Is That Fair? The Generous Vineyard Owner

Matthew 20:1–19 NIV

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These 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.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one 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?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

Our Question (Fallen Condition Focus)

Our Question (Fallen Condition Focus)

Life Isn’t Fair

God Doesn’t Seem Fair

We want life to be fair and for everyone to get what they deserve so it bothers us when God doesn't seem to be fair. ()

Peter’s Question

{Context is }

Peter asked Jesus what reward the disciples would receive ()

{{Subject Question: Will God be fair and give Jesus' followers the reward that they deserve for their sacrificial discipleship?}}

Jesus promised that the disciples and all his followers would be rewarded at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is enthroned ()

The disciples would be rewarded with thrones and positions as judges ( cf. )

Followers who make sacrifices would be rewarded with a hundred times what they had given up and also with eternal life ()

houses/fields - new home (and possessions/inheritance/vocation?) in new world

brothers/sisters,etc - part of God’s family

eternal life

The Big Question

Jesus warned the disciples that many who are first will be last, and the last first. () {{Question: When God puts the first last and the last first, isn’t that unfair?}}

The Generous Vineyard Owner

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who hires workers throughout the day to work in his vineyard ()

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who hires workers throughout the day to work in his vineyard ()

The last workers hired were paid more than they deserved ()

The first workers hired grumbled because the master treaded them all equally and gave them the same reward () {{Fallen Condition Focus: We want life to be fair and for everyone to get what they deserve so it bothers us when God doesn't seem to be fair}}

The master responds to the complaints, declaring that he is both fair and generous, so the workers should not be envious () {{Vision of God: God, who is both fair and generous, graciously rewards both the "first" and the "last."}}

The master has been fair - he has rewarded the first workers according to the agreement. ()

The master has been generous - he has freely chosen to give the last workers the same reward. ()

The workers should not be envious because of the master’s generosity ()

Answering The Big Question

Jesus restated the point that the first will be last, and the last first. ()

{{Question: When God puts the first last and the last first, isn’t that unfair?}}

Answer: While God may seem unfair it is only because He treats believers equally and generously gives both the “first” and the “last” more than they deserve. Since God is both fair and generous, they should not be envious when God treats people equally and gives people more than they deserve. ()

Application

Disciples should recognize and appreciate God's fairness and generosity to us, whether we are "first" or "last"

Disciples should be less concerned with who deserves to get "more" or "less" rewards and more focused on God's fairness, goodness, and generosity.

This has applications to how we should treat other believers.

We should be grateful for our own salvation and promised rewards (a home, a place in the family, eternal life)

We must not grumble about believers with obviously sinful pasts (The vilest offender who truly believes That moment from Jesus a pardon receives)

We shouldn't act like we are more entitled (to rewards, respect, power, etc) because we have been believers longer or worked harder or been in the church longer.

On the other hand, we shouldn't act like we have less importance, rewards, or responsibilities because we are "new."

The Big Idea

When God puts the first last and the last first, He isn’t being unfair, He’s being generous.

Since God treats Jesus' followers equally and generously gives us all (both the "first" and the "last") greater rewards than we deserve, we should be grateful instead of grumbling.

Celebrate God's Generosity - Be Grateful instead of Grumbly.