Sermon Central
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The Generous God Series
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: From the parable of the vineyard workers, understand the generosity of God’s grace and learn to extend grace and mercy to others.
In verses 11-12, we see that the attitudes of the workers head south.
20:11-12 “When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.”
Working in a vineyard was hard work. It involved standing out in the heat of the day for long hours. We can sympathize with these workers. We can understand their complaint. Their joy turned to anger as they realized that they received the same pay as those who had worked for only one hour. As such, they were determined not to leave until they received “satisfaction” from the landowner.
So what’s the problem? They were upset that the landowner had made the other workers equal to them.
The Owner Responds
Verses 13-15 give us the owner’s response.
20:13-15 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
This last sentence of the story is the CLIMAX and the key to interpreting the parable.
In fact, what was under criticism was the landowner’s GENEROSITY.
He told the FIRST GROUP - I gave you what I promised you. I did not cheat you or short-change you. Now - I am just being generous with the rest. But what is that to you?
Actually HOW the landowner pays the labourers, or WHAT he did with his own money was no business of anybody. If the landowner had wanted to give half of his wealth to one of the workers, he would not be unjust and we would admire him for his generosity.
Bro/Sis - #1 THE GENEROUS GOD HAS CHOSEN TO SHOWER HIS FAVOUR UPON YOU - APPRECIATE IT !
2 Cor 6:1 "As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain."
He has chosen to do this on His own accord - out of COMPASSION!
He was not obligated, He was not forced into it. Simply out of love, because He saw YOUR NEED.
The only issue is: DO YOU WANT IT? DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE IT?
Some don’t. That’s why Jesus has this line -
20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
We’ll appreciate this line better if we see what transpired before this story was told.
Before He tells this story, He said in Matt 19:30
“But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
Chapter 19 tells us of a rich young man who came to Jesus wanting to know about eternal life. Despite the fact that he religious and having keep the law, he “went away sad” when Jesus’ calls him to give up everything and follow Him. Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (19:23)
And then referring to His disciples, He said (Matt 19:28-29):
28Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
