Sermon Called, Appointed and Compensated by Grace
Matthew 20:1-16 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage[a] and sent them out to work. 3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing. 6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ 7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’ 8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ 13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ 16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
Introduction: In 1980, God used the passage of Scripture to confirm my call in the ministry. The title of my initial sermon was “The Price is Right!’ I have no clue how shallow my understanding of this text really was. Yet God used it to call, appoint and has compensated me in this life and will reward me according to His grace.
Many Bible scholars see the parable of the Vineyard workers as referring to the Jews, who were the first people God identified in the world as His own, giving them the Law, sacrifices, ceremonial rituals and many other privileges. They were the first. The last refers to the Gentiles, who responded the Gospel by faith and were received into the church of God. They were the last! This seems to be directly intended by our Savior, who perfectly knew the pride and temperament of the Jews. They prided and valued themselves as the chosen people of God and considered the Gentile world as hopelessly lost and without hope. They refused to entertain the ideal that the Gentiles could ever be called the children of God. How could the Gentiles, unbelievers ever be made equally partakers of spiritual privileges with them. This is the scope of the parable showing us that the call, commissioning and compensation are all received by God's Grace. Every worker will receive just compensation.
The kingdom of heaven, that is, the sovereign dispensation of God in calling nations or persons to partake of spiritual benefits in his church, and consequent eternal blessedness, is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborer’s into his vineyard. The householder is God the Father, the vineyard is the church. The vineyard work is labor concerned with eternal salvation, both our own salvation, and the salvation of others we encounter. It includes many activities to enrich the lives of others and move them to spiritual maturity. The vineyard workers who answer the call, accept the appointment, and labor for the master’s purpose will be rewarded.
1. We Receive The Call By The grace of God. Matt 20:1-2 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage[a] and sent them out to work.”
The landowner came looking for us by his grace. The householder goes out searching for those walking in darkness, standing in idleness, and living without purpose. All that are called by the gospel are called by His grace. The householder offers a gracious promise of compensation to those who will work. The penny was a full day’s wages. The Jewish’s workday was considered to be 12 full hours. These first workers were excited to find gainful employment and the prospect of a full day’s wages. Then at 9:00 AM, the householder goes out looking for additional laborers. ¼ of the day has already past, yet by grace he offers fair compensation if they will go and work in his vineyard. What a great privilege to be called, gainfully employed and properly compensated for your labor. Released from standing idle in the marketplace, neglecting their gifts, wasting their abilities, being of no benefit to the world nor to the glory to God. Then to be called, appointed a place of service in a valuable vineyard, gathering valuable fruit for the benefit of the region and the profit of the householder is a great privilege. Spiritually, we are called and appointed to labor in ministry that save our soul and glorifies their God with the possibility of helping other find salvation and life. You received this call and privilege to serve by the grace of God.
2. We Receive the Appointment by the Grace of God. Matthew 20:3-7 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing. 6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ 7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
This householder goes out several more times, appointing some to the vineyard at 9:00AM, 12:00 Noon, 3:00 PM, and finally at 5:00PM. These appointments were not given because of individual status or reputation or even abilities, every appointment was by grace. Most probably did not feel qualified or worthy. There is no haggling about wages or working conditions, no applications to fill out. If you are willing to go and work, whatever is right I will give you. The calling of the Jews has been first. God very early on had sent the prophets in various times, who pleaded with them to obey His command and return to his service. Some responded, others refused to respond, but none could perfectly keep the law. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ who fulfilled the Law and paid the price for eternal Salvation so He could offer Salvation for all.
Joh 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Eph 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
God calls all men to himself by the gospel of Grace bringing all mankind into right relationship with Himself by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. When the Gentiles heard the call they willingly respond to the preaching the gospel. God is patient and calls again and again. Maybe the Gentiles had not come early because they were without the knowledge of God and the true way to life. Yet they responded without considering the time remaining to work or compensation to be given. They simply believe that the householder was gracious and just, and whatever is right they would receive. They were glad to enter life, find a purpose for living and a place to belong. They joyfully when to work. Have you ever heard the call? How did you respond? Have you found the way to life? A reason for living? A place to belong? Jesus is calling today. The Hymn Writer, Fannie Cosby, said,
Jesus is tenderly calling thee home, Calling today, calling today; Why from the sunshine of love wilt thou roam, Farther and farther away?
“Jesus is calling the weary to rest- Calling today, calling today; Bring Him thy burden and thou shalt be blest- He will not turn thee away. [Refrain]
Jesus is waiting; O come to Him now- Waiting today, waiting today; Come with thy sins, at His feet lowly bow- Come, and no longer delay. [Refrain]
Jesus is pleading; O list to His voice- Hear Him today, hear Him today; They who believe on His name shall rejoice- Quickly arise and away. [Refrain] Calling today, Calling today, Jesus is calling, Is tenderly calling today.
3. We Receive Compensation that Is Just. Matthew 20:13-16 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ 16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
The murmuring of some that they received no more than those that came later into the vineyard, is primarily and immediately referring to the attitude of the Jews towards the blessing received by the Gentiles. One can only imagine the disappointment of the householder to see this display of jealousy, envy, and critical spirit of his most senior employees. They failed to realize that both the early workers and the last workers were equal partakers of the grace of God. The householder offered two points for their consideration as they criticized his justice. First, That he agreed with them for a penny, which they received the correct amount. The Jews enjoyed those external privileges of God's covenant, which they so much valued themselves for, but they cut themselves off by failing to keep the law and then their stubborn rejection of God’s offer of grace. Secondly, every owner has the right to do what he pleases with what his owns. The Householder is the master of his own favor, and had done no wrong in regard to his agreement with them. Jesus concludes the parable by saying that “the last shall be first; the Gentiles shall be made partakers of the gospel and took advantage of all the blessed privileges attending it: and the first shall be last; the Jews who wasted their opportunity and fail to take advantage of God’s gift of grace will be last.
The Jews, like many stumbles over the message of grace. They understand the work of the law with its legalistic way of being right with God, but the message of grace is difficult. They presumed they can be made right by their own merit, doing good deeds, their family line, and their reputation, but that’s not the righteousness of God or true holiness. Many are zealous to establish their own righteousness, but they shall be last in God's account. Yet those who respond to the call and embrace the gospel of grace, who sincerely and diligently obey the Christian call, may not be valued by the world, yet they shall be preferred by God, the householder. For many be called, but few chosen. Though each worker started to work in the vineyard at a different hour, at the end of the day they all received the same pay. The workers who worked longer hours need not be upset that those who work fewer hours received the same pay they did.
The general idea of the parable is that everyone who comes to the vineyard and work will receive just compensation. When we began, the length of time we work, starting many different points in their lives will all be justly rewarded. Some people are lifelong disciples of Jesus, and some people convert only toward the end of their lives, in the kingdom of God, all will receive a just reward. By human standards, we perhaps might view this parable as unjust. Yet Jesus points out that the compensation for our work is fair and God is just. Whatever we receive is because of the generosity of God, he is the owner of the vineyard. It is all his call, his opportunity, his appointment, and his compensation to do with as he pleases. So we have not been treated unjustly, how could we reasonably complain that God is generous to others? The lesson of this parable is that God rewards us based upon the opportunities that He gives us. The later workers might have been willing to go to work earlier, but they were not given the opportunity by the employer. Had you been given a lot of money, you may have been willing to give a lot of money away to the poor. The parable also cautioned that we must take advantage of every God given opportunity, respond quickly, go to work immediately, and then work diligently. Keep your eyes on your assignment. Many arguments could be avoided, disappointing feelings put off and discouragements eliminated, if we keep eyes on our assignment and keep our hands on our plow.
We can be sure we will receive a just reward. I find consolation in this passage because in the life I have felt cheated, overlooked, and unappreciated. I have felt use and abused, but I work on know that serving the Lord will pay off after awhile. God will pay me what I deserve. His compensation is just. He will not consider my color, age or years of service. He will not consider my education or wealth. But His price is right and fair! Just to think after living life of purpose and fulfillment, enjoying the benefits along the way, payday is coming! And all will be well by His Grace! I have been called, appointed and will be compensated by His Grace. Amen
