Sermons on Matthew 20:16:

The Scandal Of Grace Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Dec 4, 2024

This message is going to challenge you to appreciate the generosity of God’s grace. The grace of God is a radical and scandalous gift that levels the spiritual playing field.

THE SCANDAL OF GRACE November 24, 2024 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship Matthew 20:1-16 Today we're going to take a look at a parable that I rarely hear a sermon preached about. It's not one of the most popular parables because it strikes at the heart of our sense of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Brethren

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

The Upside-Down Kingdom Of Christ

Contributed by Antonio Manaytay on Aug 29, 2025

This sermon delves into teaching of Jesus Christ: The first will be last, and the last will be first.

Introduction: The Race to Be First Church, have you ever noticed how obsessed the world is with being first? Think of school days: the first honor, the valedictorian, the one with the medal around their neck. Parents clap the loudest when their child is first. Even at children’s parties, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:16

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

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

The Gardener In The Garden

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Mar 29, 2023

(This drama/sermon involved the speaker dressing up as a gardener and sharing the story of the Risen Lord in an unusual way – looking back at a story from a family that originally served as the gardeners in the cemetery/garden where Jesus was buried.)

Scripture: Matthew 20:11-18 Title: The New Gardener (This drama/sermon involved the speaker dressing up as a gardener and sharing the Risen Story in a dramatic way – looking back at a story from a family that originally served as the gardeners in the cemetery/garden where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:11-18

Denomination: Nazarene

God Isn’t Fair

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 2, 2023

God isn’t fair. God is lavish. Everything is a gift, including our lives, whether short or long.

Do you remember the Palm Sunday five years ago when twin suicide bombings took place in Egypt? One was at St. George’s Church in the Nile delta, and the other was at Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, the seat of the Coptic papacy. It’s one of the oldest Christian communities in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

Let Me Tell You A Story Of Perplexing Generosity

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Sep 20, 2023

Does God's generosity make you angry? How do we live in God's kingdom in comparison with what other people are doing and we are doing?

9.24.23 Matthew 20:1–16 (EHV) 1 “Indeed the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing to pay the workers a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 He also went out about the third hour and saw ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

A Story Of Perplexing Generosity

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Sep 20, 2023

How do we respond to God's generosity? How do we live in comparison with others? What does Grace have to do with it?

9.24.23 Matthew 20:1–16 (EHV) 1 “Indeed the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing to pay the workers a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 He also went out about the third hour and saw ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran