Matthew 20:1-10

This year we have covered the first nineteen chapters of The Gospel According To Matthew.

Last month we covered Matthew chapters 18 and 19. Here was the summary:

Matthew chapters 18 and 19 are two crucial chapters of the New Testament. These chapters have the answers (HOW/WHY) church today is NOT creating the value needed to bring about God's Will on earth as it is done in Heaven.

DOING the doctrines Jesus presented above would generate value that would allow God's Will to occur on earth as it is in Heaven.

DOING the OPPOSITE of the doctrine Jesus presented would hinder God's ability to bring about His Will on earth as it is in Heaven.

We have seen HOW/WHY most churches today do the OPPOSITE of Matthew chapters 18 and 19: people miss the solutions presented by Jesus because they lack the foundational doctrine. The SAME thing occurred during Jesus' time!

Matthew chapter 19 concluded with the following verse:

"30 But many shall be last that are first; and first that are last."

This verse leads into the beginning of Matthew chapter 20...


MATTHEW 20:1-10
"1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard."

(Ever since Matthew chapter 13, Jesus spoke to the masses ONLY in parables. This parable was presented to support: "30 But many shall be last that are first; and first that are last.")

(The man/householder is God. The laborers are us. God "hired" some people early in their life (morning) and "agreed" with them about their "wages". Remember, the comment that ended the previous chapter came after Jesus encountered a rich man AND then Peter asked Jesus a question...about WHAT the disciples (and other believers) would get if they "worked" for God.)

(Notice, there is NOTHING in this parable about God deciding who would work for Him against the will of the individual! God sought them out and the individual ONLY worked for God if they AGREED to the wages THEY WOULD GET. Remember, the verse most Pastors and "Christians" can't complete from Jesus' Mouth? The reason they get it wrong is they don't think Jesus offered anything to the rich man if he sold all his possessions. We saw Jesus stated he would have treasure in heaven. Likewise, Jesus told a parable where the individual GOT something for their work!)

"3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
4 and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way."

(Notice, God is stating He will give whatever is RIGHT. God is ultimately Right and Just. God is ALWAYS COMPLETELY Right and ALWAYS COMPLETELY Just.)

"5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?"

(God goes out at the last hour and ASKS a Question! The Question even has to do with being Not Profitable...being idle.)

"7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard."

(Now it is time to pay the people...)

"8 And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first."

(Remember the last verse from Matthew chapter 19? THIS verse is tied to that verse. Jesus said God will INTENTIONALLY pay the last first.)

"9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.
10 And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling."

(The first that were hired saw that the last got a shilling. The first figured WITHIN THEMSELVES they would get more than a shilling.)


SUMMARY
Jesus told a parable to explain what He meant when He said: "30 But many shall be last that are first; and first that are last."

So far, there is nothing in this parable agreeing with Calvinism and man-made doctrine.

God sought out individuals.

God offered wages to the individual.

The individual ONLY worked for God if they AGREED to the wages THEY WOULD GET.

Tomorrow, we will conclude this parable...

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