Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

September 23, 2018

The First and the Last - Matthew 19:27 – 30 & 20:1-16

{Matthew 19 vs. 27-29} Now you know that Peter’s wheels were turning – if that man (who seemed to have it all) was required to sell everything and follow Jesus, then what about us?  We have left it all behind and we are following Jesus!  Some people think that Peter sounds especially greedy or crass when he asks “What’s in it for us?” but I think we need to hear this!  Obviously, we need to hear this because God put it right here in the Word for us!  It’s not a bad thing for us as believers to ask that every once in a while, to be reminded that there is not just a reward but a substantial reward for those who follow Christ.  That is what Paul reminded the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 4:17) when he wrote by the Holy Spirit “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  Sometimes we need to look to that better day in order to hang on when things get tough down here!  Notice that Jesus did not hesitate to tell them – it’s no secret, there will be a recompense for the faithful, the obedient and those who defer gratification (put off pleasure now for a greater reward later)!  However, let me give you a word of warning keep this in perspective (balance) – some believers become so focused on the reward, on Heaven that they become of no earthly value!  (If you are always looking up . . . you can’t see where you are walking.)

So what are the rewards?  For the disciples (except for Judas who was replaced by Matthias or Paul), Jesus declares a special reward: at the renewal (literally rebirth – only used here and for spiritual rebirth or born again), which refers to the Millennial Kingdom – when Christ sits on His throne, they will have twelve thrones of their own from which they will judge the tribes of Israel.  Then Jesus get more generic and declares the reward for anyone who leaves behind possessions or relationships: they will receive one hundred fold (100 times) what they lost but that’s not all Johnny – they will also receive eternal life, yes that is fellowship with God, the quality of life that is perfect and goes on forever!  Does this mean that you will have one hundred mothers, fathers, spouses or fields?  No, not literally, even in the Millennial Kingdom God will not give you one hundred wives or husbands – that would be cruel and against His design!  However, God is excellent with this kind of math – you and I will be so blessed, so much more blessed (100 times more) for everything that we cannot bring into the Kingdom.  God literally did this for Job; he received a true double portion of all the property and children lost during his testing (luckily? He never lost the wife, who said curse “God and die”, so he still just had the one).

{vs. 30} After affirming the rewards, Jesus makes this proverbial statement (which I am sure went right over their heads!)  Most of us today, who have the great advantages of the Holy Spirit and two millennia of believers pondering over and commenting upon the statement still don’t understand it!  We have images of a cosmic line with Jesus/God suddenly moving the goal from the head to the tail – and are vague about the reasoning or meaning!  In general, we understand that those who seem to be most worthy, will be seen at the rear of the line and that the humble will be exalted to the front.  As we examine this more closely, we will see that it is the bridge connecting Peter’s question about rewards, Jesus’ purpose in coming to bring salvation and the question of James and John’s mother in chapter 20.  In fact, Jesus will be dealing with the disciples about what we would call self-seeking (their ambition), right up to the night that He was betrayed!  The first thing we should see is that verse 30, which serves as a transition could just as easily have been made the first verse in chapter 20.  Remember there were no chapters and verses when the scripture was written.  The proverb is repeated in reverse at the end of the parable, serving as book ends for this story.  This gives us confidence that the parable itself is given to explain the proverb!

{Matthew 20 vs. 1-2} The Kingdom of Heaven, the realm of God or His domain – all that He rules over, but more specifically those who acknowledge His rule!  You and I know that God rules over all, He is sovereign – but the demon ranks and this world are in a state of rebellion or war, denying His rightful rule.  In the Lord’s Prayer (the disciples’ prayer) Jesus alluded to this connection between kingdom and obedience when He instructed us to pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10 KJV)  This is what Jesus has been talking about since He began His ministry – the Kingdom, how to enter in, who will be a part, how to live as a kingdom citizen.  We can see this theme all through Matthew’s gospel and specifically in the Sermon on the Mount (the Beatitudes)!  Clearly, in the parable the landowner represents God who is seeking to bring workers into the Kingdom, into His family.

Israel is much like California in terms of climate and terrain.  It is divided into plains (like Sharon and Megiddo) and mountains.  On those mountains or hillsides, the land was terraced for grape growing.  This was difficult work, from the preparation of the hillside all the way to the harvesting of the fruit!  This is probably the setting for what would be very familiar to them – harvest time.  The landowner has permanent servants, but because of the great work and the time requirements goes to hire day laborers.  In that day, such men would gather in the marketplace (the center of town life) much like we see today around the home improvement stores.  The workday would be from sunrise, six in the morning until sunset, six at night (yes, that’s twelve long hours).  This man has gone early, probably around 5 a.m., before the sun is up to recruit this help.  He contracts with them – offering a denarius for the day (the same pay as a household servant or a roman soldier), a generous rate for a day laborer and they go off to the fields.

{vs. 3-7} Four more times throughout the day, the landowner goes back to call more workers showing his desire for a greater crew.  Apparently, the man wants every available worker! He adds to the crew from morning all the way up to the last hour of the day!  These men are not contracted, like the first but rather take him at his word that he will pay them what is fair.  They know the man (where he lives) and the Levitical law protected the day laborer.  Their employer could not dock the pay or hold onto it until ‘payday’ – not even overnight!  This is because these men actually lived on what they earned that day; ‘no pay’ usually meant ‘no eating’!  In the exchange with the five o’clock men, we get the impression that the landowner is more concerned with their needs, than his own need for labor!  These men say they want to work (not shiftless or lazy) but ‘no one has hired us’.

{vs. 8-12} Here, we see a tie in to the proverb as the men are paid in reverse order from last hired until the first (which we will see highlights the main lesson).  This is where we read between the lines and see why the first workers had bad attitudes.  As the five o’clock crew were paid they receive a denarius – the same amount promised to the first hired.  However, those men began to compare and make assumptions – “if they only worked an hour (maybe not even the full hour) and they got a full days wage . . . well then I should be getting twelve times that!”  That is the rate the owner is paying – a denarius an hour!  However, excitement turned into bitterness as the calculations quickly changed – then it was a denarius for three hours, then six, then nine and finally, for themselves - - - one denarius for twelve hours hard labor! That’s not fair!  They saw the ‘short-timers’ getting the same wage and were outraged!  Have you ever lodged that complaint against God (or life)?  Let me tell you that God is more than fair, perfectly just but on top of that, He is generous (gracious)!  While this life, this sin scared world is not fair, I promise you that in the end God will balance every scale and right every wrong!

{vs. 13-16} The landowner reasons with them, showing the error in their thinking, trying to calm them down – which by the way, he did not have to do!  He addresses one of them using the familiar friend (which could also be translated fellow, hey buddy) and points out that they agreed to work for that denarius (more than a fair wage!) 

It is not unfair if the landowner wants to give the same amount to those who work few hours or even to those who sit around under the vines loafing all day!  Take note, that the quality of the work is never brought up at all – you know that some really put their back into it (probably the ones hired late because they wanted to earn enough to go home and eat) but others might have been slacking!  No matter how they served or how long – the gift (yes, I’ll say gift) was given to each of them.  What we must realize is that it is not the work that earned the ‘wage’, but rather the master’s generosity!

The human idea that the more you work, the more you make is a notion that makes workaholics.  This common notion in Jesus’ day (and today) that hard work should be rewarded – is not the basis for salvation (the Kingdom).  We should be oh, so thankful that this is not God’s thoughts because none of us would ever enter in!  Everything God has done for humanity is grace; no one can earn His favor, and He is never in their debt (His standard is complete and utter perfection – how do you measure up?).  God gives to each of those who heed the call the exact same gift – entrance into the Kingdom or eternal life!  Remember this is not just a never-ending lifespan, but a quality of life that exists when we abide in and with our Creator!  This is fulfillment; this is love, joy, peace – all the qualities of God’s character with none of the sin, pain and sorrow!  This wondrous gift cannot be earned, no matter how long you work beside the master (in the fields).  We are the day-laborers, called to labor in God’s fields (the world) and when we respond, in faith He transfers this wondrous gift to us!  No matter our term of service, it is more (multitudes times more) than we deserve!  It doesn’t matter if we respond to the call on our deathbed or in preschool.  The thief on the cross entered in just the same as the Apostle John who served from walking with the Lord as a teenager until his old age!  Scripture confirms repeatedly that God shows no partiality (Romans 2:11; see also Jude 16; James 2:9), each receives of God’s grace.  Peter declared, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34-35).

From this parable, we should learn to praise God for His grace and mercy; we should learn to be content with whatever God gives (our lot in life and afterlife); and we must not be envious (looking at or comparing ourselves with others).  God deals with each of us individually, justly and generously!