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It seemed the last place on earth to which a man in his condition should have gone. It is tragic that in church circles there is also that endeavor many times to exercise lordship and dominion over people.One of the weird doctrines of the seventies was the shepherding doctrine, where so many men sought to establish themselves as the lords over the flock of God and causing people to submit to their authority. They supposed that they would receive more: The men who worked for the landowner all day saw the men who worked for only an hour come away from the pay table, and they supposed, If the landowner is paying these guys a full days pay for one hours work, then we will get far more., i. So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first. And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. Thus, in the scene of the leper, we have Jesus presented as "Jehovah that healeth Israel," as man here below, and in Jewish relationships, still maintaining the law. What feelings at such a time! 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. He is there with the beggars. No matter what the great purpose might be, He was there for faith. That blessed One was here whom he knew to be God, who was to him the impersonation of divine power and goodness His presence was uncalled for, His word more than enough. The ones who labored only an hour did not deserve their pay either. He evinces, that at the very time when Peter forgot the vision and the Father's voice, virtually reducing Him to mere man, He was God manifest in the flesh. ( Matthew 20:16) The parable applied: the principle of God's reward. 2. Matthew 20:1-16 In-Context - Bible Study Tools It is not enough that Israel be awakened from the sleep of death, and see aright. He promised to pay all the later workers fairly. He is not going to lower Himself to a human measure. The idea was you were to confess the crimes that you had committed against Rome, and as you confessed your crimes, the man who was administering that scourging would go easier and easier on you. When time ends, and with it the world of work and opportunity, then the state of retribution commences; then call the labourers, and give them their hire. This made it to be plainly and only a difficulty for God to solve. The offence taken (Matthew 20:11; Matthew 20:12); They murmured at the good man of the house; not that there is, or can be, any discontent or murmuring in heaven, for that is both guilt and grief, and in heaven there is neither; but there may be, and often are, discontent and murmuring concerning heaven and heavenly things, while they are in prospect and promise in this world. Still further, here is demonstrated the unshakable loyalty of the disciples. But it was for a land of darkness and sin and death that Jesus came from heaven the Messiah, not according to their thoughts, but the Lord and Saviour, the God-man. Even when they were bluntly told that there lay ahead a bitter cup, it never struck them to turn back; they were determined to drink it. And yet He takes time still to minister to the needs of others. Challenge the Adventurer within you! The truth of this is apparent, if we compare the gospel of Mark. Gregory the Great said that Jesus was like a baited hook meant to catch Satan, and Peter the Lombard said the cross was like a mousetrap to catch the devil, baited with the blood of Christ. b. A reaction might especially be expected when Jesus said He would be betrayed. They confess their faith, and He touches their eyes. The Old Testament Yet He confidently said it would happen. The grape harvest ripened towards the end of September, and then close on its heels the rains came. It shows us his honesty. And so, as savouring not divine but human things, he is bid to go behind (not from) the Lord as one ashamed of Him. Hence, the Lord Jesus is here disclosing throughout, that the doom of Israel was pronounced and impending. It does not say, that " then there came a leper," or " immediately there came a leper." Power and love were come for any one to draw on. The reason for the change is this--Matthew was writing twenty-five years later than Mark; by that time a kind of halo of sanctity had become attached to the disciples. "Day laborers" would be readily available in the market place. . The time of life is the day, in which we must work the works of him that sent us into the world. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. The point isnt that all have the same reward though all Gods people do go to the same heaven (where they will have reward in different measure). A few I have chosen for higher stations in the church. First, Some are effectually called, and begin to work in the vineyard when they are very young; are sent in early in the morning, whose tender years are seasoned with grace, and the remembrance of their Creator. And there were also with Him other little ships. The people whose hearts are yielded to him will be recognized as his children no matter their rank or riches by worldly standards. Many words are not now required for that which is happily familiar to most here. Matthew 20:16 - "So the last will be first, and the - Bible Gateway Again, when we listen to another (and now it is one of His disciples), at once faith shows its feebleness. He would send fit messengers, nor would the work be done till the rejected Messiah, the Son of man, came. To represent to us the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 20:1; Matthew 20:1), that is, the way and method of the gospel dispensation. It is a question, then, of internal evidence, what that particular order is which God has employed in each different gospel. Jesus said that among the Gentiles there is this desire to exercise lordship and dominion over people. The limit was reached by Peter the Lombard. That meant that they did believe him to be the Messiah, but it also meant that they were thinking of Messiahship in terms of kingly and of earthly power. a. "Come, come from this market-place.". Now what is Jesus seeking to teach by this parable of sending forth the laborers into the vineyard? The Lord was in Capernaum, where Peter lived; and on a certain Sabbath-day, after the call of Peter, wrought in the synagogue mighty deeds, which are here recorded, and by Luke also. Who hires them? Work for God will not admit of trifling. Would any man make of the Messiah a mere man and a mere subject of the law given by Moses? He said to them, "My cup you are to drink; but to sit on my right hand and my left is not mine to give, but that belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." He was really God in man; and all these wonderful features are here presented and compressed in this most simple, but at the same time significant, action of the Saviour the fitting frontispiece to Matthew's manifestation of the Messiah to Israel. He was there for the express purpose of glorifying God. Now these last have worked but one hour, and that too in the cool of the day; and yet thou hast made them equal with us. The ability to serve God is the gift of His grace. About five o'clock in the evening he went out and found others standing there, and said to them, 'Why are you standing here the whole day idle?' Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! All rights reserved. The next chapter (Matthew 18:1-35) takes up the double thought of the kingdom and the Church, showing the requisite for entrance into the kingdom, and displaying or calling forth divine grace in the most lovely manner, and that in practice. The Christian is a man put upon his honour by Jesus. It is a saying of R. Simeon ben Jochai (d). WORK AND WAGES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD ( Matthew 20:1-16 continued). O Lord God, your grace to me is marvelous. There were many who died right there as the result of the scourging itself. What can be simpler than that John put the question through his disciples, because he (not they only) had a question in the mind? "And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth." Those that were priests in the house of God would not they at least receive their own Messiah? One of the great fundamental facts to which we must hold on, even when we hate and loathe and despise ourselves, is that Jesus believes in us. They used their waiting time in considering their own superiority to the latecomers. (Spurgeon). "That by His stripes you may be healed." The system of grace is foreign to us: God deals with us according to who He is, not according to who we are. Lowly, noiseless grace now it was to be, according to the prophet, till the hour strikes for victory in judgment. Here is the account with the labourers. ", Kagawa himself wrote: "God dwells among the lowliest of men. . General Epistles Reader, whosoever thou art, act in behalf of thy soul as these blind men did in behalf of their sight, and thy salvation is sure. All our service is already due to God; it belongs to Him. Both Mark and Luke add their own touches to the story, to show that on this occasion there was in the atmosphere of the apostolic band a certain tenseness and a certain foreboding of tragedy to come. A few I have chosen for higher stations in the church. The Challenge Of Following Jesus (8:18-22) The Call Of Matthew (9:9-13) Moved By Compassion (9:35-38) . They knew that they were the chosen people, nor would they ever willingly forget that choice. These men were hired labourers; they were the lowest class of workers, and life for them was always desperately precarious. Their reward was as much of grace as was that of the bitter "firsters"! To me it is evident, from a careful comparison of them all, as I think it is capable of clear and adequate proof to an unprejudiced Christian mind, that neither Matthew nor Luke confines himself to such an order of events. God could not be limited by a question of place; His word was enough. And about the eleventh hour, [five in the evening] he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why do you stand here idle all day? After this, in the chapter we have the positive hindrance asserted of what man counts good. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." The servants are clearly divided into two classes. The slum dwellers of Tokyo laughed at him, but they came to respect him. However suitable to the Jewish expectation that He should be found a man, undeniably there was that apparent which was infinitely above the Jew's thought; for the Jew showed his own degradation and unbelief in the low ideas he entertained of the Messiah. "This [fellow]," etc. I'm a photographer by trade and want you guys to enjoy the world with me on my journey.soooooo ..come on inside and take a backseat to my life and adventures to come , don't be afraid to say hey and come on an adventure with me :) check out my adventures and my photos, if you wish to see more of my work visit the links below to check them out ! 2. Matthew 20:16 - John Darby's Synopsis We may remark that, when the Lord answers Peter, it was the consequence of having left all for Christ upon His call. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. He's being despised and rejected. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am going to be baptized with? . i. woe unto thee, Bethsaida! It is the end of the account of Jesus itinerant ministry, and its setting as they went out of Jericho points forward to the next town on the road, Jerusalem. (France).