Sermon Tone Analysis

TEXT: Matthew 20:1-8

TOPIC: Do Something!

Pastor Bobby Earls, Northgate Baptist Church, Florence, SC

Sunday morning, August 7, 2022

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.’

8“So when evening 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.’

The first thing we must recognize is the literary device our Lord chose in this passage is the parable.

A parable is a highly figurative illustration intended to teach a central truth or idea.

More simply, someone once said that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

This is a tremendous parable, commonly known as the Parable of the Laborers and it illustrates an important truth.

It is not the amount of time which you serve or the prominence or importance of your position which determines your reward.

Rather, you will be rewarded for your faithfulness to the task which God has given you to perform, regardless of how small or how insignificant it appears.

[1]

In this parable of the laborers, the landowner in verse 1 is Christ Himself, the Master of the vineyard,the field of labor (service to the world through His church).

The laborers or workers are the saved, the ones chosen by our Lord, i.e., members of the church.

Early in the morning, v. 1, The first workers were hired at dawn.

A denarius or a penny (v. 2) represents an acceptable day’s wage.

Others standing idle in the marketplace(v.3)

were not lazy but were in the usual place to seek employment.

From this unemployed group, the landowner hired additional workers at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.

In verse 4, the pay scale will be whatsoever is right, indicating Christ’s justice to His laborers.

In verse 6, the eleventh hour is 5 o’clock hour signifies the last hour of the day.

It is the eleventh hour for the church today!

33“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.

34“It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

35“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36“lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

37“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:33-37

Romans 13:11, (NLT) Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out.

Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Because of the lateness of the hour………

I. OUR LORD JESUS SEARCHES FOR WORKERS, Matthew 20:1-2

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.

Explanation: Any successful landowner knows that he cannot harvest his fields alone.

He needs help.

Application: While Christ could surely reach the world without our help, He has chosen instead to allow us a place in His service.

The Great Co-mission involves both our Lord and us together.

We are co-laborers with Christ.

Illustration: What’s your place of service in the vineyard of God’s kingdom?

For me, my calling began a long time ago.

It began as a Youth director and teacher for the older adult class in Training Union.

I was scared to death!

Where are you laboring or serving for the Lord?

II.

OUR LORD JESUS STILL SEARCHES FOR MORE WORKERS, Matthew 20:3-5

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.

Explanation: Our Lord continues to go out seeking those who would work in His fields.

The Harvest can never have too many laborers.

Application: Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into the harvest.

Matthew 9:38.

Sometimes you serve the Lord by being a Pray-er.

Others can be a Labor-er.

III.

OUR LORD JESUS SEARCHES FOR INDUSTRIOUS WORKERS, Matthew 20:6-7

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.’

Someone once said, “If you want something done, give to someone who is already busy doing something.”

Application: Oh, how we need to get busy doing something for the Lord here at Northgate.

Proverbs 19:15, Laziness casts one into a deep sleep and an idle person will suffer hunger.

The author of Hebrews tells us in 6:11-12, And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith(fulness) and patience (patient endurance) inherit the promises.

IV.

OUR LORD JESUS REWARDS HIS FAITHFUL WORKERS, Matthew 20:8

8“So when evening 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.’

Explanation: Our Lord rewards faithfulness.

Application: Remember what I said earlier?

It is not the amount of time which you serve or the prominence or importance of your position which determines your reward.

Rather, you will be rewarded for your faithfulness to the task which God has given you to perform, regardless of how small or how insignificant it appears.

What is the task God has given us here in this eleventh hour at Northgate?

That’s an important question and one we need to answer as a church, but first I want to tell you how we are to do whatever it is that we do.

Do Something, How?

1) 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Do Something for the Glory of God.

If will help you to serve and serve with motivation when you remember why you are doing it, for God’s glory!

2) Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Do Something with Gratitude to God.

Be thankful or grateful you can serve.

Many can no longer serve.

3) Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.

Do Something with Gusto for God.

(Gusto-passion, enthusiasm, zeal)

Do Something, What?

Obviously, this passage talks about our work, service and ministry we do for the Lord.

1) Serve the Lord through Prayer.

2) Serve the Lord through the Sunday School – thank God for providing us the leadership we need in Sunday School.

(Appreciate Adam and Danny for stepping up to teach our Youth SS Class)

3) Music Ministry – choir (Our church sign says, “Singers Needed, Inchoir Inside!)

And so wonderful to have Svetlana playing her harp and our organ now on Sunday!

4) Stewardship – Generous Giving to support your church and ministry here

5) Still need volunteers to help in children’s ministries and general clean up and improvements in and around the church.

(See me for times and assignments!)

[1]J.

Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.