At times, in the Bible it appears that one parable does not link to another. Then there are times when one passage flows into another like water. Today is one of those days. Yesterday, Michelle wrote about Peter’s line of questioning at the end of Matthew chapter 19. He asked Jesus a very human question about what the disciples would get in return for serving Him.
You’ll remember from yesterday’s passage that Jesus’ reply was , one of abundance...those who leave things behind to serve Him will receive thrones, and a hundredfold return, and will inherit eternal life.
Imagine hearing that message and then listening to Jesus say something seemingly contradictory.
As we know, never did a contradiction emanate from our Savior’s mouth.
So what’s going on in today’s passage where He seems to reset the compensation and reward equation? Let’s rightly divide the Word of Truth.
Matthew 20:1-19
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ What was the agreed upon amount for the first grouping of workers for the day, and what was the agreed upon amount for the rest of the workers that started later?
+ With the disciples in earshot, Jesus -- who had just promised thrones and massive returns, and eternal life in Chapter 19 -- seems to reset expectations here. Do you think this would knock the disciples off of their preconceived expectations for reward in exchange for serving Him? Why? And why would Jesus want to do that?
+ What do you think this parable symbolizes? How might it relate to God’s Heavenly Kingdom?
+ Why do you think Jesus told the disciples about his impending death and resurrection shortly after this parable? What do you think this did to their hearts?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is your expectation for serving Jesus? Is it something besides pursuing intimacy with Him? In Psalm 27, David says “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” How much does this resonate with you at this stage in your life?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?