is now for us and wants to save all people, but He will not force anyone to believe.

Like Paul, our mission is to live according to Christ's commands and to share the gospel with other people, so that those who do not yet know God, can be born again into His family.

We must share the gospel because it is the instrument God chose to save sinners (See 1 Corinthians 1:18-31).

Jesus is the Master of God's house and family, and He finds no pleasure when a sinner dies.

Ezekiel 18:30  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. 

The gospel has the same intent whether preached in the Old Testament or the New Testament.

God invites all sinners to turn from their sins and repent and trust Him to save their soul from eternal condemnation.

He promises to give each sinner who repents and trusts Christ, a new heart and a new spirit (See Ezekiel 11:19-21; 36:22-38).

The record is clear: God does not want any sinner to die in their sins for they will endure flames for eternity in Hell.

God says "Repent, and I will save you!" 

God says "Come to me and I will give you what will fully satisfy your soul." (See Isaiah 55).

Jesus says "Come unto me all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (See Matthew 11:28-30).

God is not willing that any man, woman or young person perish in their sins and face eternity in Hell. 

He wants all people to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and turn to His Son, with repentant faith (See 2 Peter 3:9).

God wants all people everywhere to be born again and become His adopted children (See 1 Timothy 2:1-6).

1 Timothy 1:15-17  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen

This is why the certain householder rises early and goes looking for workers.

Jesus Christ came into this world, as the gospels declare, for the purpose of saving sinners by the sacrifice of Himself.

After Jesus' ascension to His Father, the floodgates of God's lovingkindness were opened each time that the gospel is preached or shared with people.

He gives us a picture of Christ seeking to save the lost, and of God who does not want any to die in their sins. 

Christ as the Householder rises early to seek sinners because that is the heart of God.

Jeremiah 25:1-4  The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; 2  The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 3  From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. 4  And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. 

God sent Jeremiah and many other prophets to Judah, which governed the areas around Jerusalem, and to the ten tribes of families collectively known as Israel. 

When God spoke about His prophets preaching the Word to His people, He makes sure that we know He sent them out to the Jewish people early in the morning. 

God says "I rose early to speak truth to you but you would not listen."

Like the Old Testament prophets, Jesus said "Take heed how you hear my Words" because we must hear God speak to us with the intent to obey Him. 

Otherwise, we are guilty of unbelief (See Luke 8:18).

Jesus said "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" when He preached and taught God's word to the people. 

Jesus used this phrase eight times in the gospels in order to warn us that we have a duty to sit under the authority of scripture.

Jeremiah 26:4-6  And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, 5  To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; 6  Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. 

Again, the LORD says that the His people failed to listen to the Word of God preached by His prophets.

They rose early in the morning and God sent them on their way to declare His will for the people but again, they refused to listen (See Jeremiah 29:18-19).

Also, note that each time God said He sent His prophets early in the morning, that He also says certain judgment will come for those who refuse to hear and obey.

Jeremiah 32:33  And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction. 

Jeremiah was God's faithful and tenderhearted prophet.

Of himself he could truthfully say that he woke up early every morning and went to preach and teach the people the Word of God, but they would not hear and heed the message.

Instead of listening to God's Word they turned their back on the Creator, which means they tuned out God's Word because they did not want to yield to Him.

Luke 21:37-38  And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. 38  And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him. 

Jesus woke up early in the morning, often while it was still dark, and He sought seclusion so that He might pray to His Father and receive strength for that day's ministry (See Mark 1:35).

Luke's gospel tells us how Jesus taught in the temple each day and at night, he slept in the Mount of Olives.

This location was about a half mile from Jerusalem and gave a full view of the Temple of God.

It also offered many olive trees for privacy and shelter.

All the people who earnestly sought God, came early each morning to the Temple to hear Jesus teach, for He taught early each morning.

John 8:1-2  Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2  And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 

Thus, we see that the householder rising early in the morning pictures Christ rising early to seek and save the lost.

It pictures Christ as that perfect prophet who like His Old Testament counterparts, rose early preaching the gospel of the kingdom and calling people to repentant faith in Him.

This is the heart of God that He rises early in the morning seeking to save the lost, seeking more people for His kingdom.

God does not sleep nor does He require it, but He speaks in human terms to us to show His passion for seeking to save the lost.

He wants to save sinners through gospel preaching that leads them to repentant faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

He gives each repentant sinner who calls upon the Lord, a new heart, a new spirit and a new life of faith to live.

This is the full and wonderful picture of our Lord and Savior and what He wants to do each day.

Are we rising early each morning to spend time in God's Word?

When we rise up early to seek God, are we asking Him to speak to us as we read His Word?

Can we rejoice that God loves us this much?

Can we rejoice that Jesus is pictured as rising early seeking to save the lost, because our eternal destiny is of great importance to Him?

Can we rejoice that Jesus is the good shepherd who stops to seek that one lost sheep?

Can we rejoice in the truth about God we have learned so far in this parable?

I certainly hope that each one of us can answer with resounding "Yes!" to each of those questions.

May the truths we are learning in the Parable of the Laborers and the Vineyard, fill our heart with happiness and joy, and renew our commitment to love and serve God with all our being.

Bob