Sermons on Mattityahu 20:13:

"it's Not Fair!" (Part Four)

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jun 10, 2019

The scenarios we've been looking at over the past few weeks seem unfair on the surface but when we examined them we realized that God was not being unfair. As we close out the series, we'll look at Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard.

"IT'S NOT FAIR!" (part four) We looked at Adam and Eve getting kicked out of the garden for one act of disobedience. We looked at the story of Job losing everything despite being upright and blameless. We saw how the prophet suffered death even though he was tricked by a lying ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Jonah 4:1-4, Luke 17:7-10, Deuteronomy 32:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Laborers In The Vineyard

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 21, 2021

This parable appears only in the Gospel of Matthew. The Lord Jesus would often take some unusual things and use those things to teach us a spiritual lesson.

In this parable, He used WORK and WAGES to teach us a spiritual lesson. Illus: When it comes to labor and management, I think about the man who applied for a job. It went something like this: • Manager: "I'm sorry I can't hire you, but there isn't enough work to keep you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

That Makes No Sense Series

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Sep 7, 2021

There will be times that what the Lord tells you will make no sense to you. But His ways are higher than your ways and His thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

That makes no sense Matthew 20:1-16 Introduction- Good Morning Everyone If you would turn to Matthew Chapter 20 we are going to look at the parable of the workers in the vineyard. We are still working our way in the series of “Navigating the Journey.” Everything we go through here on earth ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Nazarene

The Good Employer Series

Contributed by Kevin Brady on Sep 13, 2021

The owner of a vinyard pays all of his workers the same amount. How can this be fair? The motivations of the employer are explored within the cultural context of the first century.

The Good Employer (Matt. 20:1-16) Harvest time. The morning sun burned just below the hillside and backlit the ancient vines rising up from the even more ancient earth. The ground was parched and packed. Only the grapes held the promise of moisture, the pulp near bursting through their skins. A ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

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

Offended By Grace Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Oct 5, 2023

God's grace is for everyone and it can sometimes offend us instead of inspiring us.

Today we're going to dive into a cool story Jesus told about a boss and his workers. It's all about how God's grace can sometimes surprise us, and not always in the way we expect. So, picture this: A boss hires workers for his vineyard at different times of the day. Some start early in the morning, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Topics: Divine Mercy, Spiritual Gifts, Redemption, Faith

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

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

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

A Thankful Giving

Contributed by Bruce Lee on May 28, 2025

Today’s scripture reading is a parable about belonging and membership in the Kingdom of Heaven.

“A Thankful Giving” “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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