Sermons on Matthew 20:16:

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 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

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

God's Lavish Mercy

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Sep 21, 2023

Salvation through Jesus is for all people. God is fair and just in how He works to reach the lost.

GOD IS FAIR AND JUST! THAT IS HARD FOR MANY TO GRASP. WE LIVE WITHIN THE SYSTEM OF PUNATIVE LAW: YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE. YET, THE SYSTEM OF GRACE IS FOREIGN TO US: GOD DEALS WITH US ACCORDING TO WHO HE IS, NOT ACCORDING TO WHO WE ARE. GOD EXPLAINED HIS GRACE AND COMPASSION TO MOSES IN EXODUS ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 145:8, Isaiah 55:8-9, Luke 15:28-29, Luke 23:42-43, Matthew 9:13, 1 Timothy 2:3-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

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

When Effort Ends: Accessing Your 11th Hour Favor

Contributed by Rev Emmanuel O. Adejugbe on Dec 15, 2025

The "11th Hour" is the moment of maximum pressure, where the impossible seems completely locked in, and failure feels absolutely inevitable. It’s when our human effort and resources have finally run out

We are talking about 11th-Hour Miracles: those sudden, decisive breakthroughs in your business or career that defy the clock, human logic, and the odds. I.The Heavy Weight of the 11th Hour Friends, let's get real for a moment. Have you ever felt that sinking, anxious feeling? The business ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Acts 12:6-7, Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Who Is Keeping Score? Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 4, 2026

The fact of the matter is “Life is unfair” and we have to learn to accept that it is! We need to quit spending valuable energy trying to change something that will not change in this sin filled world. We must learn to expect it and be willing to push through unfair situations with God’s assistance.

Theme: Time Management Introduction to Theme: Benjamin Franklin said, “Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff that life is made of.” The world we live in knows the importance of Time Management but where they miss the mark is on what they prioritize - which usually is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Matthew 19:27, Romans 9:15-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Last Minute Miracle Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jan 18, 2025

The last minute miracle is one of the most powerful displays of God’s glory. It is a moment when all human effort has been exhausted, and there seems to be no solution. It is at this point that God steps in to perform a miracle that is nothing short of extraordinary.

Title: LAST MINUTE MIRACLE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: John 2:1-11 Supporting Texts: Exodus 14:21-22, Matthew 20:1-16, Mark 5:35-42 INTRODUCTION: The last minute miracle is one of the most powerful displays of God’s glory. It is a moment when all human effort has been exhausted, and there ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11, Exodus 14:21-22, Matthew 20:1-16, Mark 5:35-42

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

Offensive Grace

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 16, 2024

View this parable of Jesus from 3 difference perspectives, 3 different points of view (Preached this first in 1995; not original with me but trying to track it down would be difficult)

HoHum: Veteran’s Day is tomorrow- The fighting in WW1 stopped at 11 am on November 11, 1918, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Originally called Armistice Day it was changed to Veteran’s Day to honor all of those who have served in our armed forces. We honor and appreciate all of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Ephesians 5:16, Matthew 19:27-30, Matthew 9:37-38, Psalm 126:5-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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