The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 20 Part 6 The Parable Of The Laborers And The Vineyard: Benefits Of Salvation Given To Each Christian Equally

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. 

We are coming to the conclusion of Jesus' Parable of the Laborers and the Vineyard.

The householder represents Jesus Christ who created all things and owns all things.

The vineyard represents Christ's church and the kingdom of God.

The market place represents the locations where sinners congregate and where the gospel of Christ must be proclaimed.

The householder going out early in the morning and then at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 11th hours represents God's heart of leading all sinners to repentant faith in His Son.

The various times that workers are hired, pictures sinners being converted to Christ at different ages, such as a young person like John the Baptist (See Luke 1:15) or Timothy (See 2 Timothy 3:15).

The 3rd, 6th and 9th hours picture people responding to the gospel such as teenagers, young adults, or middle age adults.

God's grace is magnified in the conversion of those who are called to Christ and called from pursuing pleasure, gaining riches, seeking education or status. 

An example is Saul's conversion to Christ in Acts 9.

The 11th hour pictures those who are saved in their old age like my mother was.

"Hiring" is a verb that strongly correlates with God "calling" sinners to repentant faith through gospel preaching.

"Agreeing" about the wages is connected with Jehovah saying "Come let us reason together. Though your sins may be scarlet, they shall be washed white as snow if you repent and trust me" (See Isaiah 1:18).

The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life to all who hear the gospel repent and believe on Jesus Christ.

The "wages" were for one day of work which reminds us that we must use our time wisely and we must work while it is day.

With each group of workers hired, the householder promises to give what is right to each one.

Matthew 20:8-9  So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 

When the day's work was over, the workers were called to the householder and they promptly received the promised wages.

Leviticus 19:13  Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. 

Deuteronomy 24:15  At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee. 

This is the scriptural foundation for prompt payment of wages.

Some unscrupulous employers may delay paying their workers, so that they can earn more interest before disbursing wages.

Some employers try to cheat their workers out of their wages, and this is why God commands that a day laborer be paid at the conclusion of the work day.

If an employer attempted to hold back his workers wages then he was guilty of sin before God.  

Therefore, the householder who represents Christ, paid all workers the agreed upon wages at the end of the day, in accord with God's law.

Romans 2:5-7  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,  

Here is God's promise to all His faithful servants. 

He will give what is right to every man just like the householder in the parable.

To the unrepentant sinner, He will give death and eternal condemnation because that is the wages for sinful living.

To the believer in Christ, He will give eternal life, a home in heaven, a new resurrection body and rewards for faithful service.

Notice that the householder called the workers in the reverse order in which they were hired to work in his vineyard.

The ones hired at the eleventh hour were called first and received a days wages, represented by a penny.

Then, ones hired at the ninth, sixth and third hours were called and received the same wages.

The last ones called were the workers hired first, early in the morning.

These workers thought that because they worked the most hours that they would receive more wages than those who spent less time working in the vineyard. 

The householder giving the same amount to all workers is similar to the Hebrews gathering manna every morning.

Exodus 16:16-18  This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 17  And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 18  And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. 

God supplied the manna faithfully each morning and commanded the people to gather according to the number of people living in their tent.

The standard amount to be gathered was an omer for each man, which roughly corresponds to about 2 liters.

Manna was made into bread that the people ate.

Thus, some men gathered a lot of manna because they had to feed many people and some gathered a small amount because they had fewer people to feed.

All were satisfied and those who gathered much did not have leftovers, and those who gathered little did not run out.

This is a beautiful picture of God supplying all our our needs for this life and for eternal life in heaven with Him.

Mathew 20:10-12  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12  Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 

The workers who labored all day in the vineyard were very upset when they saw that they received a penny like the workers who only worked one hour.

They murmured and complained about the householder, who is called a goodman in this text.

They complained because they worked during the day when it was hottest, and they worked the most hours.

They complained because workers who were labored for one hour got the same pay that they did for working all day.

Giving a whole day's wages to those who worked one hour pictures how God distributes His rewards by grace and sovereignty, not by debt. 

Numbers 11:6  But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

Israel murmured against God and complained that they only had manna to eat.

All the Hebrews received manna from God every morning in the wilderness for forty years.

Every man was to consume the same amount.

This blessing from God was equally distributed to all the people.

Yet, they complained about God’s gracious daily gift of manna.

Luke 15:27-32  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. 

The elder son was angry and complained against his father when the prodigal son returned with humility to his father.

He heard the noise of celebration when his brother, the prodigal son who squandered his inheritance and lived with hogs, came to his senses and returned home.

He complained to his father that he never sinned like his younger brother and that he always did what his father required of him.

He complained that his father never gave him a celebration with a fatted calf for his faithfulness.

The father's response to a complaining son was that this son was always with him and was recipient of all that the father had.

It was right to celebrate his younger brother’s repentance and humility. He was lost but now is found.

This indicates that the blessings of God are distributed equally.

Romans 10:9-13  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Gentiles were given the same privileges of the kingdom of God as the Jews had and this made the Jews jealous. 

The apostle Paul was a prominent leaders of Judaism before his conversion to Christ, and he makes it clear that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles.

Both are offered the same spiritual blessings in Christ through repentant faith in Jesus.

Thus, a Jew or Gentile who believes the gospel, repents of sin and trusts Christ, shall be saved (See Ephesians 2:11-22).

The benefits of salvation and the kingdom of God are given equally to all.

However, the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit are given according to how each Christian yields to His guidance for our lives.

Matthew 20:13-15  But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 

The householder replied to the loudest complainer with the word "Friend." 

This shows us that when we reason with a sinner we cannot become angry or aggressive against them if they resist gospel truth.

We must share the truth in love (See Ephesians 4:15).

The householder reminded the complainer that he agreed to work for a penny and that is exactly what he was given. 

Therefore, he was not wronged in any way and the householder dismissed the complainer from his presence.

The householder asked a rhetorical question "Is it lawful for me to dispose of my money as I choose to do?" and the only answer is "Yes" he has every right to distribute according to his own desires.

This is why God chose to save Gentiles in addition to the Jewish people.

He concluded all people to be in sin so that He can offer salvation through Christ to all people and nations (See Romans 3:19-22).

God is always good and He will always do what is right.

Thus, the householder asked the complaining worker if his own eye was evil because the householder is good.

The idea is that the complaining worker has evil thoughts in response to the goodness of the householder.

Deuteronomy 15:9  Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 

God connects an evil eye with an evil heart. 

He commands against the evil eye regarding landowners who had slaves that had to work off a debt. 

Slaves were to be set free in the seventh year.

If the slave owner refused to free his slave after the seventh year, it is a sin and God will hold him to account.

Proverbs  23:6-7  Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 

King Solomon advised people not to associate with any man or woman who is known to have an evil eye, because that indicated their heart was full of evil.

Proverbs 28:22  He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. 

Often, those who crave to be rich have an evil eye, such that they do not care who they trample on in the process of increasing their wealth.

This seems to connect well with Jesus parable, because the complaining worker wanted more money than the amount he agreed to.

Matthew 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

God is sovereign and He sends necessary rain upon both good and bad people. 

He sends the sunlight required for growth to righteous people as well as wicked ones. 

Acts 14:17  Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 

Again, Paul tells us that God leaves a powerful witness to His goodness.

He always does good because He is good.

He sends rain to grow crops and through a bountiful harvest He fills men's hearts with food and gladness.

This seems to describe the attitude of the householder in this parable.

Matthew 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Jesus concludes the parable with these words. 

Earlier Jesus told us that there are two gates, and two roads to travel through this life, that lead to opposite eternal destinations.

Many travel on the road that leads to Hell and relatively few travel on the narrow path that leads to eternal life (See Matthew 7:12-14).

Jesus used the first shall be last phrase in responding to His disciples who were arguing about which one would be the greatest in the kingdom. 

Those who are last, means that they have humble and contrite before God, and they shall be first.

God resists the proud but He gives grace to the humble.

The proud and arrogant are striving to be first, crowding in front of others, and God will not permit this in His kingdom.

We see the beauty of salvation, such that the very last person to be born again when the final gospel message is preached, will receive all spiritual blessings the same as the first one who trusted God.

We are warned against murmuring or complaining against God’s spiritual blessings and salvation provision.

We are filled with joy because God is so good to us. 

He gives each Christians  redemption, justification, salvation, eternal life and the indwelling Holy Spirit, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost (See Titus 3:4-6).

The equality of God's salvation reminds us that all must come to the Father through repentant faith in His Son.

All sinners must be washed in the blood of the Lamb so that our sins are washed away and we are made  white as snow.

Bob