The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 20 Part 5 The Parable Of The Laborers And The Vineyard: Today Is The Day Of Salvation

Matthew 20:1-4  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. 3  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4  And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 

• The householder represents Jesus Christ. 

• The vineyard represents both the church and the kingdom of God.

• The workers represent individual sinners who hear the gospel and exercise repentant faith in Jesus Christ.

• The marketplace where the householder hires his workers, represents the world where sinners congregate.

The workers stand "idle" which pictures sinners enslaved to sin, living in a depraved culture, subjects of the Devil's kingdom of darkness (See Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1:9-23).

So far in this parable, we have learned that the householder pictures the Lord Jesus Christ who created all things and to whom all things belong.

Like a householder, Jesus has absolute governing authority over the whole family of God.

Like a householder, Jesus assigns work, requires His children to give an account of their service, gives all the children of God a rich inheritance, and provides for all their needs.

Like a householder, Jesus rises early in the morning seeking to hire or call workers. 

The verb "to hire" corresponds with God "calling" us to repentant faith through the gospel of Christ. 

Mark 2:17  When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The verbs "to hire" and "to call" indicate that the action of Christ hiring or calling sinners, is an ongoing process.

Gospel preaching will continue until the Father sends Jesus Christ to bring His saints home to heaven at the rapture of the church and the resurrection of life (See John 5:24-29;  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Isaiah 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

The householder "agrees" with the workers for their wages and this corresponds to the Lord saying "Come let us reason together." 

The glory is that God will save those who repent of their sins and call upon Him.

Romans 3:9-12  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 

The workers represent sinners hearing the gospel, who must be shown their sin, its consequences and that death is the wage they will receive (See Romans 3:9-20).

This is part of God's reasoning process. 

No one will see any need of salvation if they do not know about their sins and its fatal eternal consequences.

Thus, pastors, church leaders, parents and parishioners, must reason about sin, at church, at home and in the marketplace with children, neighbors, coworkers  sinner to show them sin and its deadly impact.

Only then is the gospel revealed as good news that Christ received the wages of our sins which is death, and that when we repent, God will grant us eternal life.

John 16:8-11  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9  Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 

Reasoning together pictures the Spirit of God convicting sinners of their transgressions and showing them that God will give them eternal life as their wage if they have repentant faith in Christ (See Romans 6:23).

This is the specific ministry of the Holy Spirit with the Word of God in the individual hearts of sinners who hear 

Therefore, the householder gives what is right to each worker who agrees to enter the vineyard, just as Christ brings all spiritual blessings to His children.

Matthew 20:1-7  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. 3  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4  And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5  Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6  And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7  They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 

Notice how the householder's actions reflect the heart of God.

He rises up early in the morning, just as God sent His Word through His prophets to Israel, early each morning.

He seeks to hire workers, just as God sought to bring Israel back to repentance and restoration, by calling them through His Word.

He faithfully goes looking throughout the whole day to hire more workers just as Christ continually looks for sinners to call to repentant faith in Him.

We are also reminded that this is no mere vineyard. 

John 14:1-2  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

It pictures the kingdom of heaven where God has plenty of room to receive all who hear and believe the gospel of Christ.

Jesus told His disciples that they must trust Him for salvation.

Then, He said that there is ample room in His Father's house for all who repent and believe the gospel of Christ, where Jesus is preparing our eternal dwelling place.

John 9:4-5  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 

Another important truth in this parable is that the wages agreed to by the workers were for one day of work.

This corresponds with Jesus teaching His disciples that we must do His kingdom work while it is day, while we still are alive and able to love and serve God.

Ephesians 5:8-11  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 

This is why Christians are commanded to walk as children of light, because God is light and we are commanded to walk with Him (See 1 John 1:5-7).

Before salvation, each sinner walked in darkness, doing the Devil's bidding, being seduced by the lust of our flesh.

When the glorious light of the gospel shined into our heart, it leads a repentant sinner to saving faith in Christ.

Thus, we are born again and are able to walk in the light with God, with His Word to show us how to live holy lives in a very unholy world (See Psalm 119:9-11; 119:105; 119:130).

Psalm 39:4  LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

Psalm 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 

The fact that the workers agreed for one day's work also reminds us that our life is fleeting.

It is like a morning fog that quickly dissipates in the sunlight. 

Therefore, we must learn the brevity of life and that we really only have this day to serve God. 

We may think that we have more days, months or years to live, but our lifespan is in the hand of God.

The picture is that we must rise up early each morning to ask for the Father's help to live for His glory and for strength to do His kingdom work.

Ephesians 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 

When we begin thinking in accord with the scriptures, we will learn to use our time wisely, because only that which is done for Christ will last, all other things will fade and pass.

The Spirit of God guided the apostle Paul to warn Christians not to slip into spiritual apathy or a lethargic faith (See Colossians 4:5).

Some professing Christians seem like they are sleepwalking through this life, merely going through the motions.

To them Paul says "Wake up now, walk accurately in accord with the scriptures and serve God now! Redeem or use your time wisely for God's kingdom each day."

The householder went to the marketplace early, then at the third, sixth and ninth hours seeking to call or hire workers.

He went out at the eleventh hour seeking more workers, even though the day was almost finished.

The "eleventh hour" is a picture of putting things off until the very last moment before doing the important things that need to be done.

There is nothing more important in this life than hearing the gospel of Christ, repenting of sin and trusting Jesus.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 

We are urged not to receive the grace of God in vain. 

When a sinner hears the gospel of Christ preached, he or she will respond either by repentant faith in Christ or by unbelief.

God told Noah that His Spirit would not always strive with wicked men, seeking to turn them to Christ.

Those who hear the gospel often and ignore it are in danger of receiving it's glorious message in vain.

They risk losing opportunity to hear the Spirit of God calling them to faith, for He may stop striving with them at some point (See Genesis 6:3).

Thus, all who hear or read the gospel today ought to respond today, to secure heaven for their home and eternal life from God.

This pictures sinners who put off responding to God through gospel preaching, some even putting it off until they are on their deathbed.

A deathbed conversion to Christ is sad.

It shows how wasted and worthless a person's life is from living for self and the world, instead of loving and serving God.

However, Christ searching for workers at the eleventh hour shows that God will save all who repent and call upon His name.

Thus, it is never too late for anyone to call upon the Lord for mercy and never too late to be blessed by His marvelous grace.

In Exodus 14, the Hebrews were trapped by Pharaoh's mighty army on one side and the Red Sea on the other side.

At the eleventh hour, God opened the Red Sea for His people to safely cross over, and then drowned Pharaoh and his army in the same waters.

Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his only son at Mount Moriah and Abraham obeyed Him.

At the last moment, the eleventh hour, God stopped  Abraham from plunging a knife into Isaac who was bound on an altar. 

He provided a ram to sacrifice as a substitute for slaying Isaac (See Genesis 22).

Daniel was entrapped by wicked men and was cast into a den of hungry lions. 

His enemies gleefully expected that Daniel would be attacked and killed by the beasts.

At the last moment, the eleventh hour, God intervened and shut the lion's mouths with His angel and Daniel was spared (See Daniel 6).

Luke 23:39  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 

This is probably the most vivid example of a sinner's conversion to Christ moments before dying.

Two criminals were hung on crosses with Jesus, and Christ was in the middle.

One of the evil men said hateful and hurtful things to Jesus but the other man rebuked him.

He admitted that both of them were being punished for their crimes but that Jesus was innocent.

He then turned to Jesus and asked Him to remember him when Christ's kingdom came.

Jesus answer? "Truly today shalt  thou be with me in paradise." 

Thus, people can be born again late in life.

There are several important truths we need to remember from this parable.

First, we only have this day to love and serve God. T

herefore, we must use our time wisely for God's kingdom purposes.

Second, the mercy and grace of God knows no boundaries and He will save those at the eleventh hour just like the thief on the cross beside Jesus.

Third, we have the promise of Jesus of an eternal home in heaven for all who repent and trust Him for salvation.

Fourth, we must guard against becoming spiritually slothful or indifferent, by waking up and walking in the light of God's Word with Christ.

Last, the householder promised to give each worker what was right.

This pictures Christ making good on all of God's promises to those who have repentant faith in Him.

May these truths encourage us to share the gospel wherever and whenever we can.

May these truths fill our hearts with hope for our eternal future and happiness from knowing and loving and serving our wonderful God.

Finally, may we avoid wasting our lives and calling upon Christ for salvation at the eleventh hour.

God has a wonderful life of blessing and service for us to pursue and we should greatly desire this life.

Don't put off salvation until your close to death because you will miss out on God's best for you.

Bob