The Bible Prayer Line: Bible Lesson: Conversations With Jesus: The Vineyard Laborers.

The Bible Prayer Line – Bible Lesson

(Copy and paste this URL into a new web browser and hit enter.)

https://thebibleprayerline.blogspot.com/2018/05/tbpl-index.html

Bible Lesson: Conversations With Jesus: The Vineyard Laborers.

Bible Text:

Matthew 20:1-16 NLT (Parable of the Vineyard Workers)

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning* (6:00 A.M.) to hire workers for his vineyard.

*Morning-The Jewish work day consisted of from 6:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening, sun rise to sun set.

2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage* and sent them out to work.

*Wage-Greek a denarius, one penny (worth 20 cents of our money), the payment for a full day’s labor / Romans soldiers, were not paid this much.

3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.

4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.

5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.

9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage (one denarius).

10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage (one denarius) .

11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner,

12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage (one denarius)?

14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.

15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

Five different times the Master of the vineyard came to the market place to hire workers for his vineyard. Only with the early workers, did the Master of the vineyard agree as to amount of pay.

The others were told, “he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.”

The last workers, (the 5:00 P.M. workers), were paid first, and they received one denarius, a full days wages.

When the early (6:00 A.M.) workers saw that, they “ vs 11 ...protested to the owner,

12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

The Master of the vineyard replied:

13 ...Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage (one denarius)?

14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.

15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

What does this story of The Lord Jesus, tell us?

Envy is a terrible sin, and we are “not,” to envy the reward of others!

15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

Illustration:

As a Pastor, years ago I knew a fellow, young man, Pastor and his wife and family, who were in their first pastorate, and had been there a short time.

The young pastor and his church were all of 25 miles from the nearest major town, and he had to go there, for some car repair. So one afternoon he went to the garage and had some work done on his car, and then drove home.

It was a beautiful day, clear with warm sun light, and somewhere along the road, the young pastor stood shoulder to shoulder to his Lord, and Savior, in a beautiful land called heaven.

What had happened to husband, father and pastor? He had fallen asleep at the wheel, on a warm sunny day, and run head long into a truck.

Some one might say, well his reward will not be tremendous, after all he only pastored for a short time.

Wrong, God is judge!

His rewards will be beyond wonderful, and why? Because God's standards are not necessarily ours!

Our God looks at:

Intentions

Hearts Desire

Plans

Sacrifices For...

Faithfulness To...

Unswerving Love For His God...

Etc. etc. etc.

This is not base upon years of service or degrees etc. etc.

This story by our Lord, serves as a warning to some, that we “are not,” to be surprised by what we see when we get home!

The Master Of The Vineyard, gives rewards, according to His standards, and His standards alone.

Again, some have said that this parable, is a picture of the church of The Lord Jesus Christ.

There is “no,” reason why any should be standing around idle!

The Master of the vineyard, has called all to work in His vineyard.

Matthew 28:18-20 KJV

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15,16 KJV

15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Some theologians agree that the 5 callings of The Master of the vineyard corresponds

to history.

1) 6:00 A.M. Calling. John the Baptist, and his call to repentance.

2) 9:00 A.M. Teachings of The Lord Jesus, and His apostles.

3) 12:00 P.M. The preaching of The Gospel after Christs' ascension.

4) 3:00 P.M. The work of the scattered apostles.

5) 5:00 P.M. Call of the Gentiles, and the church of Jesus Christ.

Christian Workers:

Proverbs 3:5,6 KJV

5 Trust in The Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Matthew 25:45-47 NLT

45 “And He will answer, ‘I tell you The Truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal Life.”

Acts 20:28 KJV

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which The Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own Blood.

Romans 8:18 KJV

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

I Corinthians 15:58 KJV

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of The Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in The Lord.

Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving The Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

23 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in The Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Colossians 3:23-25 NLT

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for The Lord rather than for people.

24 Remember that The Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that The Master you are serving is Christ.

25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

II Timothy 2:15 NLT

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains The Word Of Truth.

II Timothy 4:2-4 NLT

2 Preach The Word Of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

4 They will reject The Truth and chase after myths.

I Peter 2:9 KJV

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light;

Work For The Night Is Coming