Sermons on the rented vineyard:

Now Matter How You Slice It...it's Still Grace

Contributed by Carl Willis on Sep 20, 2005

The parable of the landownder and the laborers

Matthew 20:1 (NLT) "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. Help Wanted • God is looking for people – To receive His grace – To work in His service – To testify of His greatness Matthew 20:2 (NLT) He agreed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Never Too Late To Trust In Jesus

Contributed by Greg Johnson on May 30, 2007

The devil wants you to think that your troubles have progressed to the point where nothing good can come out, but God wants you to know that it is not too late to trust in Jesus. Don’t let any doubt destroy your faith. Trust fully in Jesus and turn from

It’s Never Too Late to Trust in Jesus By Greg Johnson May 30, 2007 I have had the privilege of personally leading three men to Jesus just weeks prior to their deaths. One was in Matewan, West Virginia, one in Charleston, West Virginia, and the other in Cynthiana, Kentucky. These were genuine ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Work In The Kingdom Of Heaven Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Oct 11, 2007

The 6th in a series of messages unique to Matthew, this being the third message taken from a series of 9 parables about the kingdom.

Matthew’s Unique Message #6 Your Work in The Kingdom of Heaven Matthew 20:1-16; 21:28-32; 25:1-13 CHCC: August 26, 2007 INTRODUCTION: We’ve been talking a lot about the Kingdom of Heaven this summer … mainly because we’re studying the Gospel of Matthew … and Matthew quotes Jesus using that ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Unfairness Of God

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jun 14, 2006

This is on the parable of the workers in the vineyard that were all paid the same.

I want to tell you a story… There is a small rural farming community not far from here. It is not a wealthy place. In fact, it’s a very poor place. There are a lot of immigrants—legal and illegal—there. Jobs are scarce. The only work most of these immigrants can get is backbreaking work in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Parable Of The Land Owner Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 16, 2011

1) The work (Matthew 21:33) 2) The Wickedness (Matthew 21:34–39) 3) The wrath (Matthew 21:40–41) 4)The witness (Matthew 21:42) and finally 5) The withdrawal (Matthew 21:43–46).

This week, a suicide attacker who appears to have concealed his explosives inside a turban killed a senior cleric and at least three other people on Thursday at a funeral service for the assassinated brother of the Afghan president in southern Kandahar city. The attack came just two days after a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Other

The Householder: Hero Or Jerk?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 7, 2014

God truly is different in His reality than the gods of pagan religion, and so we too are different from their followers.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Course 2014 What Kind of Vineyard Owner? When you first heard the parable from today’s Gospel, perhaps when you were a child, what did you think of the householder, the vineyard owner? Was he mean, or generous? I suppose the hired hands in the original story would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Catholic

Choices

Contributed by Christopher Easton on Oct 17, 2008

Sermon on the parable in Matthew 22: 1-14

Everyday we are asked to make choices. Am I going to wake up so I can get to work on time…Am I going to eat breakfast. Am I going to eat a breakfast that could put me in a coma it it is so full of sugar or am I going to eat well… I get cut off in traffic and spill my coffee all over myself…Am I ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

... And He Did Not Go

Contributed by Mike Fogerson on Dec 3, 2013

What does God command/expect from those He calls? I wonder how many Christians are working in the vineyard with a slave mentality? The time to serve the Lord is not when your older, have more time, or when you have more experience. The time is today!

“ . . . and he did not go” Matt. 21.28-32 Chester FBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker Introduction: A There is a trilogy of parables Jesus gives to the Chief Priests & Elders of the people (21.23) who had rejected John the Baptist and Jesus Himself. Matthew 21:23 (NASB) 23 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Baptist

Listen To The Words Of Isaiah's Vineyard Song

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Oct 2, 2005

Isaiah preaches the law to the Israelites who had abused God’s gifts to them in the vineyard.

October 2, 2005 Isaiah 5:1-7 I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7

Denomination: Lutheran

The Vineyard Worker’s Complaint

Contributed by John Gaston on Feb 11, 2016

Workers hired at different times of day. Represent? 1. Time they were saved? 2. Amount of 'heat' they took? 3. Proportion of Loss? 4. Amount of Work they did? We complain God isn't being fair. God responds that He knows what's best!

THE VINEYARD WORKER’S COMPLAINT Mt. 20:1-16 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: The salesman 1. Morris applied for a job at MEN’S WEARHOUSE. During his interview, Ben, the personnel manager asked him, "Where did you last work?" 2. "Joseph A Bank," replied Morris, proudly. "And how long did you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

"my Vineyard Is Not For Sale."

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Hulse on Jul 23, 2022

“This message came to my heart concerning the complacency in the Church and how many people allow even the slightest problems to obscure their view of Heaven. Instead, we must see our issues through God's eyes and appreciate our walk with Him."

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES (1 Kings 21:2) "Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1, Colossians 1:27, John 2:1-11, Luke 19:13, Joel 2:13, Psalm 19:14, Matthew 4:8-10, 1 Kings 21:1-15, 1 Kings 21:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Manages His Vineyard Well

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 18, 2025

Jesus reworks the old parable of the vineyard to fit the new barbarism. He directs the moral at the human vineyard managers, the religious and secular men who treat the Law and Temple as their personal fiefdom.

Friday of the Second Week of Lent 2025 St. Matthew’s Gospel is moving toward its climax, which is called Holy Week. Frequently we see Jesus crossing swords verbally with his adversaries. Jesus was an out-of-towner, considered a religious zealot and “hick” by the secular and religious authorities ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:22, Genesis 37:3-4, Genesis 37:12-13, Genesis 37:17-28, Psalm 105:16-21, Matthew 21:33-43, Matthew 21:45-46, Matthew 21:44, John 11:49-51  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

The Battle For The Vineyard (Matthew 21:33-40)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 6, 2007

Like so much of life, the parables of Jesus are often stories of violence. Here the violence is between a landlord and his tenants. ...

“We were told that this [operation] was against armed people and against people climbing on our armed vehicles. Our APCs (armed personnel carriers) were cruising 24 hours a day close to buildings (in Jenin), waiting for kids to climb on them, trying to dislodge the top -mounted MG (machine gun) and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-40

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

A Communion Meditation: What God Wants

Contributed by Monty Newton on Oct 6, 2008

God wants us to welcome his Son, serve him faithfully, and return to him the fruit of our lives and labor.

Title: What God Wants (A Communion Meditation) Text: Matthew 21:33-46 Thesis: God wants us to welcome his Son, serve him faithfully, and return to him the fruit of our lives and our labor. Introduction This story reminded me of my agrarian roots where it was customary for absentee landowners to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational