Encouragement For Latecomers | Matthew 20:1-16

Scripture

• Matthew 20:1–16

About this sermon

ntroduction: Puritan sermons are recognizable by their organization. The Puritans would often begin with the doctrine of a passage and then concentrate afterward on what they called the uses of a passage. As we come to this passage tonight, I want to concentrate on one of its particular uses. I want to encourage latecomers. Latecomers into the Lord’s vineyard. Latecomers into the kingdom of Heaven. Christ begins by telling us that the parable is about the Kingdom of Heaven. This is about the realm of salvation. It has meaning both for the present manifestation of that kingdom and its subjects, and the future and eternal manifestation of that kingdom. And we’ll look at this parable under four headings. (1) What the parable describes (2) What the parable teaches (3) What the parable is meant to produce in God’s people (4) Some uses of the parable. • WHAT THE PARABLE DESCRIBES It’s a simple story. Back when we used to live in the little town of Elgin, I got to see what this parable describes, in living color. On the very street corner where our church met in our temporary meeting place, early in the morning on weekdays, men would gather waiting for an opportunity to work. Men would come in pickup trucks, (I’m assuming they were farmers), and they would pick up those men for a day’s work. Well, that’s what’s described here. It’s the hiring of day workers. • THE HIRING DESCRIBED You have a landowner who goes out early in the morning to hire laborers to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them the going rate for a day’s work. A denarius for the day. The work day was a 6:00 am to 6:00 pm schedule. Early in the morning he makes his initial hires At 9:00 am he goes out and hires more on the promise of a fair wage (vs.3-4) At noon and 3:00 pm he does this again Finally, at 5:00 pm, he does this for a final group (vs.6-7) • THE PAYMENT DESCRIBED At the end of the day the owner gave instructions for payment. Starting with those hired last (this is key to the story because in this way those who started the day know what the others are paid) and ending with those who had worked all day, each one received a full day’s wage. This was extremely generous on the part of the landowner. But the result of his generosity to some, was grumbling on the part of those hired first. Those who were paid exactly what they were promised were upset that those who had worked a very short time compared to them were paid the same amount. What does the landowner do? He demonstrates to them that they have not been mistreated. This is not an instance of mistreatment, but a demonstration of great generosity and selfish jealousy on the part of those who are grumbling. • WHAT THE PARABLE TEACHES The main point of the parable is stated in verse 16. The last shall be first and the first last. What does that statement mean? It means that kingdom rewards depends on God’s sovereign grace, so that what God does will often mean a reversal of what is expected. The emphasis is on God’s freedom, and grace. In this case, they all end up with the same reward for their labors. Remember the location of this parable. The way that Christ dealt with the rich young ruler demonstrated that salvation is by grace in Christ. The way that Christ answers His disciples concerns about salvation, and their statement that they had left everything to follow Him, demonstrated the gracious nature of the reward that is found in Christ — you don’t lose anything, you gain everything. And then Jesus gives a parable about the equality found in the kingdom of Heaven. What is the doctrine here? It teaches us that the kingdom of Heaven demonstrates the sovereign grace of God and upholds the perfect righteousness of God. He does as He pleases, and He does what is right. God deals with men in perfect righteousness even as He demonstrates grace and mercy in any way that He sees fit. Just like the landowner put some to work all day, and others to work for one hour, and then paid them both for their labor, in a way that demonstrated justice and grace, so it is in salvation. Consider the grace of God. To use the analogy: He wasn’t obligated to hire anyone. These people needed work. They needed money. They were day laborers. If the landowner doesn’t hire them, they have nothing. He hired whom He wanted and when He wanted. Some early in the day, some late in the day. He paid them exactly what He promised. And yet we can say, He paid them what He wanted. In the case of those who came later, he made the choice to pay them more than anyone could have expected. What does this illustrate? It illustrates the freedom of the landowner. It illustrates the freedom of God in His grace. Because salvation is all of grace, it is God’s right to bring people into His kingdom whenever He wants, and to treat them equally if He wants, regardless of what time of the day they are brought into His service.

Topics

• Hope
• Encouragement