Sermon Called, Commissioned And Compensated By God's Grace

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.