Parable Of The Vineyard Series

That’s Not Fair!

Matthew 20:1-16

Chenoa Baptist Church

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

10-09-2022

That’s not Fair

If you have children, or ever worked with children, you have heard the following three words again and again - it’s not fair!

It’s not fair that my sister gets to stay up later than me! It’s not fair that you bought my brother a car! It’s not fair that they get to go to the dance and I don’t!

It seems, from a very early age, we develop a “fairness meter” in our brains that is constantly on the lookout for unfairness in our world.

But it isn’t just children that say these words. As adults, we may think of them just as often as little ones but the situations become much more difficult and tragic to understand.

I recently asked on FaceBook for examples of things that aren’t fair. Here’s some of the things people wrote:

It’s not fair when a mother and child are killed by a drunk driver.

Not being able to conceive when you see people celebrating aborting babies.

Childhood cancer

Losing a spouse

Favoritism

Hypocrisy

When people who have no love for God thrive and become rich and powerful

Several people said, “When bad things happen to good people.” I’m reminded of how R.C. Sproul responded to this. He said, “That’s only happened once. And He volunteered.”

As my children were growing up and would whine, “That’s not fair,” I would always respond. “Life’s not fair and I’m not Santa Claus!” To which Josh answered, at about eight years old, “My theory is that you are!”

The Fan

I’ve shared this story before, but before we get into our parable today, I need to remind you of some definitions.

When one of my sons was about 6 years old, he became fascinated with the fan. It was a stand up fan and he would put a pencil in the blades to hear the sound it made.

He was told multiple times not to do that until he actually broke the fan.

When I drove into the driveway, he met me at the car and said, “I didn’t mean it daddy. It was an accident. Please don’t pank me.”

Maxine had already let me in what had happened and I decided to use this to teach a lesson.

I asked him if he deserved to be punished. He said yes. I told him that he wasn’t going to get what he deserved. Getting what you deserve is justice.

Not getting what you deserve is mercy. I showed mercy on him that night.

But then I took it a step further. I took him to Dairy Queen and got him an ice cream cone. That was grace. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

Parables

We continue our study of Jesus’s parables. The word parable means to place something alongside something else. It’s a contrast and comparison. They are earthly stories with heavenly points.

Over a third of all of Jesus’s teaching was done in parables. They are designed to be subversive, they make us think deeply and try to figure out what He’s trying to get out.

In order to understand the parable of the vineyard, we need to remember to take the text in context.

Turn with me to Matthew 19.

Prayer.

The Text within Context

In Matthew 19, Jesus encounters what we have come to call “the rich young ruler.” He was a wealthy young man who asked Jesus “what good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Matt 19:16)

He was seeking. He was curious.

Jesus told him to keep the commandments and this young man assures Jesus that he has.

He then looked at him and said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matt 19:21)

The young man considered Jesus’s proposal and then turned and walked away because he had great wealth.

Jesus wasn’t teaching that having wealth was bad. The young man didn’t own his stuff. His stuff owned him. His wealth was idolatry and Jesus uncovered it.

Jesus then said to His disciples:

“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matt 19:23-24)

The disciples, confused and astonished, asked, “Who then can be saved?” (Matt 19:25)

Jesus responded:

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26)

This prompted a question from Peter, who was never shy about asking questions:

“Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Matt 19:27)