Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

Intro

Group Intro

- What we do

Scripture

Hear God speak, not self help or opinions

Scripture transforms us

It is the foundation for the other two

Prayer

Us speaking back to God

Acknowledging the truth of scripture

Community

The context that scripture and prayer are effective

Not just socializing - ministering the gospel to each other

- Goal

Jesus tells His disciples that Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old

We are not here for a simple uplifting thought or even a message to deal with your individual problems.

God is calling us to more, to be trained and equipped for the kingdom

So that like a well prepared host, we can bring out the riches of God’s word to those God puts in our life.

Series Intro

We will be focusing on parables that introduce the Kingdom of God

How do you become a part of it

Once you become part of the Kingdom, what does it look like to be a servant

Last study we looked at the parable of the unforgiving servant

How did the men treat their wordly goods differently?

The kingdom is easily missed and can come in different ways

What was the trade off? Was it worth it?

Jesus has introduced the Kingdom and the way one becomes part of it

How many times are we supposed to forgive?

Allowing the seed to grow - Hearing and doing the word

Wedding Banquet - it is by a free invitation, not based on your worthiness but the worthiness of another

Why should we choose mercy over justice?

Treasure - you are called to count up the cost and give everything up for it

What does true forgiveness look like?

Now Jesus begins exploring what does life in the kingdom mean - In light of the gospel, how do I live?

How does this lay the groundwork for Christian community?

Introductory questions

Have you ever found out what a coworker made? What emotions did you feel? What did you say about it?

Have there been people in your life you have “canceled?” Were you right to do so?

What does the word “Duty” mean to you? Where do you have duties today?

You may have heard the story of the man who was shot in his apartment when an off duty police officer accidently walked in the wrong apt. At the sentencing hearing, that man’s brother gave a testimony: “I want the best for you.. and the best would be to give your life to Christ… I love you as a person, and I dont wish anything bad on you.” and then he asks to give her a hug. What would make a person respond like that?

Read

Context & Story

This is not long after the unforgiving servant parable, so we are continuing along with Jesus on the subject of what our place is in the Kingdom

A rich man had come and asked what he must do to get into heaven

Jesus says he must obey the law, which he claims to have done

In that case he must go sell everything he has and give the money to the poor

He leaves and Jesus states it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom

So trusty ole Peter pipes up again

“Hey look, we have given up everything. So what will we have?”

Jesus for once doesnt rebuke, but tells them they will judge Israel as the new 12

Also everyone who has left something will receive much more

But many who are first will be last, and the last first

Story

A master is hiring people to work for the day

Goes out early in the morning - 6AM

Agrees with the laborers to work for a denarius (the standard wage for a day of work)

Realizes he needs more workers so goes back out 3 hours later - 9AM

Agrees to pay them whatever is right

Goes back out at noon, 3PM, and 5PM

Settles up payments

Pays those worked the shortest first - They had worked an hour, but got paid a whole denarius

So what would you expect if you had been working for 12 hours?

But they end up getting paid the same - 1 denarius

Grumble and response

They had borne the hardest work and the hottest part of the day. Why did they get the same amount?

The master does not lash out or ignoring, but addresses them kindly

I did you no wrong - this is what we agreed to

Challenges their presumption - Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?

Challenges their sinful heart - Or do you begrudge my generosity

The last will be first and the first last

Meaning

Not a commentary on fair wages (although scripture has plenty on that), but a theological insight to God and his actions

Characters in the story

There are many workers, but still not quite enough

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 9:37). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

God uses people to build his kingdom, not miracles or angels, but us

We are seeing that life in the kingdom is a life of service (which is hard work!)

Yet the main character is not the laborers, but the master of the house

He is in control of the situation from beginning to end - Kistemaker

God is the one planning the work, recruiting workers, providing for their needs

He got up before dark and is working after dark to make sure the work gets done

We will talk about it a bit more in a second, but God is the one who is getting the kingdom built, the laborers are secondary

The source of the grumbling - two things Jesus addresses

The source of the grumbling

The workers assumed it a problem of rights, but it was actually a heart issue

They presumed - they treated the money like it was already owed to them

It was their right - Even though they had been ok with the wage at the beginning of the day

Even though they had been ok with the wage at the beginning of the day

Once they saw the abundant payment to the later workers, they assumed that the master owed them the same treatment

Once they saw the abundant payment to the later workers, they assumed that the master owed them the same treatment

They got greedy -

This is how greed works, we start rewriting the rules in a way that benefits us the most. We start changing our standards of what satisfies us.

Have you ever seen someone get into a argument with a manager or waiter where they were clearly in the wrong? Why could they be so blind? It is because they choose to see things in a light of what they can get out of it

The problem - they treated the Master’s possessions as their own. This is challenged when the masters says Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?

How can we be greedy in the Kingdom? How do we tell God how he has to choose to use His gifts?

Second they begrudge the master’s kindness

They saw the kindness shown to others, and were bitter when they didnt also get the same special treatment - This is envy

Envy takes gifts destined to others, and grumbles how they deserve it more

And this generosity is needed because those other laborers live paycheck to paycheck. If they had been paid for a partial day’s labor, then the family would have gone hungry.

The reality, the master does not have to justify or defend his generosity, it is his right

The reality, the master does not have to justify or defend his generosity, it is his right

How are we envious in the Kingdom?

What is at the core of with both of these sinful emotions? It is the place we see ourselves in the kingdom

Our place in the kingdom - Farmer & Servant

This word servant is actually a bondservant.

Closer to slave than an employee (although different from American slavery, but that’s a different story)

They would not have been paid, just expected to do this duty

The apostles often use this title in their letters

This bondservant does his duty, he knows his place

The servant is not doing a favor, but a duty. There is no obligation of thanks

The master can call the servant to many duties. He is the master

Jesus is calling us to remember whom we serve - God is the God of the universe not our butler

Jesus is calling us to remember whom we serve - God is the God of the universe not our butler

We are not just called to be saved, but serve a master and be faithful to our duties and callings

The right attitude

The right attitude - gratefulness and meekness, not arrogance, greed, or envy

gratefulness and meekness

In the kingdom, grace replaces wages

Paul contrasts works based righteousness to the gift of faith - Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due -

We have seen our place in the kingdom is by faith, it is not by trusting in our work, but the works of another.

If we do not earn our place in heaven, how would we then earn rewards in heaven as a wage?

God is not doing this salvation project because he needs it, or because he needs us

All we have is a gift, our salvation, sanctification, and even our ministry labor is a gift from the king

God is not interested in making a profit - Kistemaker

Think about how ineffective it is to use broken sinful people like us to build the kingdom.

God isnt doing it this way because its more efficient. He does it as a grace to us

It isnt easier for me to fix the car with Thomas’ help. I have to constantly supervise, manage, and go back and refix things. But it is a grace to give him the joy of participating in that work

So is there any reward for our service?

Yes - the parable of the talents

The servants invest the talents, one has one that makes ten more. He is told well done good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.

Does this contradict the parable we have been studying?

No the first was dealing with the heart - the arrogance, greed, and envy in the servants. Their lack of trust in the master, their selfishness, their overly high opinion of themselves

This second one is about humble servants obeying the master without an expectation of a salary.

Look at this way - Was the reward a wage or a gift? The ten cities is much larger than the sum of money they earned. It was a lavish gift of a gracious master to faithful humble servants

Application

Right attitude

In that context likely applied to the Jewish audience who might have expected a privileged position in the kingdom based on their long history as being God’s people

It targets many of the same people who are older brothers in the prodigal son

What are some current day scenarios?

Someone who has labored as a christian their whole lives vs a new christian

Someone who endured the Hot sun of persecution

What are the right attitudes we should have?

We should rejoice over the grace shown to others, not become envious

Recognize that some are called to differing services

Some early, some late

Some are called to long service or hard persecution

Our service is not to earn a reward, but a response to the grace of God

Rather than nervously look out for number one (because we doubt anyone else will do it), we trust that God will provide all that we need

Conclusion - Source of hope

So this seems daunting, unfair, or at the very least lonely

Is God just a cold distant master working us to death on minimum wage?

The servants are prepared and working waiting for the return of the master

What happens when the master comes home? He will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table. And the master will come and serve them!

Is this a contradiction to the parable we just read? No!

The first one dealt with our attitude and position in the kingdom (The first will be last)

The second assumes we have the correct humility, and shows the result of that meek God-centered attitude (the last will be first)

See your God - who came as a servant

He washed the feet of the apostles

We are called to be servants not of a distant emperor, but of a humble servant savior

See this God, and merely imitate what has already been done for us

Parable of the talents

Parable of the talents