Keys to the Kingdom?/The Problem with Possessions (Matt 20:1-16)

Alt Title: Parable of the workers paid equally

KJV may say “the householder and the husbandmen”

Other Vineyard related parables

Two sons in the vineyard

The Vineyard owner’s son

Jesus’ Statements about riches

Intro:

Background

Who: Jesus is speaking to the disciples

What: Large crowds followed, Pharisees debate Jesus on divorce (19), Rich Young Ruler wants to have eternal life (19), “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last” (19), Jesus turns to further explain to the disciples this concept about the kingdom

When: final teaching episodes before triumphal entry

Where: Region beyond the Jordan in Judea, leaving galilean ministry, heading south to Jerusalem, next stop Jericho

Why: Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom (Matt 4:13, 23). Jesus is teaching his disciples, uses parables for practical illustration and disguised meaning from nonbelievers

How: Jesus parable takes accessible illustrations and crafts them into teaching tools using cultural expectations and commonly seen and experienced things around them

Jesus came to inaugurate the kingdom

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””

Matthew 4:23 “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.”

Jesus’s galilean ministry, Jesus teaches about RIches, Jesus teaches his disciples about riches

Body

Text

Vineyard Owner speaks to the first workers second workers, third workers, and foreman

Purpose: Characteristics of the Kingdom - How honor / reward is given.

Conclusion

(1) Attitude of accumulation (getting it) (Acquisition)

(2) Pride of possession (once you’ve got) (Protection)

(3) Careful to keep (never wanting to lose it) (Risk Management)

1 Tim 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith

Matt 19:23-24 “And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.””