Is It SELFISH to Work for REWARDS?

What Did Jesus Say?

Many well-known Christian preachers and leaders have made this statement: “Don’t worry about rewards;, just love Jesus”. That sounds very religious.... but is it Biblical? Does Jesus Christ ever say anything like this? For example, note what Jesus said in Matt 19:27-30...

Some believe capitalism is evil because it is based on greed

In reality, capitalism has brought more people out of poverty than any other forms of economics

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many will be first-last, and last- first. (Matthew 19:27–30)

Notice that Jesus did not - in any way - rebuke His disciples for wanting REWARD but instead STRONGLY ENCOURAGED them to seek it.

He told them that - because of their faithfulness to Him - they ultimately would RULE IN HIS KINGDOM.

Furthermore, He told them that this would be true for EVERYONE who has left all and followed Him. That is, they would INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE.

This is not surprising…because Jesus many times had COMMANDED His disciples to SEEK REWARD in His kingdom. For example,

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19–21, NKJV)

32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:32–34, NKJV)

American have become the most Generous people in the world

What Does INHERIT Eternal Life Mean?

In the Bible, when ETERNAL LIFE is spoken of in the PRESENT TENSE it is described as a PRESENT POSSESSION (HAVE eternal life).

For example,

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NKJV)

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24, NKJV)

47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has eternal life. (John 6:47, NKJV)

That is, at the moment I believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life I immediately have it - (John 6:35-40).

When ETERNAL LIFE is spoken of in the FUTURE TENSE it is a REWARD.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29, NKJV)

25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25, NKJV)

8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:8, NKJV)

So INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE is referring to a REWARD in Jesus Christ’s future kingdom. [This distinction is also true for ENTERING the Kingdom of God and INHERITING the Kingdom of God. The former is PRESENT but the latter is FUTURE.]

INHERITING ETERNAL LIFE relates to LIVING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT as a believer. As we eventually will see, it also relates to a believer’s WORKS.

Then Jesus tells a parable to further illustrate His statement.

What Does it Mean to be “FIRST-LAST, LAST-FIRST”?

Jesus begins and ends His parable by...

“Many will be first-last and last-first” (Matt 19:30)

Matthew 19:30 NIV84

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

“So there will be last-first and first-last” (Matt 20:16)

Matthew 20:16 NIV84

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

[This is a careful rendering of the Greek text.] Jesus’ statements will turn out to be very crucial in our understanding of this parable.

The Hiring of the Workers

This takes place in the beginning of the parable. It reads...

“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.’ (Matthew 20:1–7, NKJV)

It is very important to see that

LANDOWNER = JESUS CHRIST

LABORERS = BELIEVERS

WAGES =REWARD for WORK in Christ’s kingdom

Laborer is derived from the Greek word εργον ergon = work. These men were earning something for their work. The words hire and wages are all derived from the Greek word μισθος = reward, wages.

In other words, this parable is not talking about getting eternal life [since that is based only on faith and not works] but about REWARD for WORK in Christ’s kingdom.

What Does the DENARIUS Represent?

A denarius was a Roman coin equivalent to a worker’s daily wage. That would represent about $150 in America today. We read in this parable that each worker - having finished his job - got a DENARIUS. But comparing....

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27–28, NKJV)

“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. (Matthew 20:1–2, NKJV)

Early in the morning suggests the Apostles mentioned here... Therefore...

DENARIUS = RULING IN THE KINGDOM WITH JESUS CHRIST

What does the DAY Represent?

Note..

8 “So when evening [6 P.M.] had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 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.’ 13 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 there will be last-first and first-last. For many are called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:8–16)

Because we know that the Apostles eventually died.. it is very natural to understand...

DAY = Period of Time from Pentecost to the Return of Christ

“Borne the burden and heat of the Day” = DIED

That is, “borne the burden and heat of the day” is just a figurative expression for DYING. There was just ONE GENERATION for which this did not occur. Thus..

Those hired at the 11th hour = THOSE TAKEN IN THE RAPTURE OF THE ASSEMBLY

Jesus had previously revealed the RAPTURE in Matt 16:28ff.

“Give them their wages” = THE JUDGMENT-SEAT OF CHRIST

The Judgment-Seat of Christ is where our WORKS will be evaluated (2 Cor 5:10).

What is the POINT of This Parable?

The POINT seems to be expressed in the last verse....

So there will be last-first and first-last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

That is, the FIRST and LAST workers will SHARE EQUALLY in the RULE OF CHRIST (DENARIUS).

Perhaps the Apostles and other believers might say at the Judgment-Seat of Christ “Why should these people who went up in the Rapture be made equal to us who actually DIED in our service for Christ?” But Jesus answers “I am only doing what is RIGHTEOUS and GOOD.”

Notice also how Jesus concludes this parable...

“For many are called but few are chosen”

CALLED = THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO RULE WITH CHRIST

CHOSEN = THOSE WHO WILL ACTUALLY RULE WITH CHRIST

Note that only those who worked to the end of the day recieved the privilege of RULING WITH CHRIST. This conforms with Jesus’ words in Revelation 2...

25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who is victorious, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations— 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ (Revelation 2:25–29)

Also...

14 For we have become partners of Christ if we hold the beginning of our endeavor steadfast to the end, (Hebrews 3:14)

12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. (2 Timothy 2:12a, NKJV)

37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37, NKJV)

As the Apostle Peter himself said...

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and being chosen sure; (2 Peter 1:10)