Not that His own rejection was not before His spirit, but here He looks not beyond that land and people; and, as far as the twelve were concerned, He sends them on a mission which goes on to the end of the an. For him the cup was martyrdom. They were offended that the landowner gave the men who worked less equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day. This, I believe, is a great lesson, and too often forgotten. The old people and work then closed in principle, and a new work of God in the kingdom of heaven was disclosed. The parable may also be applied more generally, and . And He said to her, What do you wish? She said to Him, Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.. They looked at one another, and they tried to fathom where there was no depth, but where the truth lay on the surface. (Spurgeon), vi. For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner, Whatever is right I will give you whatever is right you will receive, Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first, They supposed that they would receive more, equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day. Some consider that John the Baptist enquired solely for the sake of his disciples. Then a beggar asked for his shirt and got it. Thus man's badness takes occasion from God's goodness to be more exceedingly sinful. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. It is an evil eye, which is displeased at the good of others, and desires their hurt. It means that no matter when a man enters the Kingdom, late or soon, in the first flush of youth, in the strength of the midday, or when the shadows are lengthening, he is equally dear to God. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. So they went. Jerusalem's proud, traditional hypocrisy is exposed, and grace fully blesses the tried Gentile. He stands with the juvenile delinquents. Thirdly, Others are hired into the vineyard in old age, at the eleventh hour, when the day of life is far spent, and there is but one hour of the twelve remaining. Judas had been called, but would not be among the chosen either for the higher work or for its ultimate reward-Interpreting the parable as we have been led to interpret it, we cannot for a moment imagine that its drift was to teach the disciples that they would forfeit their place in the kingdom. Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's account of our Lord Jesus. Then says the unclean spirit, "I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. He was there for the express purpose of glorifying God. And so they began to cry out to Jesus. The Lord works in delivering power; but withal the power of Satan fills and carries away the unclean to their own destruction. It was clearly a question of connection with the apostle of the circumcision ( i.e., Peter's wife's mother). Imagine a slave being given leadership! (Carson). The devil was tricked by God. Note, First, The soul of man stands ready to be hired into some service or other; it was (as all the creatures were) created to work, and is either a servant to iniquity, or a servant to righteousness,Romans 6:19. The Old Testament Faithful labourers shall receive their reward when they die; it is deferred till then, that they may wait with patience for it, but no longer; for God will observe his own rule, The hire of the labourers shall not abide with thee all night, until the morning. These are the words of an older gentleman who trusted Christ a few days before he died from cancer. Matthew, Mark and John all give lists of the women who were at the Cross when Jesus was crucified. He also strongly claimed his right to do what he wanted with what was his. And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, let us pass over unto the other side. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! And what makes this still more striking, is the certainty that the kingdom, bright as it is, is by no means the thing nearest to Jesus. It is the glory of Christ; not so much as Son of the living God, but as the exalted Son of man, who once suffered here below. O Lord God, your grace to me is marvelous. All other things, although important, are secondary. Jesus was passing by. The crown set before us is a crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge shall give. But I see no sufficient reason to refuse the impression that John found it hard to reconcile his continued imprisonment with a present Messiah; nor do I discern a sound judgment of the case, or a profound knowledge of the heart, in those who thus raise doubts as to John's sincerity, any more than they appear to me to exalt the character of this honoured man of God, by supposing him to play a part which really belonged to others. Matthew 20:16 ESV - So the last will be first, and the - Bible Gateway In short, he had a question because he was a man. Yet man, in face of all, is so deceived of the enemy, that he prefers to be left with the demons rather than enjoy the presence of the Deliverer. Then Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and he said unto them, [now He is on the way, there is probably great multitudes, but He takes the twelve apart] He said, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him and the third day he shall rise again ( Matthew 20:17-19 ). Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. Now He brings out not the kingdom merely, but His Church; and this not merely in view of hopeless unbelief in the mass, but of the confession of His own intrinsic glory as the Son of God by the chosen witness. First, Carnal worldlings agree with God for their penny in this world; they choose their portion in this life (Psalms 17:14); in these things they are willing to have their reward (Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:5), their consolation (Luke 6:24), their good things (Luke 16:25); and with these they shall be put off, shall be cut off from spiritual and eternal blessings; and herein God does them no wrong; they have what they chose, the penny they agreed for; so shall their doom be, themselves have decided it; it is conclusive against them. What the account was; and in that observe. Under grace, we cant come to God complaining, Dont I deserve better than this; because God will reply, Does this mean that you really want Me to give you what you deserve?. "And forthwith when they were come out of the synagogue they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John; but Simon's wife's mother was sick of a fever, and anon they tell Him of her. Is there unrighteousness with God? The fact of two without the personal details would not powerfully tell upon mere Gentiles perhaps, though to a Jew it might be for some ends necessary. And he said unto them, You shall indeed drink of my cup ( Matthew 20:23 ). After this, dismissing the multitudes, He retires alone, to pray, on a mountain, as the disciples toil over the storm-tossed lake, the wind being contrary. Paul was as one born out of due time, yet came not behind the chiefest of the apostles, and outdid those that were in Christ before him. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? What Jesus Did! No word whatever implies that the cleansing of the leper happened at that time. I love that family strength among them. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money. Herein is where the prophecy of Isaiah really stands out: "As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth"( Isaiah 53:7 ). He was not setting out rules for wages and employment, but giving an illustration of Gods grace. It was a grave step this, and in view of His rejection now. Jesus will use this story to answer a question from Matthew 19:27: See, we have left all and followed You. A few I have chosen for higher stations in the church. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. We are in his hand, as clay in the hands of a potter; and it is not for us to prescribe to him, or strive with him. The discontent arose not because of any injustice in the landowner, but because of jealousy in the all-day workers (Matthew 20:9-15). But here pardon dispensed on earth arouses the pride of the religious leaders to the quick, and implacably. The grape harvest ripened towards the end of September, and then close on its heels the rains came. Jesus knew what was going on in their minds; and he spoke to them words which are the very basis of the Christian life. There are two great lessons here. i. God proves what He is by the revelation of Jesus. Grace forms the hearts of those that understand it, according to the great manifestation of what God is, and what man is, too, given us in the person of Christ. The parable sets about to correct this misguided notion. They in turn will give me to the Gentiles, the Romans. However imperfect it may be, if faith is there, Jesus accepts it. The apostles were then sent thus, no doubt, forerunners of those whom the Lord will raise up for the latter day. Matthew 20. This parable taught him that God would give him a just reward for his sacrificial labor for Jesus. The mother of Zebedees sons came to Him: This mother of James and John (Matthew 4:21) came with a request that would make a mother proud and the sons very happy. "Verily, I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven." God could not be limited by a question of place; His word was enough. It is of immense significance to see that, even in a world in which the dark was coming down, the disciples would not abandon the conviction that the victory belonged to Jesus. Historical Books Email / username or password was incorrect! Study Guide for Matthew 20 by David Guzik - Blue Letter Bible 4 He told them, 'You also go and work in my . Amen. Take what is yours and go! b. Matthew 20:16 ESV - So the last will be first, | Biblia Higher proportionate rewards shall be given to them than to others. 2. i. The tribunes of the second and third likewise made their choice one after another; and he that remained entered into the fourth legion. (iv) These two blind men were not afraid to bring a great request. And if those who in the last moment come into the kingdom of God, God rewards them, and they receive the reward for their place in the kingdom. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. v. Living under grace is sort of a two-edged sword. The New Testament It doesn't mean someone who is to be looked up to, and someone who is to be catered to, and someone who is to be bowed to, and all of this kind of stuff, and do special favors because he is the minister. They said to him, "We can." The Lord has nothing for them, or for Him, but to go right on to the end. The ones who labored only an hour did not deserve their pay either. Wisdom Literature Verse 29 gives us strict time. This is the prerogative of the King of kings. They next proceeded to the creation of subaltern officers, whom the tribunes chose from among the soldiers of the greatest reputation. So the last shall be first, and the first last,. As he had asserted in Matthew 19:30 and which is clearly illustrated by this parable, as it may be applied to Jews or Gentiles, or to nominal and real Christians: for many be called; externally, under the ministration of the Gospel, as the Jews in general were, by Christ and his apostles; but, few chosen; in Christ from all eternity, both to grace and glory; and in consequence, and as an evidence of it, but few among the Jews; as also in the Gentile world, comparatively speaking: and even but a few of those that are outwardly called, are inwardly and effectually called by the powerful grace of God, out of darkness into marvellous light, into the grace and liberty of the Gospel, into communion with Christ, and to the obtaining his kingdom and glory, according to the eternal purpose of God. To my mind, the depth of such grace only enhances the beauty of Jesus, and is the very last possible ground that justifies man in thinking lightly of the Saviour. And the third day He will rise again: Jesus was remarkably specific in this announcement of His fate, and foretold many things over which He had no apparent control. "Life is not fair! Praise God!" (Matthew 20:1-16) | Bible.org It is a question, then, of internal evidence, what that particular order is which God has employed in each different gospel. If it be so, it is surely a ground of thankfulness to God; for it turns a stumbling-block into an evidence of the perfection of Scripture. As we have seen, the pay was 4 pence a day; and, if they were unemployed for one day, the children would go hungry at home, for no man ever saved much out of 4 pence a day. Sometimes those that are converted later in their lives, outstrip those that are converted earlier. But Jesus called them unto him, and he said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. Finally, we have all wound up, after the going forth of a testimony which was truly universal in its scope, by the judicial severance at the close, when it is not only the good put into vessels, but the bad dealt with by the due instruments of the power of God. c. Early in the morning: This is literally at dawn, usually reckoned to be about 6:00 in the morning. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. (2.) And so anti what Jesus has declared. for many be called; externally, under the ministration of the Gospel, as the Jews in general were, by Christ and his apostles; but. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. The leper approaches the Lord with homage, but with a most inadequate belief in His love and readiness to meet his need. What an anticipation of the walk by faith, not by sight, in which the Gentiles, when called, ought to have glorified God, when the rejection of the Messiah by His own ancient people gave occasion to the Gentile call as a distinct thing! The fact is, in judging others we judge ourselves. The crowd rebuked them, so that they might be silent. Something of affinity there is between this parable and that of the prodigal son, where he that returned from his wandering, was as dear to his father as he was, that never went astray; first and last alike. One of these people might have been the rich young man if he had become a disciple (Matthew 20:16-22). Far different this was from the errand on which He was intent; but He was there for faith. The better MSS., indeed, omit it here. General Epistles without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Now he started out at about six o'clock in the morning, and hired these men who were standing in the marketplace to go out and work in his vineyard. The two blind men called upon Him as the Son of David; a sample this of what will be in the end, when the heart of Israel turns to the Lord, and the veil is done away. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." When they heard that Jesus was passing by: They knew this might be their last time to meet Jesus. Matthew 20. James was the first of the apostolic band to die a martyr ( Acts 12:2). All through their history the Jews had dreamed of the Messiah; but the Messiah of whom they had dreamed was always a conquering king, a mighty leader, one who would smash the enemies of Israel and reign in power over the kingdoms of the earth. Second, this passage sheds a light upon the Christian life. of their own children, or of strangers?" The people might have failed, but, surely, there were some differences surely those that were honoured and valued were not so depraved! If the harvest was not ingathered before the rains broke, then it was ruined; and so to get the harvest in was a frantic race against time. When the world and the devil begin to rebuke, in this case, it is a proof that the salvation of God is nigh; therefore, let such cry out a great deal the more. (Clarke). Before dinner starts, hide your nerf guns, then start the soundtrack to Mr. & Mrs. Smith. In the end of this chapter (15) is another miracle of Christ's feeding a vast multitude. I injure no one, and have a right to do what I will with my own." All that are chosen from eternity, are effectually called, in the fulness of time (Romans 8:30), so that in making our effectual calling sure we make sure our election (2 Peter 1:10); but it is not so as to the outward call; many are called, and yet refuse (Proverbs 1:24), nay, as they are called to God, so they go from him (Hosea 11:2; Hosea 11:7), by which it appears that they were not chosen, for the election will obtain,Romans 11:7. Whatever might be the Church or the kingdom, it is precisely when the Lord unfolds His new glory in both the kingdom and the Church that He maintains the proprieties of nature in their rights and integrity. God turns away none that are willing to be hired, for yet there is room. Yet they were paid exactly the same. Note, The unchangeableness of God's purposes in dispensing his gifts should silence our murmurings. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a Which means that each lash that was laid upon Him, was laid with greater ferocity, as they were seeking to elicit from Him some confession of wrong, but He had done no wrong. Mary Magdalene is named in all the lists; Mary the mother of James and Joses must be the same person as Mary the wife of Clopas; therefore the third woman is described in three different ways. That the recompence of reward will be given to the saints, not according to the time of their conversion, but according to the preparations for it by grace in this world; not according to the seniority (Genesis 43:33), but according to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (1.) A man is not a Christian if his first concern is pay. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus. Matthew 20:16-20 NIV - "So the last will be first, and the - Bible Gateway 1 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 2:26). Or is your eye evil because I am good?. Jesus was moved with compassion to the depths of his being, and touched their eyes; and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. In heaven, every vessel will be full, brimful, though every vessel is not alike large and capacious. (Matthew 20:22-23) Jesus answers James and John: when you ask for a place of special status, do you know what you ask for? The picture is that the landowner had an inexhaustible supply of work for those who wanted to work. Many be called, but few chosen - The meaning of this, in this connection, I take to be simply this: Many are called into my kingdom; they come and labor as I command them; many of them are comparatively unknown and obscure; yet they are real Christians, and shall all receive the proper reward. and when they were alone, He expounded all things to His disciples [in both the parables and the explanations alluding to what we possess in Matthew 13:1-58.]. The Lord, no doubt, knew the heart of His servant, and could feel for him in the effect that circumstances took upon him. I Will Build My Church (16:13-20) The . In some cases the last called will be among the first in rank of blessing. [There is what I call a clear, unmistakable note of time.] Taken together, the entire picture is one of great suffering. The world will respect, and admire, and sometimes fear, the man of power; but it will love the man of love. "In God's economy," as someone has said, "there is no such thing as a most favoured nation clause." It is the power of grace. (Matthew 20:1-2) A landowners workers early in the morning. God's delight is to pick out the hindmost for the first place, to the disparagement of the foremost in their own strength. Though there be degrees of glory in heaven, yet it will be to all a complete happiness. How thoroughly did our Lord take a lowly place for our sakes! The nature of envy; It is an evil eye. Oh, what a heart is ours! Johannine Writings "Who is my mother? a. Can we dare to say, No man hath hired us?. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! Let not those that come in at the eleventh hour, be put behind the rest, but, lest they should be discouraged, call them first. how is it that ye have no faith? It is not only the fact that God slighted matters of prescriptive ordinance because of the ruined state of Israel, who rejected His true anointed King, but there was this principle also, that certainly God was not going to bind Himself not to do good where abject need was. Dress up - slacks/tie, skirt/shirt. The youth were instructed, almost from their cradle, in military exercises. When He uttered the words, "Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me," it is to me evident that there was an allusion to the wavering let it be but for a moment of John's soul. 748.]. He sets forth the sign of the prophet Jonah, the repentance of the men of Nineveh, the preaching of Jonah, and the earnest zeal of the queen of the South in Solomon's day, when an incomparably greater was there despised. That was all over for the moment through Israel's blind sin; He was going to suffer, not yet reign, at Jerusalem. It is evident that the bodily presence of the Messiah is the very essence of the former scene, as it ought to be in dealing with the leper, who is a kind of type of what Israel should have been in seeking cleansing at His hands. Matthew 20:16 - Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse "Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom? [1.] Before he goes to Church let him visit the hospital. Modern disciples of Jesus should view heavenly rewards the same way. Hence, the Lord Jesus is here disclosing throughout, that the doom of Israel was pronounced and impending. And so, as savouring not divine but human things, he is bid to go behind (not from) the Lord as one ashamed of Him. It shall not be so among you, but whoever wishes to prove himself great among you must be your servant; and whoever wishes to occupy the foremost place will be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.". No. For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner: Like many of Jesus parables, this story is about an employer and those who work for him. And they said unto him, We're able ( Matthew 20:22 ). c. For many are called, but few chosen: This was said in the context of this illustration of grace. Plainly, the church isnt to operate the way the world does. This is the third time that Jesus warned his disciples that he was on the way to the Cross ( Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23). By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. A Gentile (indeed, any mind not under any kind of legal prejudice or difficulty) would be far more moved by a detailed account of what was more, conspicuous. (See Mt 19:30; 22:14). Major Prophets b. Matthew 20:16 The New King James Version (NKJV) 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He could not bear to see them idle. They that come from the east and west, and so come in late, that are picked up out of the highways and the hedges, shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, at the same feast, Matthew 7:11; Matthew 7:11. The Incarnation, he said, was a divine stratagem to catch the great leviathan. In Jesus' name. Prophets It is a just prefiguration of what will be in the close of the age the mass of the unbelieving Jews, now impure, but then also given up to the devil, and so to evident perdition. Counting from 6 a.m. therefore, the third hour is 9 a.m., the sixth hour is twelve midday, and the eleventh hour is 5 p.m. It tells us of their ambition. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! How many times during communion has God touched me physically, and ministered to me physically, as I received that work of Christ for my own physical need?So Jesus predicts His crucifixion finally, and then rising again. The woman at last meets the heart and mind of Jesus in the sense of all her utter nothingness before God; and then grace, which had wrought all up to this, though pent-up, can flow like a river; and the Lord can admire her faith, albeit from Himself, God's free gift. And who knows, but what they may have put her up to it, because when Jesus asked the question, they're ready to respond. God is the Owner of all good; his propriety in it is absolute, sovereign, and unlimited. It shows us his honesty. 1. of Scripture. Would he go back on his point of no return? Poetical Books Matthew 20:16New International Version. On the other hand, it is not too much to say, that the same Scriptures which convince one unbiassed mind that pays heed to these notes of time, will produce no less effect on others. Here is the agreement made with the labourers (Matthew 20:1-7; Matthew 20:1-7); and here it will be asked, as usual. That many who begin last, and promise little in religion, sometimes, by the blessing of God, arrive at greater attainments in knowledge, grace, and usefulness, than others whose entrance was more early, and who promised fairer.
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