Matthew 20:1-16 – Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Jesus assured the disciples that they would be richly rewarded for all they had left behind for following Him. In Matthew 19:28-30 He told them that many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. He continued telling them what that meant in the parable of the workers in the vineyard. This parable illustrates the principle that God’s manner of rewarding isn’t like man’s practice of giving rewards.
He said the kingdom of God is like a landowner who went out to hire workers. He hired five groups of workers at different times throughout the day. They all agreed to a day’s wage. He paid the last group the same amount that he paid the group hired early in the morning, but they grumbled even though they received what they had agreed to and had not been cheated. The landowner insisted he had the right to show generosity to whomever he wished. “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” – Matt. 20:16.
Notice the landowner went looking for workers. The landowner is God. God initiates salvation. He is the one who does the seeking and the saving. Our salvation is entirely His work. It is His alone to show mercy to whomever He chooses and He continues to call workers into His kingdom.
People come to God in different stages of their life. Some come at the beginning of their life, some in their youth, some in adulthood, some in old age, and some at the very end of their life. No matter when they decide to follow Jesus, He rewards and blesses all. God rewards and blesses us according to His will and pleasure, not according to what we deserve. The point is God rewards on the principle of grace and we shouldn’t be surprised. He will never be less than fair and He always operates righteously.
Heaven is not a reward to be earned by labor. It is a gracious gift, given in full to all believers equally. “…God does not show favoritism...” – Acts 10:34. God keeps His promises and always gives us more than we deserve. He is gracious and we should always celebrate His grace.
Principles:
Matthew 20:17-19 – Jesus Again Predicts His Death
Jesus knew he would suffer and die. As He and the disciples were on their way to Jerusalem He warned the disciples for a 3rd time about his death when they reached Jerusalem. He gave more details about what would happen. He knew He would suffer severe mental and physical pain, but He also knew He would become alive again. He told them He would be condemned to death by the Jewish religious leaders and would be handed over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified. He added that He would be raised to life on the 3rd day.
Principle: Jesus knew He would suffer severe mental and physical pain, but went willingly.
Matthew 20:20-28 – To Serve or To Be Served
The mother of James and John asked Jesus if her sons could sit at Jesus’ left and right in His kingdom. Jesus answered that they didn’t know what they’re asking. He asked if they could drink His cup, meaning the suffering that He was going to experience. They answered quickly that they could, but Jesus knew they really didn’t understand. Jesus agreed that they will drink His cup – enduring their own trials and persecution. James would be the first martyr to die among the apostles. John would be the last apostle to die although he didn’t die through martyrdom. Jesus answered that the Father is the one who will grant such position in the kingdom.
The other disciples were furious that James and John wanted to elevate themselves about the rest. Jesus explained that greatness in His kingdom isn’t about power and ruling over others, but about being great serving others. Jesus demonstrated this in a very personal way when He washed the disciple’s feet during the Last Supper in John 13:12-18.
Christians are to be servants of Jesus. You don’t have to be a Mother Teresa. You don’t have to go to a foreign country to serve. God is sending you where you are. What can you do? Write encouraging notes to others, give a tip to your waitress whether they do a good job or not. God put you where He wants you to serve. “… what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” – Deut. 10:12.
There are plenty of opportunities to serve. Just think about others and not yourself. “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matt. 20:28. Do what you can where you are. He has a purpose for you.
Principle: True leadership is found in serving others.
Matthew 20:29-34 – Blind Men Receive Sight
As Jesus and the disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, they passed two blind beggars. The beggars called out to Jesus and asked Him to have mercy on them. They called Him the Son of David. Jesus asked them what they wanted. Jesus probably noticed they were blind, but He wanted them say what they needed. God knows what we need, but He wants us to pray to Him and show that we trust and rely on Him. Jesus healed their blindness and they followed Him. These blind men didn’t know it, but this was their last chance to meet Christ. We never know when a call to follow Jesus in faith will be the last one of our lives.
These men needed help and they knew it. They needed mercy from Jesus and they knew that He had mercy for them. Many in the crowd might have expected Jesus to say He didn’t have time for them, but He heard their cry for mercy. He had time for their request and showed them mercy, which led to transformation in their lives, both physically and spiritually. As a result of their transformation, they followed Him. Jesus has mercy for you, He has time for you, and He has transformation for you.
How can Jesus help you?
Principle: Jesus is a life changer, not only for your life on earth but your life for all eternity.
Matthew 21:1-11 – Jesus Enters Jerusalem
We call this triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem Palm Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection. As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, He told two of his disciples to go ahead and that they would find a donkey and her colt tied there. They were to tell the owner that they needed them for the Lord. This was a prophecy found in Zech. 9:9. The disciples did as they were told and brought the donkey and colt to Jesus.
Jesus knew the religious leaders were going to arrest Him and turn Him over to the Romans for crucifixion. Yet He had courage to enter Jerusalem in a public way. Jesus sat on the colt and entered the city. The crowd spread their cloaks and branches on the road. They shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” – Matt. 21:9.
A donkey was a symbol of humility and a king bringing peace. Jesus used this image to point to His Kingdom of Peace. He was a servant of the people. The spreading of their clothes on the road was a sign that the Messiah was here. They sang “Hosanna” which means praise. The people thought Jesus was the Messiah that would save them from the Roman rulers.
Matthew 21:12-17 – Jesus Cleanses House
Every spring thousands of worshippers poured into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and the temple became a noisy market where people were trying to pay the temple tax. Many foreign visitors had different currency that would not be accepted so they had to exchange their money for acceptable money. Many were charging too much for the exchange. They also had to give perfect animals and birds for the priest to offer to God. It was so noisy that nobody could pray. The priests encouraged cheating of the people as they traded.
Jesus entered the temple and became angry as He saw this and drove out all those who were buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers of those selling doves that were to be used as sacrifices. He scolded them saying, “It is written my house will be called a house of prayer, but you making it a den of robbers.” – Matt. 21:13.
Making a profit is not wrong, but exploitation and preventing true worship is. It’s ok to have bake sales in a church, just not in the place of worship, distracting from the purpose of the church or making it a requirement to enter.
Is Jesus pleased with what He finds in your church?
Principle: Our churches are meant to be a houses of prayer and worship.
God cleans house today. That happens when people who are not really true followers of Christ don’t stick around in a church that proclaims the whole truth of God word. “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For is they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” – 1 John 2:19.
The blind and lame came to Jesus at the temple and He healed them. In that day the blind and lame were rejected by society, even by the Jewish leaders. The leaders didn’t like that Jesus healed in the temple. They didn’t like the people shouting “Hosanna” in the temple, but it seemed to be ok for all the other noise. The hypocrisy of the leaders was evident. Greed and theft in the temple didn’t bother them, but praise to Jesus did. Jesus quoted Psalm 8:2 showing that God wanted His children to praise Him. Then Jesus left and went to Bethany to spend the night with friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
Who in your community is being rejected?
This passage is about expectations and disappointments. The people expected a king who would redeem them from their oppression. They didn’t see the real oppression, the one of sin. They didn’t see the Scriptures that foretold the real King Jesus who would redeem. They felt betrayed and called for His crucifixion a few days later then they didn’t get their way.
Join me here next week as we continue our study of Matthew -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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