Chapter 81
PARABLE OF THE LABORERS
Matthew 20:1-16
Perhaps one of the best illustrations to help us have a better understanding of the significance between God’s Grace and man’s good works, as it pertains to our salvation, is Jesus’ Parable of the Laborers.
However, before we begin our study of this parable, let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, Almighty God,
We come before You in the Name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Father God, we thank You for Your Word and Your Son Jesus. Father, as we study this parable, we ask You to please open our spiritual eyes, ears and heart so we can truly see, hear and understand the magnitude of the grace, kindness and goodness You have extended to each and every one of us.
Amen
INTRODUCTION
For this study of the Parable of the Laborers we will:
1. Review the definition of a parable.
2. Explore Jesus’ Parable of the Laborers.
3. Address a question relative to man’s good works as it relates to God’s plan for his salvation.
4. Review the attitude for those who, for the rest of their lives, remain faithful to God’s call.
Let us begin by reading the following,
DEFINITION OF A PARABLE
According to “Webster’s New World Dictionary” a parable is a comparison, an analogy. It is also defined as a simple story from which a moral or religious lesson may be drawn.
With this definition in mind let us now explore
JESUS’ PARABLE OF THE LABORERS
To better understand the spiritual message of this parable and how it relates to you and me, let us now explore,
SOME OF THE KEY ANALOGIES
To do this let us consider the answer to the following questions:
1. Who is the landowner? - God
2. Where is the vineyard? - Earth
3. Who are those in the marketplace? - These people are those who are unbelievers (they have not yet been called into God’s service).
4. Who are those in the vineyard? - These people are the born-again believers in Jesus Christ (they have been called into God’s service).
5. What does the denarius represent? – The salvation from our sins and the gift eternal life.
With these analogies in mind, let us the parable as it is recorded in,
Matthew 20:1-16
[1] “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. [2] Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. [3] And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, [4] and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. [5] Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. [6] And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ [7] They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ [8] “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.’ [9] And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. [10] But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. [11] And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, [12] saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ [13] But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? [14] Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. [15] Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ [16] So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
Let us notice that in Jesus’ Parable of the Laborers, all that were hired or put into service by the landowner received the same wage. The question arises as to; “Why?”
The answer to this question is simply that in the landowner’s mind the fact they were hired and entered into his service was sufficient. Thus, it was the landowner’s good pleasure to provide them with the same wage.
As we reflect and pray about all we have covered we come to the realization that the entire parable is intended to help us better understand the difference between God’s Grace, which means unmerited favor, and man’s good works, that is favor deserved or earned.
In other words this parable is,
AN ANALOGY OF OUR NEW BIRTH
To see this let us consider the following questions; “How were we born again?” (Or) “How were we brought into God’s service?
To refresh our memories let us read a series of questions the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, wrote to the church in Galatia. These questions were written to the church when they began to rely upon their own good works or deeds for salvation and justification before God the Father’s eyes. To read these pertinent questions we go to,
Galatians 3:2-5
[2] This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? [4] Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? [5] Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Thus, we find that by our faith in God we are justified, which means made righteous or declared guiltless. This justification was given to us, not by our works of the law but by His Grace. This truth is summarized in,
[28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
This brings us to,
THE MESSAGE OF THE PARABLE OF THE LABORERS
The message or teaching is that the length of time, service and/or the good deeds we do before or after we became Christians do not justify us or grant us salvation from our sins. In other words, our salvation from our sins and our justification before God the Father’s eyes are totally given to us through God’s Grace and Mercy.
To expand upon this let us read the following excerpt from Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus,
Ephesians 2:4-10
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, [5] even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), [6] and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Let us notice the following verses,
4-6 … Because of God’s great love for us, along with His grace and mercy, He made us spiritually alive with Christ Jesus. In addition, He gave us the privilege, in Christ Jesus, to sit in the heavenly places.
8-9 … God the Holy Spirit has clearly made the point that it was by God’s grace we have been saved from the penalty of our sins. Even the faith we have in Jesus Christ is a gift from God. This means that it was nothing we did to earn or purchase the salvation of our souls. Specifically, our salvation from the penalty and power of our sins and the eternal life we now have with Him is strictly a glorious gift from God.
Therefore, if we are a new or mature Christian it makes no difference. In other words, it was through faith we all have been freely given the glorious gift of eternal life.
10 … The born-again believer has been created by God for good works.
With the above in mind let us now address
A QUESTION CONCERNING MAN’S GOOD WORKS
If we are saved by faith and belief in Jesus Christ; “Why the good works?”
Let us recall in the parable of the laborers, the people were given the opportunity to labor and work in the landowner’s field. After they were offered the job, they did not idly hang around. No! They went into the field and worked. To see how this applies to today’s Christianity we go to,
James 2:19-20
[19] You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! [20] But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Let us notice the following verse,
19 … Even the demons know there is one God.
In addition, the demons also know and believe who Jesus Christ is and His authority. To see this let us read what occurred when Jesus arrived in the country of the Gergesenes. To do this let us go to,
Matthew 8:28-32
[28] When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. [29] And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” [30] Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. [31] So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” [32] And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
Let us notice the following verse,
29 … The demons knew that Jesus was the Son of God. They also knew the time when their judgment would occur.
Thus, if the demons believe in one God and that Jesus is the Son of God then it follows that a person who is not born-again of the Holy Spirit could also believe in God and that Jesus is the Son of God. Unfortunately, they as the demons would still be under God’s wrath.
The reason for this is that unless we are born-again of the Holy Spirit we are still not in God’s Kingdom. To see this let us read an excerpt from the conversation Jesus once had with the Pharisee Nicodemus. The excerpt of interest is recorded in,
John 3:1-6
[1] There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [2] This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” [3] Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [4] Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” [5] Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Let us take notice of the following verse,
6 … Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. In other words, in the normal course of physical things, we are flesh descended from Adam. However, in the spiritual realm the Holy Spirit gives birth to the spirit. Specifically, it is only the Holy Spirit, God Himself, who imparts His divine nature in us and makes us spiritually alive. This is the new birth or being born-again. This is the only way we can see and enter into the Kingdom of God.
In other words, if we are truly a born-again believer in Jesus Christ then, because of our new birth, God the Holy Spirit now lives within us to produce from within us the good works we have been created for.
It must be noted that the good works God is most concerned about are not necessarily the good deeds we may do. God is more concerned about the qualities or attributes flowing from within us that produced the good deeds. To see this let us read how important it is for us to do good deeds motivated by the Holy Spirit’s love. A good explanation of this truth was written by the Apostle Paul in,
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
[1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
This truth is so important that, by the pen of the Apostle Peter, God the Holy Spirit provided us with the following exhortation.
2 Peter 1:2-4
[2] Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, [3] as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, [4] by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Let us notice the following verses,
3-4 … God, through our new birth from the Holy Spirit, has given us everything we need to live a life pleasing to Him.
Let us now read the qualities God wishes us to have within our inner being. To do this we go to,
2 Peter 1:5-8
[5] But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, [6] to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, [7] to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. [8] For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us notice the following verse,
8 … Notice that the Scripture does not say we should have these qualities in a perfect condition. Instead, it says that they should exist and abound (or) as some translations state, “multiplying and/or increasing.”
With the above in mind, the Bible now instructs us to check ourselves out to see if the above fruits, attitudes or attributes are present in our lives and are growing. This is recorded in,
2 Peter 1:9-11
[9] For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. [10] Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; [11] for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As we check ourselves out, we may find sin and/or unloving attitudes in our lives. Does this mean that I am not saved? No! It does not necessarily mean that. Let us remember verse 8 does not say that these fruits or attributes are perfected; it says they must be present and growing.
However, if we become aware of areas of sin in our life, the Bible teaches us we must confess them and desire that the Lord will remove them, which is to put them to death. Consider,
Proverbs 28:13
"[13] He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
To encourage us to do this, let us read the following exhortation from,
1 John 1:5-10
[5] This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. [6] If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. [7] But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
Let us now read why God the Holy Spirit recorded the above promise as it is recorded in,
1 John 2:1-6
[1] My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. [2] And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. [3] Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. [4] He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [5] But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. [6] He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
When we live our life in this manner, the Holy Spirit will bear witness with our spirit that we are His children. To see this, let us read from,
Romans 8:12-16
"[12] Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. [13] For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, [14] because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
Before we close this study there is one more topic to be addressed. Specifically, it is
THE ATTITUDE OF THOSE WHO REMAIN FAITHFUL FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES TO GOD’S CALL
The concern is the attitude that was displayed by those who were first hired in Jesus’ Parable of the Laborers. To refresh our memories let us reread,
Matthew 20:8-12
[8] “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.’ [9] And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. [10] But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. [11] And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, [12] saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
Notice these laborers thought it was not fair for the owner of the vineyard to give each laborer, regardless of the amount of work they did, the same wage or reward.
In the secular world or economy, where we work for our wages or rewards, this attitude would be understandable and most likely would be a reasonable reaction. However, through the parable, Jesus is teaching us in God’s Kingdom things work differently. Specifically, it is because of His kindness, goodness and mercy that God extends to us the gift of eternal life with Him. To refresh our memories let us reread from,
Ephesians 2:8-9
[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Thus, as we saw earlier, we do good works not for a reward. We do good works because we have been born-again of the Holy Spirit and have been created in Christ Jesus to do them. As we read in Romans 8:12-16 these good works or deeds are not to be performed by our power or sinful nature but through faith we rely upon God the Holy Spirit to bring forth His fruits and good works from within us. With this in mind there are two points to be made.
The first point is,
Along with the heavenly angels we, unlike the laborers in the parable, should rejoice every time a person becomes born-again and receives eternal life. To see this let us consider the following two parables.
The first parable to consider is,
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
To read this parable we go to,
Luke 15:1-7
[1] Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. [2] And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” [3] So He spoke this parable to them, saying: [4] “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? [5] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ [7] I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
The second parable is,
The Parable of the Lost Coin
To read this parable we go to,
Luke 15:8-10
[8] “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? [9] And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ [10] Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The second point is that,
We, unlike the laborers in the parable, should have the same attitude that was displayed by the apostles
A good example of their attitude can be found after the apostles were beaten for preaching the wonderful news of Jesus Christ. To read what occurred let us go to,
Acts 5:40-42
[40] And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. [42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
In other words, throughout our walk with Jesus Christ, be it either short or long or in peace or tribulation we should be extremely grateful and feel very privileged to be a lamp for God’s light to shine through us. To see this let us consider the following excerpt from Jesus’ sermon of the mountain.
Matthew 5:14-16
[14] “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This now brings us to,
THE MESSAGE OF THIS STUDY
It is our faith in Jesus Christ that was given to us by God the Father, is what saved us from the fires of Hell (which would have been the penalty for our sins), justified us (declared guiltless) in God’s sight, brought us into His Kingdom, and gave us eternal life with Him.
However, if good works or the attributes of the Holy Spirit such as love, joy, kindness, goodness, etc. (see Galatians 5:22-24) are not present and growing in our lives we deceive ourselves and in reality our faith is either dead or never really existed.
CLOSING
Let us now close this study with the following words of encouragement.
1 Peter 1:3-11
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, [7] that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, [8] whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, [9] receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. [10] Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, [11] searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
Shall We Pray?