The Extravagant Generosity Of God Series

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 do in Jewish society were always viewed as blessed of God and entitled to heaven BECAUSE of their wealth and Jesus had just thrown a hand grenade into the foxhole by saying that it was easier for a camel to go through the “eye of the needle” than it was for a rich man to enter heaven. {Jewish legend stated that there was a small gate in Jerusalem that a camel could get through only on its knees and with great effort}

“Well!! If it’s difficult for a rich man to get into heaven than who can be saved?” Thought the disciples.

Peter piped up and asked, “we have left everything to follow you, what will there be for us?” In other words, what do we get out of our devotion to you?

Jesus responded, “… when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you will also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left everything for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. "But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.” {Matthew 19:28-30}

Hey that sounds pretty good…. The compensation package sounds right and we get to sit on thrones and judge all Israel, Cool!! But, what does this first / last and last / first bit mean?

The disciples still did not understand that it was --- and is --- the unmerited grace of God and NOT wealth or position or works that open the doors of heaven. Knowing that He needed to correct this misunderstanding, Jesus told them a story:

The Parable {Matthew 20:1-16}:

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a Landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 When he and the workers agreed on the wage - a denarius for the day, he sent them out into the vineyard. 3 At the third hour He saw others standing idle in the market place and hired them as well. 5 He did this again at the sixth and the ninth hour. 6 At the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing around and asked them why they had been idle all day; 'Because no one hired us.' They responded. ‘Go and work in my Vineyard’ He told them.

At the end of the day the Owner of the vineyard asked the foreman to call all the workers in to collect their wage, beginning with the last group. Those hired at the end of the day received 1 denarius. When it was finally the first groups turn to get paid, they expected to be paid more, but were also paid 1 denarius. They began to complain to the Landowner, 'The men you hired at the end of the day only worked and hour yet you have paid them the same amount you paid us, who have been working through the heat of the day’. The Landowner replied, ‘Friends, I am not taking advantage of you. Didn’t we agree on your wage? Now take your pay and go home. It is my choice to pay the last group the same wage I paid you. It is not against the law to do with my money as I wish. Are you envious because of my generosity?’ ---- "Thus the last shall be first, and the first last."

The Lessons:

The Landowner:

The landowner went looking for people to hire – He went in search of them ---- Sound familiar?

• Genesis 3:9 - Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"

Throughout the story it was the Landowner who was proactively searching for workers and when he found them, HE invited them to join HIS team and work in HIS vineyard for a set wage. He didn’t just do this once --- he did it all day long.

At the end of the day each group received the promised wage. The Landowner made no distinction between the groups – they ALL received the SAME compensation

Salvation has been extended to EVERYONE and that includes those who first believed as well as those who believe at the last minute. The reward is the same – eternity with Jesus.

• Genesis 15:6 - Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

• Luke 23:42-43 - Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth today, you will be with me in paradise."