The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16

Hear the Word

Read Matthew 20:1-16

The Facts–"Just the Facts, Ma'am."

•	When did the landowner go out?

◦	Early in the morning. Let's say 6 a.m. (Put in chart.)

•	For what purpose did he go out?

◦	To hire laborers for his vineyard.

•	What agreement did he enter into with them?

◦	A denarius for the day. (Put in chart.)

•	When did the landowner go out next?

◦	About the third hour.

-	What time would that be if the day started at 6 a.m.?

▪	9 a.m. (Put in chart.)

•	And what agreement did he make with those he found in the marketplace?

◦	Whatever is right I will give you for working in my vineyard. (Put in chart.)

Interpretation–"What Does It Mean?"

•	Now, isn't it interesting that they agreed to work for "whatever is right." I would probably want a more solid agreement; wouldn't you? What is significant about the fact that they went? Hint–what kind of relationship must they have had with the landowner to go?

◦	They must have known the landowner and trusted his word.

The Facts–"Just the Facts, Ma'am."

•	When did the landowner go next?

◦	The sixth and the ninth hour.

-	What times would these be according to our chart?

▪	12 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Put in chart.)

•	What was the agreed upon wage?

◦	The same as the previous workers. (Put in chart.)

•	When did he go out again?

◦	The eleventh hour.

-	Which would be what time?

▪	5 p.m. (Put in chart.)

•	What was the agreed upon wage?

◦	The text doesn't say. (Put ? in chart.)

Time	Agreed Wage	Hours Worked	Actual Wage
6:00 a.m.	1 denarius	12 hours	1 denarius
9:00 a.m.	Whatever is right	9 hours	1 denarius
12:00 p.m.	Whatever is right	6 hours	1 denarius
3:00 p.m.	Whatever is right	3 hours	1 denarius
5:00 p.m.	?	1 hour	1 denarius

•	Why had this last group been standing idle all day?

◦	They said, "Because no one hired us."

•	How long had they been standing and waiting for work?

◦	All day

Interpretation–"What Does It Mean?"

•	What does that tell you about their willingness to work?

◦	They must have been willing to work or they would not have been waiting all day.

The Facts–"Just the Facts, Ma'am"

•	How many hours did each of these groups work by the end of the day?

◦	(Fill in 3rd column of chart.)

•	When evening came, who did the owner choose to pay first?

◦	The last group.

•	And what wage did this last group receive?

◦	1 denarius. (Put in chart.) (That was a full day's wage. Can you imagine what they must have felt and thought? Imagine it: "I've only worked an hour; I don't really deserve a full day's wage, do I? Wow! This landowner is either crazy, generous, or there's been a mistake.")

•	Who else was still there watching?

◦	All the rest.

•	How would you have felt observing this if you had been a 12-hour worker? (Can leave question hanging or take answers.) When those hired first came, what thoughts started going through their heads?

◦	They thought that they would receive more.

•	But when they received their pay what did they get?

◦	1 denarius, the same as the eleventh hour workers. (Fill in rest of chart.)

Interpretation–"What Does It Mean?"

•	Did you notice the relationship between the amount of work done and the pay received? What was it?

◦	No relationship!

•	How normal is this?

◦	Not very normal–it does not seem like good financial policy to pay for more than the work done.

The Facts–"Just the Facts, Ma'am"

•	What was the reaction of the 12-hour workers?

◦	When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying "These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day."

•	What did the landowner reminded them of?

◦	"Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?" (In other words–they have no legitimate cause to grumble.)

•	What does he tell them to do with their pay?

◦	"Take what is yours and go."

•	(Groups) Now comes a key verse. Those who worked twelve hours failed to recognize something very significant, something many of us are also missing. Take a minute to talk with your neighbors, and then tell me what they failed to comprehend about the landowner. (This is something in addition to the agreement which we have just seen.)

◦	They failed to recognize the landowner's generosity, and that he had every right to do what he wanted with his money. They watched him give a great gift to these people, and what did they do?

-	Grumble.

Interpretation–"What Does It Mean?"

•	Instead of taking this experience as an opportunity to learn something about the character of the landowner, how did they see it?

◦	As a put-down. They were offended--offended at the landowner for being generous, for loving people who were in need. (That is like getting mad at the local soup kitchen for feeding the hungry or at the Make a Wish Foundation for taking someone to Disneyland.)

•	(Groups) Why is Jesus telling this parable? Who needed to hear it? Who in the context is in danger of having the attitude of the 12-hour workers?

◦	The disciples

-	Peter said, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" (Mt. 19:27)

-	In the following context the ten are indignant with James and John over their mother's request for more for her two sons. (Mt. 20:20-24)

Let's Illustrate!

Imagine that attitude today: "But Lord, I've been a Seventh-day Adventist

all my life. I went to a Christian school. I went to Bible class and church and Sabbath school. I read my Bible and prayed. Isn't there something in it for me? Don't I get more?"

Interpretation–"What Does It Mean?"

•	What more did the workers in the vineyard expect?

◦	More than 1 denarius.

•	(Groups) But what does that really mean? For that, we have to understand what the denarius is. What does God give generously to those who are willing to work for Him, irrespective of the amount of work they do? Please give me Scripture when you answer. Look at the surrounding context.

◦	Eternal life–this was the big issue for the rich man which sparked Peter's question as well as the parable. (Mt. 19:16 and Mt. 19:29)

•	(Groups) What are we asking for, then, if we want more? Please keep in mind what our eternal life cost God. Support your answer from the context.

◦	In the following context Jesus tells His disciples about His upcoming crucifixion. Jesus is talking about giving His own life, and His own disciples are asking for more. Eternal life cost Jesus' own life–what more is there? (God emptied all of heaven to buy us back. Generously, He offers us the perfect life and death of Jesus in our place, and we want more. When God looks at you, He doesn't see your weak will, your polluted thoughts, and your corrupt actions. Instead, He sees the perfect life of Jesus in place of yours. Can you be any more perfect than that? What more could you want?)

•	(Groups) What must those who want more believe about God's labor system?

◦	They must believe that God is keeping track of how much work they do in order to give a greater reward to those who have worked more. They actually think their own work can help God save them! ("Lord," they say, "I really appreciate all you have done to save me, but here's what I've done. Don't I get any credit?" No, you don't, because our salvation is not dependent upon human effort! Everyone in the parable got the same pay regardless of how much they worked.)

•	What does our salvation depend upon?

◦	First, God's generosity –He has already given all He had to get us, and there is nothing more we need.

◦	And second, my willingness to work in the vineyard.

NOTE–One might argue that some work was necessary because the denarius was only given to those who had worked. This is legitimate, but remember that the principle here is that there is NO RELATIONSHIP between the amount of work done and the pay received. Technically, one could keep dividing the amount of work down into minuscule fractions of time, and the reward would be the same. Eternal life is based on two things–God's generosity and man's willingness to work–not the work itself.

NOTE–One might argue that a smart person would enter at the very last minute, just before the end of the day or before death. There are some problems with this type of thinking: #1--We don't know when death will come to each of us. #2–Technically, there is a reward for working longer in the vineyard. The reward is not more salvation or more credit; it is the joy of working for such a lavishly generous master. Who would want to wait? (See Mt. 19:29)

Application–"Make it Personal!"

Where are you today? Have you been working hard, trying to earn enough credit to feel that you deserve eternal life? Would you be willing to give up your	work as a means to salvation? (Don't wait for answers now. Follow up with illustration.)

Let's Illustrate!

The following is a humorous and somewhat far-fetched joke. But it

illustrates the previous point:

Frank died. The next thing he knew, he was at the pearly gates. Peter stood at the gates, guarding the entrance. He explained to Frank, "We operate on a point system here. You need one hundred points to get in."

"How do I get points on your point system?" Frank queried.

Peter replied, "Tell me about your life–how did you live?"

Frank answered, "Well, I went to church every week for thirty years. I was faithful to my wife. I sent my children to Christian schools. I served as a deacon in the church and paid my tithe faithfully."

Peter replied, "Great! That is worth two points."

"Two points!" Frank shouted.

"Well, go on. What else did you do?" asked Peter.

"I taught a Sabbath School class, and I worked at the soup kitchen on Tuesday nights."

"That is worth half of a point," said Peter.

"Two- and-a-half points!" exclaimed Frank. "I can see that the only way I'll ever get in will be by the grace of God!"

"Now you're getting it," Peter grinned. "Come on in!"

Application–"Make it Personal!"

How willing are you to give up your two-and-a-half points today? Are you willing to enter into His vineyard and receive His generous gift? Who would like to make a statement about your willingness to enter into God's vineyard and/or to praise Him for His generosity toward you? (Encourage personal faith statements.)

Let's Sing!

Sing–"Oh, How He Loves You and Me" followed with hymn #321

"My Jesus, I Love Thee," verses 1 and 2.