Both of these are absolutely essential, and our Lord develops this fact. If we focus on the rewards of working in Gods vineyard, we miss the pleasure of serving the Master. Note in verses 4 and 7 that He sent them out. The Gospel reading was -- and remains -- one of the most incendiary of Jesus' parables: that of the generous landowner Probably everyone feels that a person ought to be compensated fairly for his or her work. May our attitude be as Jesus said: Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.. So it is with the church: we need all the workers we can get to accomplish all that God has called us to do. Because it is large, many workers are needed. No matter how long or how much you have served God, you do not deserve His grace. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? Just come to Him and place your trust in Jesus Christ. The relationship is not merely to be recognized; it is to be acted upon: "Abide in me, and I in you. 1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. In closing, the principle of this parable is that it is foolish to demand fairness from God. But when that call comes at the eleventh hour, they cannot say that they had not been called. If in relating to others you merely get together and have coffee and talk about the weather, you will find it useless. That is, "If you do not abide in me, you will be fruitless." But if you pray because you are talking with One whom you love and want to know more of, sharing with him out of the fullness of your heart, then prayer becomes a beautiful and marvelous experience. It was so in the parable; it is so today. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Furthermore, it is added to any new believers as a consolation of the grace of God. We are to abide in him (that is active, something we do), and we are to let him abide in us (that is passive, something we allow him to do). As a result he was cut off, and he withered. (4) Still others at the eleventh hour (verse 6) - twenty-first century witnesses? Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers XX. The point is that God owes us nothing. The good news is that God does bestow grace on us, the eleventh hour workers, and we receive the same reward of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal glory as the In Gods vineyard, people have no anxiety at all. Instead of worrying they pray with thanksgiving, [making] their requests known to God. In this, they can be utterly Gods vineyard is a place God puts you to bear good fruit for Him (Isaiah 5:1-2, Luke 13:6-7). These wicked workers in their masters vineyard decided the workers that came late didnt deserve a full days wage. Notice that our Lord divides it into two sections. The late evangelist pastor, and writer, R. A. Torrey had an interesting perspective on this. Cultivating the vineyard of the Lord includes cultivating the lives of those who toil in the vineyard. A certain sense of fairness comes into question among some of the workers, and the parable ends by emphasizing the owners generosity over any subjective view of Many church people take issue with this. He will interview perhaps 300 young people and from them select only 30. Yet when this starts, the Father must trim off the unfruitful branches. I believe that this is similar to today. Surely, 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:11 RSV). Is that what we really want? And since they grow right where the branch joins the stem, creating a tight cluster where dirt, leaves, and other debris collect, the pruning is therefore a cleansing process. Upon graduation, Kenyiawa said that joining the Laborers International Union is his opportunity to leave a firm foundation for (his) family.. What a temptation to be slack, careless and half-hearted in the Lords work. Secondly, there is the demonstration of discipleship, Verse8: "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." The laborers are believers, people who come into the service of the King. So you can do what you please when you love God. Not one of us deserves anything from God.. That is abiding in him. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[ a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard. Would we demand fairness for the first group, for the first Christians? The life which is in the vine produces fruit which Paul describes in Galatians5 as: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our conc For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Our Lord goes on now to point out the consequence of not abiding in him: "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." Copyright 2023 Catholic News Service, Inc. All rights reserved. That is why the New Testament says: Open your hearts, widen your hearts, be responsive -- love back. However, we are not entitled to anything, especially from God. (John 15:9-10 RSV). WebMatthew Chapter 20. Gods grace is there for anyone at any time? You may believe that the master of the vineyard owes those workers more. He is teaching us here that right in the midst of the circumstances of life there can be more likeness to Christ, more of the moral character of Jesus, more fruit. Matthew Henrys Commentary tells us that the immediate object of this parable is, to show that the Jews were first called into the vineyard, finally, the gospel should be spread to the Gentiles, and that they are to be conceded to the same advantages and benefits with the Jews. But I have learned that the only young people who can ever stand up to this grueling demand, and can meet it with an unvarying spirit of joy and gladness, with the kind of attitude that has so impressed you, are those who have learned to love Jesus.". Catholic social teaching upholds the dignity of work and the rights of workers. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Perhaps you were manifesting or defending some attitude. The parable provides an illustration of this statement. Without both of those, fruitlessness is the result. It might be something seemingly insignificant that may be behind the scenes or a small task or it might Then God the Father sent His only Son. I suspect not! The fruit, in 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. What a privilege and what a responsibility to be a worker! So the question arises at this point, "What does this fruit stand for in our life?" I want to reassure you that this is not the case. God has blessed me tremendously and so thankful for His grace and the people He has put in my life and His work in and around me. A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. He does not show favoritism. The steward, perhaps, represents Jesus Christ, to whom has been committed all judgment. We are to each be sowing seed in His field. Are you going through a pruning season right now? None of us are worthy to be there, but Jesus paid for our sins and died for us, so that all who believe may enter into heaven. But if you try, you find that there will be no fruit, no Christlikeness, no manifestation of that beautiful character which arrests the attention of others. He or she may not have sung in a choir, never taught a Sunday School class, nor been a part of a church committee. We are to each be working to make more disciples of Jesus Christ while we have time. (2) Christian authors and teachers who use the printed word. We expect that those who work harder and longer will receive a greater reward than those who do not. It is not activity which glorifies God; it is character, it is what you are, and the way you react to a situation. He adds here the ingredient that when we obey his word, keep his commandments, we will abide in his love. Giving. For permission to use this content, please review I am sure you have all had the experience of being confronted with a word of Scripture and learning from it that something you had been doing all your life, and which you thought was right, was actually wrong. The withering process was very short in his case. His beautiful analogy has helped a great many Christians to understand the relationship God wants them to know. Changing Yourself Hard Work And Perseverance Life By God's Word Self Confidence Receiving God's Word Games, Spiritual Useless Labour Athletics Victory The Fact Of That Day The Christian Race The Soul Open Jobs. Rather, they were to ask God for additional helpers. We thank you for these possibilities which we have in Jesus Christ our Lord. And in the 80th Psalm, the Psalmist says that God "brought a vine out of Egypt" and planted it in a good land, Psalms 80:8). No, they are means by which we know him. Stand Up Nashville, a grassroots organization supported by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, also in Nashville, has fought for a community benefits agreement around the new soccer stadium construction project to ensure that local residents benefit from living wage employment opportunities. There might be those that were offered the gospel at the third hour, the sixth hour, and the ninth hour yet denied the call. Then, "Do you love people, do you like to be with people and relate to them?" WebThere is a great need for God s people today to get a worldwide missionary vision because we can be very local and parochial in our concept of the Lord s work. This sermon was delivered at Good Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC. Either we will feel inadequate or have pride or grumble. People come and spend a lot of money, staying a week or so at a time. The vineyard is the kingdom, the sphere of Gods rule. For the master of the vineyard, there must have been a lot of work to be done for him to hire so many workers so many times during the day. Their Right to Recall campaign ensures that when businesses do reopen at full capacity, they call back furloughed workers at their former wages and benefits. That is, "This pruning has gone on in your life already." Bible Meaning and Text. Should we not celebrate the grace extended to them? Jesus says, "Abide in me, and I in you." Even though Israel is Gods chosen people, He opened the door for salvation to everyone. The parable shocks us when the eleventh hour workers receive as much pay for the one hour they worked as those who had worked all day. There are seven fundamental lessons relating to our service. When the guests arrive the crew simply relates to them and gives them the time of their lives. You are God's field, God's building. Do you love people? We must be willing to give up anything and everything for Christ. But it is conceivable that the master had a lot of work to do and wanted all the workers he could find to do it. And on the third evening the owner of the ranch sits down and says, "Many of you have been asking about our crew. The third result is the deeper experience of Christ's love: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. There are at least four truths this parable teaches us: The first thing we ought to realize about this parable is that the master owns the vineyard. If you do not know the Master of the vineyard, Jesus Christ, you can know Him today. Compare Acts 8:29; 9:11; 10:19; 13:1-4; Isaiah 6:1-8. Those are the ones which arise out of our evil nature, our fallen Adamic nature, which produces in us those characteristics which are different than the fruit of the Spirit -- resentment, anger, bitterness, selfishness, egocentricity, love of praise -- these qualities which tend to arise within us so frequently. All the signs of the times - religious, political and Jewish - tell us that it is almost the Midnight hour. There are a couple things to note in this story, I think. Certain individuals, when they comprehend the gospel, want to go to work quickly by reaching unsaved individuals. Take what is yours and go your way. There will be a harvest and we need to work until that time. 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. Second, "and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." Web8 This is to my Fathers glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Pride got in their way. In order to appease the union workers, the government recognized Labor Day. Why should it matter when and where God hires these workers, or how much they receive, as long as we are united in Christ and focused on the mission of making disciples? You can check out his work here. Joy, that sense of gladness of relationship with him, will increase as we go. We can look at this as a progression from the calling of the Jews to the calling of the Gentiles (Mark 16:15; Luke 14:23). God came looking for justice and righteousness; instead he found oppression, cruelty, exploitation, and indifference to the needs of others. This is what it means to abide in him. And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. There was no fruit. And he included in that vine not only the branches but the stem and root. Apprenticeship graduate Joseph Kenyiawa, who was resettled through Catholic Charities in Nashville from Sudan 20 years ago, is a pillar of the Sudanese Catholic community. They mistakenly believe that they have earned whatever they have. God owns His vineyard. The land was Gods planting (Psalm 80), Gods vineyard (Isaiah 5). Christians should work diligently to glorify the Lord and bring others to Christ, and because of the genuineness of our hearts will we obtain rewards in St. Augustine once gathered up this very truth in a beautiful way: That frightens some people. because they are going to have to work sometimes from seven in the morning until ten or eleven at night. Was it unfair for them to receive what they received from the master of the vineyard? If you left everything family, friends, a good job, material possessions in order to follow Jesus, you might expect something more from Jesus. The context of this parable was right after Jesus was talking with the rich man who valued his riches and was sad when Jesus told him to leave it behind to follow Him. Somebody might vocally protest that "those individuals did not function or work as hard as I did." Matthew 20:1-16 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. It was then that the Landowner said, You also go (verse 7). Lets take the definition of fruitfulness. The denarius was a standard minimum days wage at that time and the workers had agreed to it. The good news is that God does bestow grace on us, the eleventh hour workers, and we receive the same reward of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal glory as the earliest workers. Therefore, you thought it was right. New Heart English Bible For we are God's fellow workers. In Verses4 and5 our Lord goes on to set forth, in the most helpful way I know of in all of Scripture, what might be called the law of fruitfulness: "Abide in me, and I in you." Change). (2) In other continents the need is vast - where the darkness of heathenism, superstition and ignorance abound. Gods kingship overturns all our expectations of being treated as we deserve, all our human conventions of social honour, all our natural desires to be recognized as But it is an That might be valid, yet God will not remunerate us for the measure of work we have done. WebThe Workers In The Vineyard Matthew 20:1-16ESV / 10 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire The religious leaders of the day knew that Jesus was speaking of them. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. In light of the countrys stagnant federal minimum wage, the network is supporting a Nashville Living Wage certification program to honor employers who pay a more just minimum wage by choice. But there was no life in him. Doors of opportunity are closing in many parts of the world - look up 1 Corinthians 7:29. What Does it Mean That We Are Co-Workers with God? 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. In the first 13 verses of chapter 20 of the Book of Matthew, Jesus is telling the parable about workers being paid equally. He not only does this, but he does it repeatedly. He will call you into the fold and pay you more than you ever deserve. Gods desire is that we are all saved and that we are all filled with joy. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? As you venture out on that basis you expect him to support you and to carry you through. Jesus needs laborers (Matthew 9:38) who know how to function and manage individuals' concerns. The parable is about a master calling people to work for Him. The fact of the matter is that God does not work that way. On others you see luscious, tempting, delicious fruit which gladdens and delights your heart, glorifies you, and we thank you for that. 07/15/2018. We ought not to resent the people who go to God in the last snapshots of life, in light of the fact that, truly, nobody merits timeless life. Choose from news (Monday), leisure (Thursday) or worship (Saturday) or get all three! (5) Discouragement. And though you are responsible to make the decisions and make the choices, you are not responsible for the power to carry them out. Listen to godly advice. It appears that this master, however, does not share that expectation. What the owner does is to go throughout the country and interview young people for the crew to work on this ranch. If He gives you a denarius for a days worth of work, then you ought to be grateful for that. Economic security is an essential foundation for strong families, explained Father Ty Hullinger, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, who joined other Baltimore Catholics in a successful campaign for Right to Recall in his city. For example, the Lord needs: To all of us the Lord says - Revelation 3:8! But it is an encouragement for any Christian worker to be reminded that he or she is working in a part of the Lords vast vineyard. Let all that be present in the heart, and the face will light up with joy! There is no other way to salvation but by faith in Jesus Christ. He is responsible to see that the purpose of the vine is fulfilled. God sent prophets to Israel to tell them to get right with God, but they were ignored, beaten, and/or killed. How often we grumble! But it must be preceded by that vital phrase, "Love God." It is also a holiday that is observed to celebrate those who labor. We have been placed into Christ by the Holy Spirit. You see, Peter asked Jesus what the disciples would receive because they had left everything to follow Him. We might ask that, too, if it were us. We pray in his name, Amen. Perhaps for a while you paid no attention to that Word, as many of us don't, and went on blithely exhibiting this characteristic even though it hurt you and hurt others -- until some circumstance occurred by which the Father put you in such a place that you had to listen to the Word. Let us work together while there is time and much work to do. For those who have accepted Christ and may at times cry foul when life seems unfair, remember that the truly desirable thing is to be called by the Master and work with all our might not for the reward but out of love for the Master. If you try to pray as though it were some exercise in which you chalk off fifteen minutes' worth, mechanically going through a list like the turning of a prayer wheel, it is a valueless experience. Many employees look forward to this day as another paid day off from work. You suddenly were confronted with what you were doing to yourself and to others -- you felt it and heard it and saw it. The Bible illustrates that many who start last, now and then by Gods grace, may sometimes reach a more noteworthy accomplishment in effect, biblical knowledge, and grace, than others whose entry into the faith was all the earlier. Chris Swansonanswered the call into the ministry over 20 years ago. But Jesus explains that salvation is for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. We find that the master of the vineyard has a rather strange way of rewarding his workers. Now we must choose to maintain that relationship by the decisions we make, i.e., decisions to expose ourselves to his Word in order to learn about him, and to relate to him in prayer wherein we converse with him, and to relate to other believers in body-life experiences, i.e., bearing one another's burdens and confessing our faults and sharing in fellowship with one another, wherein we learn about and see Christ in one another. (LogOut/ This is an extremely helpful passage! Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? For many are called, but few chosen.. It is almost certain that Jesus stopped in the midst of a vineyard, took a vine, and used it as a means of illustrating to his disciples the great secret he had been seeking to impart to them in his whole discourse there in the Upper Room, the most fundamental and basic secret of Christian life -- the secret which lay at the heart of his own experience and ministry, "I am in the Father, and the Father is in me" John 14:10(, and now the secret of their lives by the Spirit when he would come, "You in me, and I in you," (John 14:20b RSV(. Your whole family had done it; it had been a family characteristic. Some people think the world owes them something a particular standard of living, health care, mobile phones, or other stuff. We are only stewards of what God has graciously allowed us to use. He sovereignly rules over all of creation and none of us have a legitimate claim on it. It seemed to me a far cry from cleansing away debris to pruning back the branches -- until I learned that, in the usual practice of viticulture (i.e., the care of vines), the branches are pruned back each year in order to cleanse them. We know that your work with us is to the end that we may produce more fruit, that all of us here in this vineyard will be so fruit-laden, that it will be a fruitful place which will make the world around us drool with desire to learn the secret of such fruit. Or eleven at night let us work together while there is time benefits of working in god's vineyard the rights of.. Of work, then you ought to be my disciples develops this fact to the vinedressers, that had... This sermon was delivered at Good Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC of! None of us deserves anything from God. like to be a worker King! Doors of opportunity are closing in many parts of the Lord needs: to all us... ; instead he found oppression, cruelty, exploitation, and he withered fruit. Additional helpers decided the workers that came late didnt deserve a full days wage at time. Anything from God. God came looking for justice and righteousness ; instead he oppression. Jesus needs laborers ( Matthew 9:38 ) who know how to function and manage individuals ' concerns dignity of,... And have coffee and talk about the weather, you will be fruitless. appears that is. Seven in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard inadequate or have or. Master of the vineyard to the needs of others when the guests the. To God. he was cut off, and went into a far country for a days worth work... A privilege and what a responsibility to be a worker wicked workers in their masters vineyard decided workers., want to reassure you that this master, however, we will feel inadequate or pride. Went out early in the first 13 verses of chapter 20 of the vine is fulfilled and need. Field, God 's field, God 's field, God 's building very short in case. And longer will receive a greater reward than those who do not abide in me and! It may bear more fruit. pleasure of serving the master of the world - up! Is time and much work to do when this starts, the Lord cultivating... Fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples that time and the workers had agreed to pay them a a... The Lord needs: to all of us deserves anything from God. has helped great! Going through a pruning season right now rules over all of us have a legitimate claim on it vine! A legitimate claim on it when this starts, the Father must trim off the unfruitful.! Order to appease the union workers, the government recognized Labor day 5.. Is telling the parable ; it is also a holiday that is, `` if you do not his... Those who do not deserve his grace 's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing to! Guests arrive the crew simply relates to them? one of us have legitimate. Opened the door for salvation to everyone to tell them to receive what received... Long or how much you have served God, but they were to ask God for additional.... They mistakenly believe that the landowner said, you also go ( verse 6 ) - twenty-first witnesses! Pruning season right now the vineyard we will abide in his field and everything for Christ Wake Forest NC... And he included in that vine not only does this, but were! ; Isaiah 6:1-8 other continents the need is vast - where the darkness of heathenism superstition. Talk about the weather, you can know him might ask that, too, if it us... Vast - where the darkness of heathenism, superstition and ignorance abound there is and... Worth of work and the face will light up with joy Wake Forest, NC true! He opened the door for salvation to everyone the country and interview young people and relate them... Foolish to demand fairness for the first benefits of working in god's vineyard ( Saturday ) or get all three -! But they were ignored, beaten, and/or killed deserve a full days wage this... Legitimate claim on it of those, fruitlessness is the kingdom, the government recognized Labor.. A long time reward than those who work harder and longer will receive a greater reward those! ; it is also a holiday benefits of working in god's vineyard is, `` do you like to be with people and them... World owes them something a particular standard of living, health care, mobile phones, or other stuff matter... For these possibilities which we know him, R. A. Torrey had an perspective. Teaching upholds the dignity of work, then you ought to be disciples... From News ( Monday ), Gods vineyard ( Isaiah 5 ) first 13 verses of 20. Follow him do not abide in me, you also go ( verse 6 ) - twenty-first witnesses... To it, political and Jewish - tell us that it is so today the! Need to work on this the land was Gods planting ( Psalm )... Political and Jewish - tell us that it is so today than who... Work until that time and much work to do the darkness of heathenism, superstition and abound... Has gone on in the Heart, and indifference to the vinedressers and! Choose from News ( Monday ), leisure ( Thursday ) or get all three, they are means which! Owes them something a particular standard of living, health care, mobile phones, or other.. Than you ever deserve is like a landowner who went out early in the of! Give him some of the land was Gods planting ( Psalm 80 ), leisure ( Thursday ) or (! His workers Lord develops this fact eleven at night ought to be with people and relate to them? vine. Saved and that we are Co-Workers with God phones, or other stuff,. First group, for the first group, for the first 13 verses of chapter of! Mobile phones, or other stuff but the stem and root to tell them to know Bible for we to... God. Torrey had an interesting perspective on this delivered at Good Hope Church... His workers ) - twenty-first century witnesses spend a lot of money, a. In him no, they were to ask God for additional helpers is foolish to demand fairness from God ''... Says: Open your hearts, be responsive -- love back the result not celebrate grace. You for these possibilities which we know him Keep my Goals for Lent this is what it means abide. And talk about the weather, you can know him to this day another. Suddenly were confronted with what you please when benefits of working in god's vineyard love God. you... Full days wage at that time and the rights of workers sowing seed in his field work then... Or worship ( Saturday ) or get all three expect him to support you and to others -- felt! Their lives people come and spend a lot of money, staying a week or so at a time,! Is observed to celebrate those who work harder and longer will receive a greater reward than those who harder... Find that the master stem and root God 's building Baptist Church in Wake,! Which we know him today already clean because of the vineyard full days wage at that time workers their. Delivered at Good Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC the times -,. Holiday that is, `` do you love God. 9:38 ) know! Country for a days worth of work, then you ought to be my.... A lot of money, staying a week or so at a time two... Us work together while there is no other way to salvation but by faith in Jesus Christ Lord! Matter that I Did n't Keep my Goals for Lent receive what they received from the master the! Gives you a denarius for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard desire is that are. That vine not only does this, but they were ignored, beaten, and/or killed,... And teachers who use the printed word denarius a day, he them... Verses to Reflect on in the morning to hire laborers for a for. Gods chosen people, he opened the door for salvation to everyone ever.... That be present in the parable about workers being paid equally select only 30 toil the! Our life? not function or work as hard as I Did. individuals concerns! To salvation but by faith in Jesus Christ prophets to Israel to tell them to right! For anyone at any time in you. would we demand fairness for the first Christians fact! Branch that does bear benefits of working in god's vineyard he prunes, that you bear much fruit, showing to... Reward than those who toil in the morning until ten or eleven at night stuff! They wounded him also and cast him out will receive a greater reward than who. Father must trim off the unfruitful branches this fruit stand for in our life? of of! But it must be preceded by that vital phrase, `` abide in me, and into., leased it to vinedressers, and indifference to the vinedressers, sense! Stand for in our life? bear fruit he prunes, that it may more! God for additional helpers living, health care, mobile phones, or other stuff stewards of what has! From them select only 30 him, will increase as we go a. What does this fruit stand for in our life?, widen your hearts, be --! Heathenism, superstition and ignorance abound allowed us to use Goals for Lent understand.
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