The Gracious Landowner

Understanding how God operates by Grace

Matthew 20:1-16

Good Day vs. Bad Day

Do you evaluate each day on the basis of whether it was a “Good day” or “Bad day”? Are you often concerned with how you can make today any better, or how the day could get any worse? The problem with living this way is that it is SELF-MEASURING. It depends upon your daily performance and the variety of circumstances affecting your day. Your evaluation on whether it was a “Good” or “Bad” day is often measured by how well you did, how good you were, and how things went according to your expectations. Living in this manner is tedious, tiresome and uncertain as to how you stand before God. Living in this “Good day” vs. “Bad day” syndrome can feel as if you’re on a PERFORMANCE TREADMILL: as long as you’re doing “Good” – God is pleased; when you do “Bad” – God is displeased.

There is a better way! Instead of living each day measured by your own self-performance, you can live in the goodness of God’s grace. Living in God’s grace frees you from living by your own efforts to gain God’s approval. Living by grace requires understanding who God is and how God operates.

YOUR PERFORMANCE VS. GOD’S GRACE

God does not operate in the same way the sinful world expects. He operates on a different principle from the world. The world operates by performance; God operates by grace. You might often think you know what you’ve earned, without truly realizing what you deserve. There are two dangerous mentalities Christians must avoid:

“I DESERVE…”; “I HAVE EARNED...”

COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS

These attitudes have permeated our culture, invaded our churches and homes. It is the attitude that says “I deserve this because…”, or “I have earned this…now treat me with the respect I deserve;” “Don’t disrespect me!” These attitudes disrupt your family, friendships/ relationships, work ethic, etc. Believers are to have a different understanding and way of thinking which stems from how God operates through the gospel.

Jesus’ most common form of communicating these truths was through parables. As Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God, the Jews were in a position to welcome their Messiah in order for Him to establish His kingdom. But as Jesus explained the terms of God’s kingdom, the people rejected His claims and dismissed His kingdom. However, this was all a part of the greater plan of God to expand His kingdom to include not just the Jews, but people from all nations. This was a mystery (“revealing a truth not previously known”) to God’s people. Jesus utilized parables to explain the features of God’s kingdom to those who humbly received Him as Messiah. Simply put, a parable(parabole) is “a fictitious but true to life story, designed to teach some specific lesson in the spiritual realm, usually concerning the kingdom.”[1]The cipher to decoding a parable generally follows a few simple steps:

GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETING PARABLES[2]

1) Discover the problem – almost invariably found in the context, often at the heart of the preceding discussion

2) Seek the central truth – it is the primary lesson being taught

3) Relate details to the central truth – details may contribute to the central truth or to the realism of the story

4) Clarify and authenticate the central truth – clear, understandable and consistent with Scripture

5) Discover the intended appeal – designed to evoke a decision

THROUGH the parables, JESUS EXPLAINs HOW GOD’s kingdom operates by GRACE and how grace changes YOUR EVERYDAY LIVING.

I. SEEKING GOD’S KINGDOM

ESV MATTHEW 19:16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions… 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Each of Jesus’ parables contain a central truth that is only revealed to those whom God makes it known (Matt.13:10-13). The key to unlocking this central truth is found in the context of the circumstances during Jesus’ ministry. This parable is no exception as to the reason why Jesus told it and the central truth He wanted to make known about how God’s kingdom operates. The parable actually begins and ends with a sort of proverb that sounds more like a riddle to someone not understanding. “But many who are first will be last, and the last first (Matt.19:30)… So the last will be first, and the first last.” (20:16) The straightforward interpretation of this proverb in its context means that everyone receives equally the gift of eternal life as it relates to entering God’s kingdom.

Jesus’ motivation for telling this parable comes after His encounter with a certain young, rich man who wanted to know if he had done enough to earn his way to heaven. However, when Jesus asked him to give up that which was most precious to him – his wealth – he couldn’t do it. Jesus’ point was to demonstrate that keeping rules (even the Law) is not able to save you, but merely convicts you of sin. Entering God’s kingdom is not on the basis of your performance, but your willingness to give up everything in EXCHANGE for God’s gracious offer of salvation. This young man was not willing to exchange his wealth (comfort) for Jesus’ righteousness.

MATTHEW 19:23 And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven... 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" 26But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Jewish thinking held that being rich was a sign of God’s blessing because of personal righteousness. The poor, sick or diseased were possibly being punished or cursed by God because of unrighteousness or past family sin. Most of Christ’s ministry was to the latter group, because they had the greatest need and were in a position to recognize it. Since the healthy and rich need less help, they often don’t recognize their spiritual need. YOU ARE NEVER GOOD ENOUGH TO DESERVE SALVATION; NEITHER ARE YOU SO BAD TO BE DISQUALIFIED FROM SALVATION.

MATTHEW 19:27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you… 29 everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

            Peter asked the question that was on the disciple’s minds. If the rich young man couldn’t be saved because he was unwilling to leave everything behind, what was the beneficial reward for these disciples who did leave everything to follow Jesus? Peter is asking out loud, “Will it be worth it in the end to follow you, Jesus?” This is a question every believer in Jesus Christ must wrestle with at some point. The call to follow Jesus is a call to willingly sacrifice and devote yourself to trusting, loving, and obeying God with the entirety of your life! There are times when your faith is tested and may prompt you to ask, “Is this worth it? Is the cost of following Christ worth the reward?” During these moments your faith is revealed, along with your knowledge of the gospel and living the Christian life. The answer to these questions is in knowing how God does business in His kingdom.

II. ENTERING GOD’S KINGDOM

MATTHEW 20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard…”

GOD OPERATES BY GRACE, NOT Your PERFORMANCE

This parable is a picture of how God graciously supplies according to needs, not based on personal performance. Responding to Peter’s reaction from the Jewish thinking that if a rich man (who must be blessed by God) has kept the Law but cannot earn eternal life, what will be his reward for leaving all to follow Christ. “Is this worth it?” They had given up all that was comfortable to them and wanted to know if the reward would match the price of their sacrifice. Jesus reassures that they will be graciously rewarded for sacrificially following Christ. Those who have given up everything now, in a sense, may be considered “last” in society but will one day be given “first” priority in eternity. On the contrary, those who are wealthy and “first” in society will one day find out they have lost everything, ending up “last.” Christ then gives this parable of how God operates and rewards those in His kingdom.

The details of the parable are basic enough to grasp:

· Master of the house = God

· vineyard = God’s kingdom

· hired laborers = believers entering God’s kingdom

· wages, denarius = eternal life, salvation

The setting of the parable was familiar to those listening as they would have identified with the hired laborers (day-labor workers), known various types of landowners, and understood the economics of pay-rate and payment for a single day’s work. As Jesus unfolded His story, it would have been both surprising and concerning to those listening because of the actions of the landowner. Those identifying with the day-laborers knew their need for work would have been desperate, since the pay was typically meagre. The offer of a denarius (equivalent to a Roman soldier’s daily pay-rate) for hired work was generous from this landowner. Any ready laborer would have been pleased to work for this type of pay.

Not only was the landowner generous, he was persistent and compassionate as well. By continuing to return every few hours, he might have hired more than he actually had need for. The motivation for the landowner’s frequent hiring and pay scale become evident as the parable concludes. The character of the landowner is magnified as those listening began to see that he was not hiring and paying based on his need, but his tactics were meant to meet the needs of thosewho were in a desperate position. By paying all the hired laborers the same pay-rate, he abundantly met their daily need both unexpectedly and graciously.

The reactions of the first and last groups hired also reveal the type of heart attitudes someone might have towards God when comparing themselves to others. Jesus’ purpose was to highlight the gracious and generous nature of God’s salvation to all believers, while at the same time warning against attitudes of resentment, jealousy and discontentment with God’s way of doing business in His kingdom. There are two perspectives when looking at this parable:

1) THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE FIRST HOUR LABORERS. They worked a full day and were paid according to their original agreement, a full day’s wages. However, they were bitter in heart because those who had worked less were rewarded an equal amount of pay. They had the mentality that they should be rewarded according to what they earned. Even though they had agreed to work for a day’s wages – which was their need – they went away resentful.

“It is a problem for any who think that, because they have served God faithfully for how many years, they deserve something from Him. We never deserve God’s favor. If we think we do, we are in danger of losing them entirely.”[3]

2) THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LAST HOUR LABORERS. These men waited all day and finally received work the final hour of the day, not expecting to receive much pay. However, they were rewarded not according to what they had earned, but according to their need. These men needed a full day’s pay to provide for their family. They certainly did not earn it, but graciously received it. They knew they deserved little, receiving more than expected causing them to go away rejoicing and content.

III. LIVING IN GOD’S KINGDOM

MATTHEW 20:13 “But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16So the last will be first, and the first last.”

GOD OWES YOU NOTHING, but gives us everything in Christ

Jesus highlights God’s generous nature in how the landowner rightly explained to the first workers that it was his money to do with as he pleased. He probably did not need all those workers, but hired them anyways paying according to their needs and not on the basis of their performance. The first hour laborers “extra” work did not make the landowner more indebted to them. They were rewarded justly and sufficiently. In the same way, God will not be placed under obligation to do anything for anyone because of what they “did” for Him.

“What Jesus’ story says is that we have to get over thinking of our service in terms of debt or obligation, and instead learn to serve in the spirit of the son who serves because he loves the father, rather than in the spirit of the hireling who serves only for his wages.”[4]

GOD MEETS YOUR NEED BASED ON His GRACE, NOT YOUR PERFORMANCE

God is not only just and fair in how He deals with us, but He knows your needs exactly. He is not reluctant or stingy with His goodness, as He will supply your needs abundantly. There is no room to be envious or jealous of how God graciously meets the needs of others. Avoid the comparison trap believing you deserve more from God for what you’ve accomplished. You cannot earn enough to deserve God’s blessings; instead, God graciously comes to meet your needs according to His will. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil.4:19)

“Heaven is not a reward for long service or hard work. Some people serve Christ their entire lives, and some for a very short time. We all enter into the same eternal life. We all will receive the same spiritual blessings in heaven.”[5]

GOD’S GRACE IS YOUR MOTIVATION TO LOVE AND obey HIM

When you understand the holiness of God, your sinfulness, God’s justice for your sin, and experience His saving grace through Jesus Christ, then you will serve with distinct motives. Since your salvation was never dependent upon your performance (works), your motivation to serve is not from any debt you owe God but with affection and devotion to your gracious Master. Repayment is impossible, and God will never “owe” anyone for their service. But according to His mercy and grace He abundantly rewards your faithful service to Him. Your motivation to serve is for the future grace (rewards) from God, with a heart attitude of humility and eager service to Him.

LUKE 17:7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? 8 Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

[1] Stanley A. Ellisen, Parables in the Eye of the Storm, p.43

[2] Ellisen, pp.53-60

[3] Boice, James M., The Parables of Jesus, p.61

[4] ibid., p.63

[5] MacArthur, John, Parables, p.68