Sermons on Matthew 20:13:

The First Shall Be Last

Contributed by John Dobbs on Mar 2, 2023

Frederick Bruner wrote, “Judgment will be a day of surprises.” Today we begin looking at four parables that relate to the day of judgment.

Introduction Frederick Bruner wrote, “Judgment will be a day of surprises.” Today we begin looking at four parables that relate to the day of judgment. Indeed, there are surprises in all of them. This is a simple story, but it also complex. This parable begins and ends with the saying of Jesus, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preparing For Easter: The Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 10, 2023

Jesus told this parable after the rich young ruler had come--and left. There was a lesson for the disciples and a lesson for us in this parable.

(Full Disclosures: This message is based on a message preached at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO, on 3-5-2023. This is not an exact transcription. Further, Sermon Central has a message based on this text called “Go Thy Way-The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard” but this is a completely ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon Called, Commissioned And Compensated By God's Grace

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Mar 14, 2023

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.

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 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8

Denomination: Methodist

Parable Of The Vineyard Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Oct 18, 2022

11th hour faith gets the same retirement plan as the ones saved for decades.

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 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

I’ve Got A Mansion…do You?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Oct 28, 2022

A little boy got on the elevator with his father at the Empire State Building. They were going to the observation deck at the top and view the city.

• As the elevator ascended the boy watched the signs flash as they went by the floors: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70. • The farther up they went, the more nervous the boy became. • Finally he looked up as his dad and said, “Daddy, does God know we're coming?” (Leighton Ford, "Hope for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Extravagant Generosity Of God Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Jun 6, 2021

Our Salvation is Based on One Thing..... The Extravagant Generosity of God

February 13, 2021 The Context: Our next story comes on the heels of Jesus’ conversation with the rich young ruler who went away sad because what Jesus asked him to do was too difficult…. “sell all your stuff, give to the poor, then come and follow me.” {Matthew 19:16-22} The rich and well to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Eternal Life - Come One, Come All

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Sep 22, 2017

We are Each and Every EQUAL in God's eyes.

Community Family Fellowship This week’s Readings September 24, 2017 I hope and pray that you continue to pray and extend a hand to every victim of these past Hurricanes that have left so many victims with great loss in their wake. Sunday Reading and Message Overview Matthew 20:1-16 This ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is No Way That Can Be Fair, Yet That Is God’s Way

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Nov 11, 2017

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard is a well know parable of grace, but it is also a parable of receiving. We must learn to receive.

This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 24th September 2017 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries). Jon 3.10-4.11 Ps 145.1-8 Phil 1.21-30 Matt 20.1-16 Psalm 19:14: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Isaiah 55:8-9

Denomination: Episcopal

The Kingdom Way – Grace Over Fairness. Matthew 20 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Aug 9, 2025

MATTHEW 20: GRACE, GREATNESS and THE GOD WHO SEES. GOD’s kingdom operates on grace, not human merit. GOD’s grace defies human fairness, greatness is measured by servanthood, and spiritual sight is found in recognizing JESUS.

2025.08.10. Sermon Notes. THE KINGDOM WAY – GRACE OVER FAIRNESS. Matthew 20. GRACE, GREATNESS and THE GOD WHO SEES. William Akehurst, HSWC SCRIPTURES: Matthew 20:1-34, Romans 9:15-16, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Peter 1:10-11, Revelation 22:17, Matthew 7:21-23, John 15:16, James 4:6, Ephesians 4:1 BIG ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-34, Romans 9:15-16, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Peter 1:10-11, Revelation 22:17, Matthew 7:21-23, John 15:16, James 4:6, Ephesians 4:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God’s Grace Is Not Just Fair

Contributed by Joel Bernardino on Oct 9, 2025

Have you ever asked yourself these questions, “Why does my neighbor seem to have a better life than I do? Why does life seem so unfair sometimes?” Yes, many things in life are hard to understand; that’s why we need to understand the grace of God.

GOD’S GRACE IS NOT JUST FAIR Pastor Joel Bernardino | October 9, 2025 INTRODUCTION Have you ever asked yourself these questions? • “Why does my neighbor seem to have a better life than I do?” • “I’m smarter and more resourceful, yet life seems easier for them.” • “Life seems so unfair ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

12 Keys To The Kingdom Of God System Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Feb 24, 2024

Examining the parables of Jesus to fit the puzzle pieces together of how the Kingdom of God system practically works.

How does the Kingdom of God system work? The Lord Jesus taught one main message while he walked the Earth: The Kingdom of God. He taught it through parables. So if we look at the parables, and try to fit them together, we can find the basic instructions for how to live in God's world system. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:21-25, Luke 11:5-13, Mark 7:14-23, Matthew 20:1-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Hand Of Grace

Contributed by David Zachrich on Aug 9, 2023

It isn’t a story about work and wages. It isn’t a story about justice or fairness. It is a story about life in the church when new saints are included with those who have been in faith for a life time. They, too, receive the vast blessings of God’s grace, forgiveness, and eternal life.

Jesus, when speaking about the wealthy owner, said to the disciples, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or, are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16 Friends in Christ, Let’s begin here: The pastor ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

17th Sunday After Pentecost. September 20th, 2026. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 28, 2023

Year A, Proper 20.

Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:37-45, Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11, Psalm 145:1-8, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 A). BREAD OF HEAVEN. Exodus 16:2-15. In this passage, we join the children of Israel just six weeks into their wilderness journey. The ten plagues, the first ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:37-45, Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11, Psalm 145:1-8, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"is God Fair?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 19, 2023

A sermon about the amazing grace of God.

“Is God Fair?” Matthew 20:1-16 Plenty of people work hard but never get what they feel they deserve. Plenty of people are incredibly decent human beings but always seem to get the short end of the stick. How many of us, as children, were cautioned with the self-evident truth that “life’s not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: United Methodist

Hooray! God Does Not Think Like Us!

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 20, 2023

He is, as Torah teaches, “slow to anger.” That’s very different from most of us.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Course 2023 All of Scripture is useful to those whose purpose in life is to attain union with the Blessed Trinity. But there are probably a hundred verses that stand out as critical in the most important pursuit of our existence on earth. Two of these, surely, come from ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-9, Philippians 1:20-27, Matthew 20:1-16, Luke 23:42

Denomination: Catholic