Sermons on Matthew 20:16:

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

Fair?

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Sep 24, 2023

What consider fair depends on the person.

Fair? – Matthew 20: 1 - 16 Intro: The story is told of a young Jewish man who applied for a job at the First International Bank of Israel. The bank asked for a letter of recommendation. The young man asked his rabbi to supply the requested letter. The Rabbi wrote, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Beyond The Numbers: Understanding God's Economy

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Oct 17, 2023

Jesus’s parables and Old Testament stories reveal astonishing truths. They show that God’s economy isn’t about math, but the true expression of value.

Beyond the Numbers: Understanding God's Economy Introduction: - We live in a world that is obsessed with numbers. We measure everything by numbers: our income, our expenses, our achievements, our popularity, our success, and our happiness. We think that more is better, and that bigger is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:3-7, Matthew 20:1-16, Mark 12:41-44, 1 Kings 17:8-16, 2 Kings 4:1-7, Isaiah 55:8-9, Colossians 1:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Working In God’s Vineyard: A Parable For Our Time

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Oct 25, 2023

Matthew 20:1-16 teaches God's generosity, faith and obedience, letting go of grudges and envy, and working together in God's kingdom. How can we apply this parable to our lives today?

Introduction: Good morning, brothers and sisters. Today, I would like to share with you a message from the Word of God based on the parable of the workers in the vineyard found in Matthew 20:1-16. This parable is one of the most challenging and controversial stories that Jesus told, and it has a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Matthew 7:11, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 John 4:8, Hebrews 11:6, John 14:15, 1 John 5:3, Ephesians 4:31-32, Colossians 3:12-14, James 3:16-18, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 4:11-16, Philippians 2:1-4, Matthew 20:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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 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

Septuagesima (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 12, 2025

Sermons upon the Bible readings of the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 9:10-20, Genesis 1:1-5, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Matthew 20:1-16. A). THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS OF THE LORD. Psalm 9:10-20. This Psalm opens as a song of praise and rejoicing in the LORD (Psalm 9:1-2). The Psalmist is particularly thankful for the LORD’s support in the face of wicked enemies ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 9:10-20, Genesis 1:1-5, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Reality Check On Grace

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Feb 15, 2025

This morning we look at Jesus Parable of the workers in the vineyard, a parable discussing the basics of Grace and the Gospel.

A Reality Check on Grace Good Morning. We are looking at the parable in our Gospel Lesson today, with a focus on GRACE, especially from the angle of already being a Christian, and looking back at how we were saved. The context of the parable, the end of Matthew 19, is Peter asking about how great ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Anglican

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 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

Workers In The Vineyard PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Dec 14, 2023

This sermon explores the radical grace of God's kingdom, where all are treated equally and the last are first, challenging our human notions of fairness.

Good morning, beloved family in Christ. As we gather here today, we are united in our shared love for our Savior, and our common desire to understand His word more deeply. We are not here by accident, but by divine appointment. We are not here to merely pass the time, but to seek wisdom and truth ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Topics: Heart