Parables of Jesus: Pt. 6 The vineyard workers and their reward.
Good morning....
I continue to encourage each one of you precious Readers to share God's truth from these lessons with other people that you know. The world is so full of uncertainty and calamity and many people are genuinely shaken up or overwhelmed by all that is going on. THeir hope is gone or fading.
The Word of God tells people where real hope can be found in Jesus Christ. We must share the Word with the lost because they have no hope at all unless they are introduced to the savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. Then they can experience the peace of God that passes understanding even when things are chaotic.
Parable of land owner and workers.
Matthew 20:1-16 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. 8 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. 10 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. 13 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? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Hiring people and setting the wages
This is the parable of the landowner seeking to hire workers. Jesus did not choose to interpret this parable but the meaning of it is easily discerned. First, the times are given as specified hours. The workday began at 6 AM to 6 PM. The day is broken up into 3 hour segments where the land owner went out to hire people. The only exception is the eleventh hour which would be 5 PM.
Matthew 20:1-3 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.
The workday begins with the owner going out at 6 AM to hire workers for his vineyard. The daily pay rate was a Roman denarius which is worth about $36.20 in today's dollars. That wage is what the first group of workers agreed to accept in exchange for their services.
The word translated "labourers" is the same word translated "workman" in 2 Timothy 2:15 regarding Bible study. It is a word that means to get right to work with energy and diligence. It also means to toil or work with your hands until your muscles are sore.
The owner of the vineyard went out to hire more workers at 8 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM and 5 PM. Each time that he hired additional workers he promised to pay them what was right rather than stipulating that they would receive a Roman denarius for their pay.
What did the workers do in the vineyard? This was the time of harvest so they would be picking ripened grapes. Some grapes would be sold as local produce but most would be run through a wine press and bottled for sale.
Some workers gathered grapes, some carried the baskets of grapes to the wine press, some ran the wine press or were those who tread on the grapes with their feet to extract the juice and some workers would bottle it.
Work is done and wages must be paid
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. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
The day of work is over and now the land owner directs his steward to pay all the workers from the last group hired unto the first. The last group hired at the eleventh hour received a penny, or a full days wage. The workers hired at 6 AM noticed that and thought that they would be paid even more than what they agreed to. However, all workers were paid at the same rate even though they did not all work the same amount of hours.
All received the same pay; some complained.
Matthew 20:11-12 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 the longest began to complain when they received the same pay as the ones who only worked 1 hour. They thought that was unfair because those workers were made equal with the ones who worked the longest.
Matthew 20:13-16 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? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
The land owner pointed out to the disgruntled workers that they received the exact pay that they had agreed to. Then he said that he would pay the last group the same as the first group. He had legal authority to dispense his money as he saw fit to do so and he chose to be generous.
This parable is a picture of the kingdom of heaven. The laborers represent those who are born again and serving Christ. The land owner is God and the picture is of future rewards being given out by Sovereign God.
John 4:35-38 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
After speaking with the woman at the well in Samaria Jesus told His disciples to look around them The fields are white unto harvest and workers were needed to gather in the harvest of souls that Christ was speaking of.
Jesus also mentioned wages for those who reap in the fields that is like gathering fruit for eternal life. He also reminded them that those who harvest are entering into the work of those who sowed the seed at the beginning of the growing season. Both kinds of workers have joy after the harvest is over.
Why did they all receive the same wages?
Because this is a picture of being born again into the family of God. People get saved at different ages and this compares with the workers being hired at different hours to work.
Some people are born again at a young age and serve the Lord for many years. I was not born again until I was 31 years of age. Some people are not born again until late in life like my Mom who gave her heart to Christ at age 87.
We all serve Christ different lengths of time and in different ways since our talents and gifts are all unique to us.
All believers do receive the same benefits of salvation.
I continue to encourage each one of you precious Readers to share God's truth from these lessons with other people that you know. The world is so full of uncertainty and calamity and many people are genuinely shaken up or overwhelmed by all that is going on. THeir hope is gone or fading.
The Word of God tells people where real hope can be found in Jesus Christ. We must share the Word with the lost because they have no hope at all unless they are introduced to the savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. Then they can experience the peace of God that passes understanding even when things are chaotic.
Parable of land owner and workers.
Matthew 20:1-16 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. 8 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. 10 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. 13 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? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Hiring people and setting the wages
This is the parable of the landowner seeking to hire workers. Jesus did not choose to interpret this parable but the meaning of it is easily discerned. First, the times are given as specified hours. The workday began at 6 AM to 6 PM. The day is broken up into 3 hour segments where the land owner went out to hire people. The only exception is the eleventh hour which would be 5 PM.
Matthew 20:1-3 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.
The workday begins with the owner going out at 6 AM to hire workers for his vineyard. The daily pay rate was a Roman denarius which is worth about $36.20 in today's dollars. That wage is what the first group of workers agreed to accept in exchange for their services.
The word translated "labourers" is the same word translated "workman" in 2 Timothy 2:15 regarding Bible study. It is a word that means to get right to work with energy and diligence. It also means to toil or work with your hands until your muscles are sore.
The owner of the vineyard went out to hire more workers at 8 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM and 5 PM. Each time that he hired additional workers he promised to pay them what was right rather than stipulating that they would receive a Roman denarius for their pay.
What did the workers do in the vineyard? This was the time of harvest so they would be picking ripened grapes. Some grapes would be sold as local produce but most would be run through a wine press and bottled for sale.
Some workers gathered grapes, some carried the baskets of grapes to the wine press, some ran the wine press or were those who tread on the grapes with their feet to extract the juice and some workers would bottle it.
Work is done and wages must be paid
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. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
The day of work is over and now the land owner directs his steward to pay all the workers from the last group hired unto the first. The last group hired at the eleventh hour received a penny, or a full days wage. The workers hired at 6 AM noticed that and thought that they would be paid even more than what they agreed to. However, all workers were paid at the same rate even though they did not all work the same amount of hours.
All received the same pay; some complained.
Matthew 20:11-12 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 the longest began to complain when they received the same pay as the ones who only worked 1 hour. They thought that was unfair because those workers were made equal with the ones who worked the longest.
Matthew 20:13-16 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? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
The land owner pointed out to the disgruntled workers that they received the exact pay that they had agreed to. Then he said that he would pay the last group the same as the first group. He had legal authority to dispense his money as he saw fit to do so and he chose to be generous.
This parable is a picture of the kingdom of heaven. The laborers represent those who are born again and serving Christ. The land owner is God and the picture is of future rewards being given out by Sovereign God.
John 4:35-38 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
After speaking with the woman at the well in Samaria Jesus told His disciples to look around them The fields are white unto harvest and workers were needed to gather in the harvest of souls that Christ was speaking of.
Jesus also mentioned wages for those who reap in the fields that is like gathering fruit for eternal life. He also reminded them that those who harvest are entering into the work of those who sowed the seed at the beginning of the growing season. Both kinds of workers have joy after the harvest is over.
Why did they all receive the same wages?
Because this is a picture of being born again into the family of God. People get saved at different ages and this compares with the workers being hired at different hours to work.
Some people are born again at a young age and serve the Lord for many years. I was not born again until I was 31 years of age. Some people are not born again until late in life like my Mom who gave her heart to Christ at age 87.
We all serve Christ different lengths of time and in different ways since our talents and gifts are all unique to us.
All believers do receive the same benefits of salvation.
- A new life in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
- A transfer from darkness into light. (Col 1:12-14)
- All the spiritual blessings needed for this life and for eternity. (Ephesians 1:1-12)
- The earnest and seal of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 1:22)
- Adoption into God's family (Romans 8:12-17)
- A home in heaven with Christ (John 14:1-4)
All believers do not receive the same recognition for their service for Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
At the judgment seat, Jesus Christ will judge our works or service for Him. Fire will try our works and what survives the fire will result in reward or recognition (Well done, thou good and faithful servant.)
When we are born again Paul tells us that we now have a brand new foundation to build our lives upon. We are to take care in how we build. Christ will recognize and reward our service that was done for Him with a rightly motivated heart. However, what we did that was in the energy of our flesh or was performed with wrong motivation will pass away.
Thoughts to Ponder...
This parable is a wonderful picture of the generosity of God in pouring out the benefits of salvation to all who turn to Jesus Christ in repentant faith. It is a wonderful picture of the grace of God in bestowing such blessings upon us.It is a wonderful picture of life because people are born again at many differing ages and some serve Christ a long time and some may serve Him only briefly.
This parable also reminds us that each born again Christian is given the same starting point, the same foundation. We make moral choices that either honor God or dishonor Him and each choice is adding something onto that foundation of Christ. The real question we need to think about is this. Is what I am doing something that matters for eternity or is it something worldly?
Bob
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