The Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard
This parable is a reminder we all agree to work for the Lord and our reward is eternal life through the blood of Jesus Christ. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Will you agree to be a worker for the LORD?
Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus tells this parable: For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
The householder went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go you also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Again the householder went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why stand you here all the day idle? They say unto him, because no man hath hired us. He said unto them, Go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall you receive.
So when evening came, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
When the first came, they thought that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. When they had received it, they murmured against the master of the house, saying:
These last workers have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
The mater of the house answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a penny? Take that which is yours, and go your way: I will give unto those that were last, even as unto you.
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
What Can Be Learned From This Lesson?
I am sure the first of the workers thought that working all day long should have earned more than the last of the workers. They worked for a penny. This is a denarius a silver coin which was a usual day’s wage for laborers.
The laborers were temporary farmhands working during the harvest season. The laborers went to work starting around 6:00 am. The eleventh hour is between about 4:00 or 5:00 pm. All the workers agreed to work for the same wage a denarius.
It is very important for us to understand that the Kingdom of heaven is given by the grace of the LORD God. Our reward is eternal life through Jesus Christ who is a gift given by grace and in available for anyone who becomes part of the Kingdom of God.
It teaches us that we are part of God’s kingdom by his grace, and that the reward of eternal life with Jesus is a gift that is available for everyone who becomes part of God’s Kingdom. Whether we become Christians early in life or late in life, we all receive the same free gift that God generously gives.
The parable teaches us it does not make any different if we become workers for the LORD early in our lives of later in life. We will be rewarded fairly no matter when we became workers for the LORD. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
The most important thing for us to is we must finish the course. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 reminds us: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Galatians 3:26-28 reminds us: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
We all agree to work for the Lord and our reward is eternal life through the blood of Jesus Christ. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Will you agree to be a worker for the LORD?
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1904,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “The Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1904,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “The Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1904, (accessed).
