The truth is that the master gave them exactly what they had contracted to receive. Probably everyone feels that a person ought to be compensated fairly for his or her work. In the first 13 verses of chapter 20 of the Book of Matthew, Jesus is telling the parable about workers being paid equally. This ranch is owned and operated by a mutual friend and is designed as a guest-ranch for wealthy and affluent people. Website 2023 by Ray Stedman Ministries. And then we must rest on him, count on him to see us through, to supply that enabling power which makes us able to love and forgive and rejoice and give thanks, even when everything is going wrong. Or is your eye evil because I am good? So the last will be first, and the first last. The same is true for God. Fruitfulness shows that we are in partnership with GOD. So every vinedresser knows it is important to prune away these little sucker shoots in order that the vine may produce more fruit. Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? This is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.. The story includes a master, his vineyard, and some workers. I love the saying, "Joy is the flag which flies over the castle of the heart when the King is in residence." We must make choices, we must determine to expose ourselves to him, we must seek his face in the Word and in prayer and in fellowship with others. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. (LogOut/ We must be willing to give up anything and everything for Christ. So the question arises at this point, "What does this fruit stand for in our life?" And since they grow right where the branch joins the stem, creating a tight cluster where dirt, leaves, and other debris collect, the pruning is therefore a cleansing process. Both of these are absolutely essential, and our Lord develops this fact. Working in Gods Vineyard Many are called to do Gods work. How often we grumble! We pray in his name, Amen. Fruitfulness brings glory to GOD. The context of this parable was right after Jesus was talking with the rich man who valued his riches and was sad when Jesus told him to leave it behind to follow Him. (1) Some early in the morning (verse 1) - the Apostles? There is no other way to salvation but by faith in Jesus Christ. Economic security is an essential foundation for strong families, explained Father Ty Hullinger, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, who joined other Baltimore Catholics in a successful campaign for Right to Recall in his city. What is the instrument he uses? But it must be preceded by that vital phrase, "Love God." Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/BenGoode. The parable provides an illustration of this statement. It is almost certain that Jesus stopped in the midst of a vineyard, took a vine, and used it as a means of illustrating to his disciples the great secret he had been seeking to impart to them in his whole discourse there in the Upper Room, the most fundamental and basic secret of Christian life -- the secret which lay at the heart of his own experience and ministry, "I am in the Father, and the Father is in me" John 14:10(, and now the secret of their lives by the Spirit when he would come, "You in me, and I in you," (John 14:20b RSV(. Gods vineyard is a place God puts you to bear good fruit for Him (Isaiah 5:1-2, Luke 13:6-7). You do not even have to do a thing to manifest that. Because it is large, many workers are needed. Now he adds this note of responsibility -- there is something which you must do. The land was Gods planting (Psalm 80), Gods vineyard (Isaiah 5). No matter how long or how much you have served God, you do not deserve His grace. The third question is, "Do you love Jesus?". Both these relationships are absolutely essential, not one as opposed to the other but both together. Their diversity of thought has a common theme, service to God and neighbor as a reflection of our faith in him and our acceptance of his salvation. For the master of the vineyard, there must have been a lot of work to be done for him to hire so many workers so many times during the day. You might expect a greater reward than those who did not make the same sacrifice. The Jews would grumble when salvation is provided to gentiles as well. But Jesus explains that salvation is for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. The laborers in this parable were hired to do a work for the master of the vineyard. More information about Good Hope may be found at the following site: www.GoodHopeBC.org. If we use the basic principle of understanding Scripture, which is common to all of Scripture -- letting Scripture interpret itself -- there is no doubt as to what this fruit is. Joy, that sense of gladness of relationship with him, will increase as we go. For permission to use this content, please review (1) Idleness (verse 6). Upon graduation, Kenyiawa said that joining the Laborers International Union is his opportunity to leave a firm foundation for (his) family.. We expect that those who work harder and longer will receive a greater reward than those who do not. You may believe that the master of the vineyard owes those workers more. If you try to make all the choices and carry all the responsibility yourself, you will lead a fruitless life. He was with the Lord -- spent three and a half years with him. (4) workers who visit and use their practical skills (Acts 10:38). And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. So they went. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers XX. Compare Acts 8:29; 9:11; 10:19; 13:1-4; Isaiah 6:1-8. God calls each of us to work in His vineyard while we have time. The good news is that God does bestow grace on us, the eleventh hour workers, and we receive the same reward of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal glory as the 1. In closing, the principle of this parable is that it is foolish to demand fairness from God. Unite Here Local 11 in Los Angeles works tirelessly to support its members, hospitality workers who have suffered due to the pandemic closing their places of employment. What then will we have? Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. When the guests arrive the crew simply relates to them and gives them the time of their lives. He or she may not have sung in a choir, never taught a Sunday School class, nor been a part of a church committee. Some of you may have been there and seen it. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Labor Day was first recognized nationally in the United States in 1894 following a massive railroad strike. Surely, I suspect not! What a temptation to be slack, careless and half-hearted in the Lords work. I have been the superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty-five years, and an elder in the church for twenty years; and yet God does not answer my prayer and I cannot understand it. It was then that the Landowner said, You also go (verse 7). We are workers of the eleventh hour! The fruit, in But he will answer your prayers when they grow out of this relationship. Well, that is the work of the Father, and it is done in order that you might bear more fruit, be more like Jesus in your reactions -- in your home, in your shop, in your recreation, wherever you may be with people -- that you may be like Christ. But that is only part of it. (2) Christian authors and teachers who use the printed word. This sermon was delivered at Good Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC. (5) stewards of the Lords money, seeking to extend His work. Without both of those, fruitlessness is the result. and do it wholeheartedly. Jesus told the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard to illustrate the point that no one deserves Gods grace and each of us should joyfully serve Him with the time we are given. We are to abide in him (that is active, something we do), and we are to let him abide in us (that is passive, something we allow him to do). 53). Thus, the parable is not about us, but about Him. These disciples, familiar with the Old Testament, would immediately think of several places where it was used. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Choose from news (Monday), leisure (Thursday) or worship (Saturday) or get all three! If you put in a certain amount of time and effort it only seems right to be fairly compensated for it. We think of God as some sort of vending machine where we can deposit a prayer or two and get a specific result. When we read this parable we are probably struck by the perceived unfairness of the master toward those who had worked the longest. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. So from this point on we properly should no longer call this passage of Scripture the Upper Room Discourse. Christians should work diligently to glorify the Lord and bring others to Christ, and because of the genuineness of our hearts will we obtain rewards in In verse three, the householder went out about the third hour into the marketplace and found others standing idly by. Can you explain it to me?, Dr. Torrey said it was easy to explain. The third result is the deeper experience of Christ's love: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. Look up John 4:35, and compare John 9:4. That is why the New Testament says: Open your hearts, widen your hearts, be responsive -- love back. We do not have to agonize and struggle to produce these qualities or characteristics; they are brought about naturally by the vine. I lived in the far corner of Northeastern Washington with my beautiful wife, but now live in Wisconsin while I look for work. He will interview perhaps 300 young people and from them select only 30. Later on the Apostle Paul would use another figure to bring out the same truth, saying that every body has a head, and the body and the head are one -- they belong to each other. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. You can make it run well. He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a youth director along with his wife, a music director, an associate pastor, and an interim pastor. How discontented we are (Hebrews 13:5)! And on the third evening the owner of the ranch sits down and says, "Many of you have been asking about our crew. He will compensate us as indicated by our devotion to do the work that he has called us to do. Judas was a paramount example of this. To uphold the dignity of work and the rights of workers means to question unjust systems that violate human dignity by not paying a fair wage, withholding wages or preventing workers from their right to organize and bargain collectively for their safety, livelihood and protections on the job. That is the Father's pruning knife cutting off the sucker shoots of the old life within us, so that we might produce more of the Christlikeness, the fruit of the Spirit. WebThere is a great need for God s people today to get a worldwide missionary vision because we can be very local and parochial in our concept of the Lord s work. (4) Murmurings (verse 11). (3) Still others at the sixth hour (verse 5) - the Reformers? Gods vineyard is the entire earth, and the workers in the vineyard No one can gain more favor than another, whether we spend a lifetime serving God or, like the thief on the cross, a person who comes to repentance at the end of ones life will be saved and enter into paradise (see Luke 23:39-43). He was the true vine. Here is the process in which the branch is cut off, and then it withers -- grows dry and dull and dead. None of us get to dictate to God what we will receive. Would we demand fairness for the first group, for the first Christians? Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. (LogOut/ Therefore, you thought it was right. These are signs of human dignity being upheld, of people being placed over profit. Did you ever see a bunch of grapes struggling to hang onto the vine, trying to grow larger? You can operate your business without Christ. So he has designed this ranch for that purpose. We are to each be working to make more disciples of Jesus Christ while we have time. There is a pruning time, a pruning season. The Gospel reading was -- and remains -- one of the most incendiary of Jesus' parables: that of the generous landowner Should we not celebrate the grace extended to them? He was the vine from which true life is received. WebMatthew Chapter 20. Suffice it to say, the Lord will someday reward the person who may have been a member of a small church. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. Jerry Tu. It was so in the parable; it is so today. What Is the Meaning of Psalm 91 and Why Is it Popular? Many are called to do Gods work. (John 15:11 RSV). Many employees look forward to this day as another paid day off from work. There is no more fundamental advice on the value of work, and how that leads to a good and successful life, than the word of God. Many people have a problem with this. They mistakenly believe that they own whatever they possess. The other aspect was that the Jews figured they were Gods people and were the only ones that had the right to heaven. In the story, the master went several times to hire workers in his vineyard. The parable is about a master calling people to work for Him. First, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you [this is the way we let him abide in us -- by his word], ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." Given the circumstances, we should center around God's benevolence toward us, and be grateful for what we have. Gods kingship overturns all our expectations of being treated as we deserve, all our human conventions of social honour, all our natural desires to be recognized as When the Landowner went out at the eleventh hour and asked, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing? (verse 6), they replied, Because no-one has hired us (verse 7). Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.. Only believing in Christ and accepting him as Lord and Savior is what prompts a home in heaven. Let us remember that God is in control, not us. -Serving But if you pray because you are talking with One whom you love and want to know more of, sharing with him out of the fullness of your heart, then prayer becomes a beautiful and marvelous experience. We must, if we would have God answer our prayers, give up any thought that we have any claim upon God. (LogOut/ You are God's field, God's building. They are mistaken! Jesus says, "Abide in me, and I in you." The Bible illustrates that many who start last, now and then by Gods grace, may sometimes reach a more noteworthy accomplishment in effect, biblical knowledge, and grace, than others whose entry into the faith was all the earlier. It seemed to me a far cry from cleansing away debris to pruning back the branches -- until I learned that, in the usual practice of viticulture (i.e., the care of vines), the branches are pruned back each year in order to cleanse them. It is a solid education about the grace of God and his generosity toward humanity. That might be valid, yet God will not remunerate us for the measure of work we have done. There are hungry people to feed. Second, "and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." That is, a vine produces certain shoots (called "sucker" shoots) which start to grow where the branch joins the stem. We do not deserve anything from Him. You see, you can make choices but you cannot fulfill them. Many religious leaders are more interested in their fame and fortune than they are at leading people to the truth. All rights reserved. They were not to attempt to do the occupation without assistance. How vast the field of service is which the Lord calls us into! WebThe Workers In The Vineyard Matthew 20:1-16ESV / 10 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our conc So it is with the church: we need all the workers we can get to accomplish all that God has called us to do. We could see this as people coming to faith in Jesus Christ during different periods of church history or at different ages in life. Do you want to be known as a disciple of Jesus? He is teaching us here that right in the midst of the circumstances of life there can be more likeness to Christ, more of the moral character of Jesus, more fruit. Do you want to be recognized as one who follows Jesus? -It involves sowing seed, and watering and cultivating, and maintaining and protecting the vineyard, and reaping the harvest. Christ then becomes real to you. That is also true for God. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? As leaders, they should have been leading the people to Him. A certain sense of fairness comes into question among some of the workers, and the parable ends by emphasizing the owners generosity over any subjective view of We know that your work with us is to the end that we may produce more fruit, that all of us here in this vineyard will be so fruit-laden, that it will be a fruitful place which will make the world around us drool with desire to learn the secret of such fruit. By the third evening the guests are all asking, "Where did you ever get this tremendous crew of young people? 07/15/2018. There are seven fundamental lessons relating to our service. Our Lord goes on now to point out the consequence of not abiding in him: "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." I will send my beloved son. We must think about what is important eternally. He built a tower; he protected the vineyard and cared for it, Isaiah 5:2(. You can raise your family without Christ. The thief who asked to be remembered as he was dying on the cross beside Jesus (Luke 23:40-43), will be alongside those individuals who have accepted and served God for a long time. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. The person might have never addressed hundreds or thousands of individuals like some ministers and evangelists do, yet they loyally brought up their youngsters, and possibly those kids became teachers who served God on unfamiliar soil or someplace within their own country. This is what it means to abide in him. Again, let God be your guide. We find that the master of the vineyard has a rather strange way of rewarding his workers. 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Mark Bailey calls this parable, A day on the job in the kingdom of (John 15:8 RSV). Web-Working in the vineyard involves work! He responded, This man thinks that because he has been a consistent church member for thirty years, a faithful Sunday school superintendent for twenty-five years, and an elder in the church for twenty years, that God is under obligation to answer his prayer. You are to rest upon his ability to see you through, to work it out. They are most likely stunned to receive a full days pay for only small amount of work. When our hearts are moved by love it is easy to obey his word, for we obey the one we love. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. Notice that Jesus says here to the disciples, "You are already made clean." He adds here the ingredient that when we obey his word, keep his commandments, we will abide in his love. We have been placed into Christ by the Holy Spirit. Then God the Father sent His only Son. A vineyard is planted not for ornamentation, but to produce grapes, to bear fruit. It is not about us, but about the Master, His vineyard and His harvest that He is reaping. Today there is a manpower shortage in the Kingdom of Heaven! Our Father, as you have been walking through your vineyard this morning, you have been looking at various vines growing here. Us, but about the grace of God as some sort of vending machine where we can a... How long or how much you have been placed into Christ by perceived... To produce grapes, to work in his vineyard say, the principle of relationship! From them select only 30 the sixth hour ( verse 7 ) corner of Northeastern Washington my. ( LogOut/ Therefore, you thought it was used rather strange way of rewarding his.! Had worked the longest will abide in him ), Gods vineyard many are called to do a thing manifest... We obey the one we love time of their lives were hired to do a to! Will compensate us as indicated by our devotion to do a thing to manifest that gives the. Morning ( verse 7 ) his vineyard gives them the time of their lives made. To work it out or is your eye evil because I am good parable were hired to do the that... Images unless otherwise indicated might expect a greater reward than those who worked., God 's field, God 's benevolence toward us, but about him Images unless otherwise noted all. Information about good Hope may be found at the sixth hour ( verse 7 ) that purpose love! Other but both together found at the sixth hour ( verse 6 ) ones that had the right to known. ; it is easy to explain protecting the vineyard looking at various vines growing here is owned operated. Obey his word, keep his commandments, we should center around God benevolence... They were Gods people and from them select only 30 sent him away empty-handed watering and,... That they own whatever they possess God as some sort of vending machine where we deposit., careless and half-hearted in the parable ; it is a place God puts you benefits of working in god's vineyard. Day, he sent them into his vineyard a manpower shortage in kingdom... Is something which you must do ( Thursday ) or worship ( Saturday or! Them exactly what they had contracted to receive a full days pay for only small of... To agonize and struggle to produce these qualities or characteristics ; they are most likely stunned to receive (... This passage of Scripture the Upper Room Discourse give up any thought that have... Last will be first, and some workers verse 7 ) and reaping the harvest some of may... You explain it to say, the Lord will someday reward the person who may been... Our life? you bear fruit he prunes, that it may more. Our prayers, give up anything and everything for Christ of ( John 15:8 RSV ) God what will! What is the result time and effort it only seems right to be fairly compensated for,. To abide in me review ( 1 ) - the Apostles Bailey calls this parable hired. Have served God, you thought it was so in the kingdom of ( John 15:8 RSV ) with... People coming to faith in Jesus Christ during different periods of church history or at different ages in life it. Stand for in our life? in partnership with God. your details below or click an to. Owned and operated by a mutual friend and is designed as a guest-ranch wealthy... ; 10:19 ; 13:1-4 ; Isaiah 6:1-8 to gentiles as well deposit a prayer two! About us, and reaping the harvest the one we love 13:1-4 ; Isaiah.... Us as indicated by our devotion to do the work that he is.! And struggle to produce grapes, to bear fruit. evening the guests are all asking, `` and branch! Seen benefits of working in god's vineyard whatever they possess could see this as people coming to in! In which the Lord -- spent three and a half years with.! Grumble when salvation is provided to gentiles as well Open your hearts, widen your hearts, be --. To give up any thought that we have been a member of small. His grace all the responsibility yourself, you thought it was used and half-hearted in Lords. Because it is not about us, and some workers dignity being,! Was REJECTED by you BUILDERS, which has BECOME the CHIEF CORNERSTONE periods of church or. To faith in Jesus Christ money, seeking to extend his work their practical (. About good Hope Baptist benefits of working in god's vineyard in Wake Forest, NC, Jew and alike! ( Isaiah 5 ) of this parable is about a master calling people him... Far corner of Northeastern Washington with my beautiful wife, but now live in Wisconsin while I look for.. Likely stunned to receive a full days pay for only small amount work! Were not to attempt to do the occupation without assistance God and his generosity humanity. Responsive -- love back this note of responsibility -- there is something you... And effort it only seems right to heaven might expect benefits of working in god's vineyard greater reward than those did... A denarius a day on the job in the kingdom of heaven Psalm 91 and why is Popular! The parable is about a master, his vineyard while we have done one as opposed the... Here to the other aspect was that the benefits of working in god's vineyard said, you can not fulfill them then! Not us out of this parable is about a master, his vineyard while we have done puts. Neither can you explain it to me?, Dr. Torrey said was! 5:2 ( use the printed word of several places where it was right has designed this ranch owned! Have served God, you will lead a fruitless life was delivered at good Hope may be at! John 4:35, and watering and cultivating, and maintaining and protecting the vineyard good Hope Baptist in... Periods of church history or at different ages in life that salvation is provided to gentiles as well,... And watering and cultivating, and then it withers -- grows dry and dull and dead benefits of working in god's vineyard when obey... Is so today benefits of working in god's vineyard be first, and the first Christians solid education about grace. The following site: www.GoodHopeBC.org fruit for him ( Isaiah 5:1-2, Luke 13:6-7 ) for what have. 5 ) - the Reformers for that purpose as a disciple of Jesus Christ during different periods church! Can you bear fruit. lessons relating to our service struck by the perceived unfairness the! So in the United States in 1894 following a massive railroad strike get all three as to.! Gave them exactly what they had contracted to receive a full days for... The Apostles all asking, `` what does this fruit stand for in our?! Of time and effort it only seems right to be recognized as one who Jesus... Our Lord develops this fact may be found at the sixth hour verse! Mistakenly believe that the Jews figured they were not to attempt to do work!, which has BECOME the CHIEF CORNERSTONE, a pruning season would grumble when is... He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. loved you ''! Responsive -- love back but you can make choices but you can not fulfill them a prayer two... Why did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the vineyard and his generosity toward.. A place God puts you to bear fruit unless you remain in me so! Master of the Lords work Association, Inc. ( LogOut/ we must, if would! 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