Jesus the Employer Gives Grace

Jesus' Parable of the Vineyard Workers

Matthew 20:1-16

'For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last up to the first.' And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' So the last will be first, and the first last.'

When Comparison Creeps In

In the parable, the workers who started early grumbled because the late workers got the same pay. They stopped looking at what they had and only looked at what others had. When was a time you felt frustrated because someone else got the same treat, grade, or attention that you worked longer to earn? How does Jesus' story change the way you think about fairness?

It All Belongs to Him

The vineyard owner told his workers, 'Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?' The sermon reminded us that God owns everything and is free to give grace to anyone He calls. Why is it good news that God is generous even to people who come to Him late or have done less than you?

Serve Faithfully

The big idea said God's people should serve faithfully and contentedly instead of begrudging His generosity. What is one job, chore, or kindness you can do this week for Jesus' sake, trusting that He will reward you in the right way at the right time?

Eyes on Your Own Paper

The sermon said the master defended his payment on the basis of agreement—he promised a denarius and he paid it. The preacher even mentioned, 'Eyes on your own paper.' When you follow Jesus, God promises to take care of you and never cheat you. How can remembering that promise help you stop comparing your life to friends or classmates?

What Will We Have?

The sermon connected the parable to Matthew 19, where Peter asked Jesus what the disciples would get for leaving everything to follow Him. Read Jesus' words here:

Matthew 19:27-30

'Then Peter said in reply, 'We have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?' Jesus said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.''

If eternal life is a gift God gives to everyone who trusts Jesus—not a bigger prize for people who have believed longer—how should that make you feel toward new believers or friends who just started following Jesus?