Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Considering this familiar parable
- One thing I have learned - the Bible is very honest
- It deals with men and women as they are
- The Bible is like a sword - living and powerful
- It wounds/cuts and heals
- We must pay attention to what it says
- This passage can be difficult
- Dangers facing disciples
- The previous passage - the refusal of the rich young ruler to follow Jesus
- The disciples wonder who can be saved if not this man?
- Matt 19:26 - "with God all things are possible"
- Peter says they have given up a lot
- Thus follows the parable of the vineyard workers
- No one who follows Jesus will ever lose out
- Matt 19:30 - "many who are first will be last and the last first"
- Expanded on in this parable
- Critical teaching for all disciples
- The vineyard workers are Christians - we should all work for Christ
- Out biggest problem can be our attitude to other Christians
- Some commentators view this as the contempt of Jewish converts to Gentiles, others older Christians to younger Christians
- It reveals a weakness in Christians - a danger of comparing ourselves to others
- Peter does this in Matt 19:27 and John 21:19-22
- 2 Cor 10:12
- We must avoid the attitude 'it is not fair'
- We can compare ourselves to others - leading to forgetfulness
- The danger and snare of forgetfulness
- Deut 8:11-14a
- Overview:
- Forgetful of God and His grace
- Forgetful of God's sovereignty
- Forgetful of God's mercies received
- Forgetful of fellowship and love
- Forgetful of praise
Forgetful of God and His grace
- The landowner wanted people to serve
- v1-2 a contract with the first workers
- The remainder - 'what is right'
- The first workers were discontented in the extreme when the wages came
- Are we forgetful of God's grace and mercy - this leads to discontent
- We are all debtors to His grace and mercy
- Do not think 'why them and not us?'
- Example of Luke 17:7-10
- Who are we to insist on our 'rights'
Forgetful of God's sovereignty
- The owner owned the vineyard - not the workers
- He had every right to do with it as he pleased - examples
- God is free to do what He wills - He is Sovereign
- Isa 42:8
- Do not be there for ego
- The Potter has rights over the clay
- It is a privilege to be included in God's ministry
- 1 Cor 3:5-8
- We do not own His Church
Forgetful of God's mercies received
- The first workers were very much aware of what they had done
- They were forgetful of the kindness of the vineyard owner
- They became resentful of those workers more blessed than they
- Example of being 'in the minutes'
- Are we forgetful of God's mercies to us
- We cannot strike bargains with God
- To be a worker for God is a great privilege
Forgetful of fellowship and love
- Us vs. them
- Older Christians can expect all sorts of things from new converts
- A challenging verse - Rom 12:15
- Difficult to rejoice with those who are more blessed than you?
- Personal example
- Another example
- Self-occupation injures fellowship and love
Forgetful of praise
- Perhaps the most subtle and worse thing of all - they forgot the owner
- Moaning and complaining
- The Lord Jesus Christ did not look to Himself - Phil 2:6-7
- If God makes other Christians more fruitful - we should be thankful and praise God
- There is such a privilege in serving so great a Master!