Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• A very important and informative parable
• cf 19:30 'Many who are first will be last' and 20:16 'the last will be first'
• Cryptic words and difficult to understand
• We ask God and the Holy Spirit to guide us
• Similar words in Luke's gospel
• v1-16
• Overview:
• Repetition of the parable
• Meaning of the parable
• Implications of the parable

Repetition of the Parable

• A hired worker was unskilled and on the lowest social scale (lower than a slave)
• They were often badly paid
• The landowner is being very gracious towards them
• They first lot start at 6am in the morning for 12 hours
• 1 denarius - a generous wage (paid similar to soldiers)
• The second lot of labourers are engaged at 9am
• He says he will give them "whatever is right"
• The third lot (12pm) and fourth lot (3pm)
• The fifth lot (5pm)
• Then the man calls them for payment
• God's provision for the poor in Leviticus
• He pays those who worked least first
• The last receive 1 denarius (as all the others)
• The men grumble
• The landowner asks why they are questioning his generosity
• Have we questioned this teaching?

Meaning of the Parable

• In context: this parable is in response to chapter 19
• The rich young ruler (19:16-26)
• The man thinks he is upright but Jesus sees his heart
• He is not living for God but for himself: idolatry and covetousness
• He though he was 'first' but actually he was 'last'
• Blind Bartimaeus (20:29-34)
• These were 'last' in society's eyes but were 'first' in Jesus' eyes
• So the first will be last and the last first
• Is there another nuance to receiving the same pay?
• There is a tie
• You may be a Christian all your life or an '11th' hour Christian - but you will still receive the same reward (eternal life)
• Is it just speaking about equality of reward?
• v13-15
• Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that we deserve more from God than others
• Examples
• 20:20-21
• God's ways are not our ways
• We must not despise those who are new to the Kingdom (especially if they are blessed)
• We are not owed anything
• God does not forget our hard work (19:27-29)
• But don't feel like you deserve it or have earned it
• It is all of grace
• Ezekiel 18 - it matters more how you end that how you begin

Implications of the Parable

• Application:
• God is a generous God
• The landowner is very kind and generous
• God is like that
• God is not unfair - God is more generous that we can ever imagine
• Does anyone deserve eternal life?
• Does anyone deserve the forgiveness of sins?
• Other examples
• How foolish we are to envy others
• We are to have generous hearts and to be kind to others
• We are not to hold onto a role or position
• v15 - we are not to have an evil eye
• v25-28 - God wants us to have a humble spirit
• We are called to be living sacrifices (Rom 12:1)
• We are to render "reasonable service"
• Be not discouraged for we receive the same blessing of eternal life
• Put the past behind you and look to the future
• For the unbeliever - God is willing to receive you at this late hour
• You must accept His terms
• You must repent of your sin and trust in Christ
• Humble yourself and come to God