Sermon Tone Analysis

Matthew 20

The following material is adopted from John MacArthur’s commentary on Matthew and his Study guide.

Additional material taken from sources listed at the end

Look for

— Prayers ( Blue )

— Promises ( Green )

— Warnings ( Red )

— Commands ( Purple )

Read and summarize

Q: Why do you think some people think that God is unfair ( 19:30-20:16 )?

Equality in the Kingdom ( 19:30-20:16 )

— The prophet Ezekiel ministered to the children of Israel during the Babylonian captivity

— He repeatedly had to remind them and warn them about their sins, one of those sins was that of accusing God of being unfair and unjust ( Ezek 18:2-4 )

— Twice in Ezekiel 18 the Lord says, “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’

Hear now, O house of Israel!

Is My way not right?

Is it not your ways that are not right?”

( Ezek 18:25; cf.

v29 )

— When men doubt the justice and fairness of God, it is always because of their own perverted views of justice and of Him

— In no area is God’s impartiality more significant and wonderful than in regard to salvation

— No matter what men’s circumstances might be when they come to Christ, and no matter how well or poorly they may serve Him after coming, they receive the same glorious salvation

— Notice that this chapter opens with the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, which is a continuation, begun in the last chapter, of Jesus' remarks on rewards

Q: The landowner agreed to pay the first group of workers a denarius.

What did he offer to pay the second, and subsequent group of workers ( 19:30-20:7 )?

The Participants in Kingdom Equality ( 19:30-20:7 )

( 19:30-20:7 ) But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’

So they went.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’

He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’

— In this parable, God is the landowner, and the believers are the workers

— The landowner agreed to pay the first group of men a denarius, the wage of a Roman soldier

— Hired men in the first hour ( 6:00 am), third hour ( 9:00 am), the sixth hour ( noon ) and the ninth hour ( 3:00 pm )

— Then at the very end of the day the landowner went back and hired more men about the eleventh hour ( 5:00 pm )

— The last group only worked one hour

— The radical point of the proverb is that those hired about the eleventh hour … each… received a denarius, a whole day’s wages, as their pay

Going Deeper

— There should be no chapter break here

— This parable only appears in Matthew’s gospel

— The very use of “for” in verse 1 shows that this parable is meant to be an explanation of the preceding verse, But many that are first shall be last, and the last first

—What Jesus says is that what happens God unfolds his judgment may be compared in the following story-illustration

— Here, those who came last are paid first; those who came first must wait and see what happens to those who arrived late

Q: Why did those who were hired first expect to be paid more ( 20:9-12 )?

The Objection to Kingdom Equality ( 20:9-12 )

( 20:9-12 ) And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.

10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.

11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’

— It does not mention it in the parable, but those hired in the third, sixth and ninth hours were also paid a denarius

— It is understandable that those who worked all day expected to be paid more; at the rate that the eleventh hour group was paid they would have received 12 days pay for one day’s work

The Vindication of Kingdom Equality ( 20:13-16 )

( 20:13-16 ) But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong.

Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14 Take what is yours and go your way.

I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?

Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.

For many are called, but few chosen.”

— Jesus further clarified the membership rules of the kingdom of heaven entries is by God's grace alone

— This parable speaks especially to those who feel superior because of heritage or favored position, to those who feel superior because they have spent so much time with Christ, and the new believers as assurance of God's grace

— This parable is not about rewards but about salvation

— It is a strong teaching about grace, God's generosity

— We should begrudge those who turn to God the last moments of life, because, in reality, no one deserves eternal life

— Many people we don't expect to see in the kingdom will be there.

— The criminal who repented as he was dying ( Luke 23:40 – 43 ) will be there along with people who have believed and served God for many years

— Those who come to Christ and follow Him all receive the same gift of salvation

— We should be thankful that the landowner (the Lord) goes out early and then again and again to find those who will come to His kingdom

— Do you resent God's gracious acceptance of the despised, the outcast, and the sinners who have turned him for forgiveness?

— Are you ever jealous of what God has given to another person?

— Instead, focus on God's gracious benefits to you, and be thankful for what he what you have

Called

— many are called, but few are chosen

— The efficacious saving call of salvation, not the general call

Going Deeper

— Here the Lord is not teaching about the differences of rewards but the equality of salvation

— All believers will receive “the crown of life” ( James 1:12; Rev 2:10 )

Ten Principles from the Parable

( 1 ) God sovereignly initiates and accomplishes salvation.

The landowner went out looking for workers, and it was he who asked them to work in his vineyard.

Every person who believes is first sought by the Father ( John 6:39 )

( 2 ) God establishes the terms of salvation.

The measure of God’s gift of salvation is not man’s merit but His own grace

( 3 ) God continues to call men into His kingdom.

He keeps going back to the marketplace.

“My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working,” Jesus said ( John 5:17 )

( 4 ) God redeems everyone who is willing.

“The ones who comes to me I will certainly not cast out,” Jesus said ( John 6:37, 39 )

( 5 ) God is compassionate to those who have no resources and acknowledge their hopelessness.

When the men in the last group told the landowner they were standing idle because no one would hire them, he hired them.

( 6 ) All who come to the vineyard worked.

They may have come at the last hour, but they worked.

Even the penitent thief who died on the cross still testifies today to the saving grace of God

( 7 ) God has the divine authority and ability to keep His promises.

At the end of the day there was no shortage of funds to pay each man.

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was sufficient to pay for the sins of the whole world

( 8 ) God always gives what He promises.

All were paid more than they were worth.