Fairness vs God's Grace - The Parable of the Vineyard Workers

So turn to the gospel of Matthew chapter 20.

Matthew chapter 20, we'll read verses 1 through 16 in a moment.

I Think most people would probably say that life isn't fair.

But something that comes up in this parable is the accusation.

Really that God isn't fair.

So Matthew 21 through 16.

This passage is known as the parable of the vineyard workers.

The landowner in this parable clearly represents the Lord.

So why is there this?

Accusation.

Have you ever heard someone say that God isn't fair.

Maybe you've thought that.

But why this accusation against God?

Well We'll read and address that question and others but here in Matthew 20. Jesus is teaching

his disciples About the kingdom of heaven.

So let's hear what he says Matthew 20 starting in verse 1.

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to

hire Laborers for his vineyard.

Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day He sent them into

his vineyard 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 and again He went out about the 6th and the 9th hour and did likewise.

And about the 11th hour he went out and found others standing idle and said to them Why

have you been standing here idle all day.

And they said to him because no one has hired us.

And he said to them you also go into the vineyard and whatever is right

you will receive.

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 11th hour they each received a

denarius.

But when the first came they supposed that they would receive more and

they likewise Received each a denarius and when they had received it They

complained against the landowner saying these last men have worked only one

hour.

And you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.

But he answered one of them and said friend.

I'm doing you no wrong.

Did you not agree with me for a denarius take what is yours and go your way.

I Wish to give to this last man the same as you.

Is it not lawful for me to do what I want With my own things or

is your evil or is your eye evil because I am good.

So the last will be first and the first last.

For many are called but few are chosen.

Okay, so what is this parable trying to get across?

The main point I think of the parable is speaks about the equality that will exist in

The life to come so this really isn't about vineyards.

It's not about you know the proper pay for day laborers.

Jesus is trying to teach them a spiritual lesson the person who serves God

For one hour so to speak ends up the same as the person who has served God

all their life.

Or excuse me all day.

So here's here's the comparison people who have loved and served God from a very early age.

Let's say somebody's been a Christian for 50 years 60 years 70 years they get

the same eternal life as the person who Came to faith in the last

week of their life, you know, you think of the thief on the cross he probably Lived

what a matter of minutes maybe an hour before he died is is that fair?

You think about that someone from a very early age.

They're serving God they've they've devoted so much time and effort into into living

a godly life and serving him and giving money and Going on missions trips and doing all this stuff for the

Lord and maybe they pile up all these works.

They get the same eternal life as the guy the felon in the prison cell who repents

The last hour of his life.

Is that fair?

Some would say That's not fair.

And there's all sorts of people who look at the grace of God and they they think yeah, this isn't right.

This isn't the way it should be because we Usually we're on systems of merit, you know.

You got to earn what you get and the gospel is something very different.

The gospel is all about God's Generous grace.

So do we see I think what the parable is about that that spiritual lesson.

Does everyone understand that?

Is God does that make God unfair?

I Don't think so.

So let's just go over these verses and I think there's other spiritual lessons to learn verse 1 He says for

the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire Laborers for

his vineyard.

So sometimes you'll see that Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God.

So in the other Gospels, he says the kingdom of God, but in Matthew's gospel He says kingdom of heaven.

So the term kingdom of heaven is unique to Matthew's gospel.

It's a Jewish audience so he's probably using the term heaven instead of God so as

Not to risk using God's name in vain.

The Jews are very careful about using the name God.

So if you say heaven instead of God it was to appeal to Jewish Sensibilities most likely but

kingdom of heaven kingdom of God.

Most degree is is probably the same thing.

So the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner.

So the landowner clearly represents God.

I don't think there's any question about that parables can be a little difficult to interpret.

Sometimes people think there's you know, there's one message one main point for every parable

and then others see multiple points and then well.

Does each character represent someone or something else?

Sometimes that's clear other times not so much.

But here there is I think a clear spiritual lesson verse 2 now when they had agreed

With the laborers or the landowner when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day.

He sent them into his vineyard.

Now what is a denarius?

This is one day's pay.

What's the average day's pay today?

I don't know hundred dollars hundred and twenty dollars.

Maybe more maybe less but a denarius was a a good day's

pay.

It was a fair arrangement we could say a day labor back then just as today.

There are still places where you can go.

Maybe not around here, but you know down, you know down.

Towards the border maybe more likely you'll see this.

There are certain places where day laborers all you know Meet together early in the morning and then the employers come

along and they'll select so many people and they'll work for that day.

So, okay.

Here's the agreement.

You'll work for eight hours ten hours twelve hours.

I'll pay you this.

Okay good.

Let's go.

I mean it was it's that simple.

So it happened back then it happens today.

So you notice they agreed on the wage.

They knew what they were getting into.

I'll work for this 12 -hour day for a denarius and that was the going rate so everything is

above board.

Verse 3 and he the landowner went out about the third hour.

So he hires them and then throughout the day, maybe there's More work that needs to be done.

You know, we're not going to get everything finished.

We need to bring in a few more people.

So the landowner goes out and he he hires some more people different periods throughout the day the

third hour.

He sees people standing idle.

So he says to them you also go and I'll pay you whatever is right and they went notice.

They don't even agree on a price.

They're just happy to receive some work and they trust the landowner that whatever they get will be

fair.

Okay, so the word fair is gonna come up a lot.

And by the way, if you look up the word fair in the Bible.

It's gonna be like fairness as in someone is very fair to look at so if you're looking up that word in the Bible

It's gonna have a different meaning.

What's another word for fair?

Just okay.

So we're talking about what is right?

What is just?

What is fair?

Okay so verse 5 and He went out again the sixth hour and the ninth hour and

did likewise and about the 11th hour.

He went out and found other standing idols.

So this would be a 12 -hour workday and At least this one person

or group gets hired at the last day.

So how long does does this last group have to work?

One hour.

Okay, so you get some people working 12 hours some people working one hour and.

Then when the day was over in verse 8 That's when everyone would receive their money after they

worked and remember the landowner represents who?

God the Lord, okay.

So the call to come and work in the vineyard logically the vineyard.

It's symbolic for the kingdom or we would just say it's symbolic for

Heaven it's symbolic for eternal life.

So there are some people who are called they respond to the call.

Just like many people today.

They they hear the gospel and they respond, right?

People respond and they believe and they get baptized and all the rest.

But when the landowner hands out the wages, he does something intentional in verse 8.

So look at verse 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 first to the last so this is done on purpose.

For for a reason, of course, Jesus is all he's teaching this to prove a point

so verse 9 when the people who only worked one hour when they got $120

or whatever right what logically then those who worked all day?

What did they assume?

Yeah, I mean if this guy gets gets 120 bucks for working one hour I work 12.

So, you know you do the math in your head.

I should be getting a lot of money.

That's what they thought.

You know, that's maybe a reasonable thing to assume.

But what happens?

Well, did they receive a fair wage?

Yeah, because it's what they agreed to you know today we

Especially living in you know this country we have it so good compared to other

people in the world.

And you know, I think sometimes we feel.

And maybe this is just human nature.

Maybe that's nothing to do with living here.

But you know, we feel like hey, I deserve more.

I you know, I feel entitled I I should get more than this person.

I worked harder.

I deserve more you ever felt like that I'm sure at your job.

You feel like hey, I deserve more.

Maybe you do.

This is a spiritual lesson about eternal life.

So verse 9 when those Came who were hired about the 11th

hour.

They each received a denarius.

But when the first came yeah, it says they suppose that they would receive more.

So.

They're expecting who knows how much but definitely more than the guy who worked an hour.

But when they get the same amount, what's their response?

Well, they're upset they're angry this isn't fair this isn't right and they start Grumbling against the

landowner.

So this represents people who would do what they would grumble against the grace of.

God.

Do people grumble against God's grace?

I mean, I don't know that I've ever seen it but Maybe the Lord saves somebody who

just doesn't deserve it.

Somebody who's lived an immoral life.

Somebody's who's done this and that and God saves that person and maybe you know The

the saint who's been faithful 60 years and Lord.

Why did you save him?

I don't know if people do that, but I assume it's a big world.

Somebody has would that be right to look down on the person that God has redeemed?

It wouldn't be right.

But it's human nature.

So this is a spiritual lesson.

Who are the ones complaining?

Well, Matthew Henry well -known commentator.

I just want to read what he wrote the direct object and this might not be obvious just by reading the

parable but he says the direct object of the parable seems to be to show that

Though the Jews were called into the vineyard first the gospel should also

be preached to the Gentiles that they should be admitted to equal privileges and

Advantages with the Jews.

Okay, so that's Matthew Henry's take on the parable.

So let me ask you in the four Gospels Matthew Mark Luke and John when sinners start

coming to Jesus.

Were there people that complained about that?

Who were they?

Okay, Pharisees Sadducees scribes religious leaders of Israel.

So the religious leaders of Judaism when they saw Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners

or when Jesus There are a few times in his ministry.

He seemed to show grace To the Gentiles.

I mean this made many of the Jews Upset because you know, we're God's people you

see so, you know, we're the ones God called to the vineyard first.

You know, these people are not worthy.

They're they're Gentiles.

They're dogs.

They're.

They're sinners.

So they thought they were Entitled so when the the Pharisees in particular

saw that tax collectors and prostitutes were We're coming to faith in the Messiah

whether they believe Jesus was the Messiah or not.

Some did most didn't they thought that this wasn't right?

That why because they were unworthy now if you think someone else is unworthy.

What do you have to think of yourself?

And a lot yeah logically if someone is unworthy that means I am worthy now is anyone

worthy before God.

See that you have the wrong way of looking at this from the start.

But that was the common attitude back then.

We'll try to make some application to the way things are now.

But it was a common attitude and then later when the Apostles started preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

Who was it that complained?

Well, if you look at Paul's ministry the people who are trying to kill the Apostle Paul, it was the

religious.

The religious Jews I have to say this just so nobody misunderstands when a pastor talks about you know.

The Jews are the religious Jews.

This has nothing to do with Jewish people today like you're right.

This is not has nothing to do with anti -semitism.

I mean you will find that evangelical Christians and you know independent Baptists and Bible

believers.

We tend to be some of the most pro -israel people in the world.

So this is nothing against Jewish people, but it was the religious Jews of

Jesus Day.

The Scribes and Pharisees in particular.

Yeah, they were they were filled with pride.

They thought they were worthy and see we don't want to have that attitude.

You know.

Maybe I was brought up in a Christian home or I've been.

You know I've been a Christian since I was a little kid or I've done all of these things and we start to think that we are

Worthy and other people are not and we can look down on others when we see that

God saves others or uses others.

Maybe God uses some other people more powerfully than than us, you know, we can become

You know jealous or even even bitter so that might be the application today.

Maybe you've been a Christian for a long time when you see the Lord using others maybe who are new

converts.

Maybe who have come from a rough background don't pass judgment on them.

We should rejoice.

Right.

I mean really these these day laborers who worked the 12 hours when they saw that the

guy again.

This is totally against human nature and I don't know if I would have done it in that situation.

But when you see the guy working for one hour getting a denarius you should be happy for them.

But that's not really the way it goes.

Is it so.

The the Pharisees if that's who Jesus has in mind.

You know in their minds God called us and not them, you know.

We were the ones God originally called to the vineyard.

But when the Lord showed his grace upon sinners and then Gentiles.

They turned on him and they turned on the Apostles.

How do you how can you say they turned on God?

They believed in God know when God came to them incarnate in the person of Jesus.

What did they do to him?

They they crucified him and this was especially true with Paul.

I mean if they could have crucified Paul they would have.

But Paul was a Roman citizen.

So that that was illegal.

But when Paul it's interesting if you read the book of Acts, I never really noticed this before but Paul would often talk to

the Jews about Jesus and they are open to hearing it and they're open to the

idea that Even Jesus was the Messiah some of these Jewish groups living throughout

Europe or Asia Minor, but when Paul said that God's grace was going to go to the Gentiles,

they just absolutely came.

Unglued.

And they persecuted Paul and even conspired to have him murdered all because they thought so

highly of Themselves and what are they grumbling against they're grumbling against

God's generous grace.

This isn't something that we think about today the difference between Jew and Gentile.

But today, you know people are divided in in other ways.

We should be happy when no matter who it is that God saves no matter who it is that God

Works through, you know, I think maybe 20 years ago and this still exists to some

degree Christians, you know in Jews back then but you know today Christians and

Muslims.

There's a lot of tensions between Christians and Muslims.

So I think there probably would have been and maybe are Some Christians that doesn't want to

see God save people from the Muslim world.

Or maybe you know, we had a bias against the Soviet Union.

We don't want to see God save Russians or we we don't think God could use them or

Whatever group it is.

If there's any sort of bias towards the people group.

We have to try to think in those terms.

We should be happy when God saves or uses anyone you agree with that because if

you don't The only other option is to think well, I'm more worthy than they are

and you know That's not how grace works is it?

What does grace require.

Faith.

Does grace cost anything?

Can you you can't work for it?

You can't earn it.

So that these are all the lessons that hopefully they were learning that we can learn From this and what does the

Bible say that Jesus, you know, God so loved for this is the verse everyone knows John 3 16 God so loved

the the whole world.

So that's everybody Jew Greek American Russian Chinese Canadian even

the Canadians, you know, God loves them, too.

The French even the French.

But Jesus gave the Great Commission to make disciples of all the nations.

So we just need to make sure we don't have any of these.

Biases.

And of course we do some some people do and it's again human nature.

All right back to the parable verse 11.

So those who worked all day When they had received it they complained Against

the landowner 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.

So this isn't just a statement or an observation, I mean this is an accusation.

They didn't come out and say you're being unfair.

But I mean that is what they're getting at.

They're showing their disrespect if not their contempt and remember this is God the land.

So this is people who show contempt or disrespect towards the Lord and what he does.

Verse 13, but he answered one of them said friend.

I'm doing you no wrong.

Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

Take what is yours and go your way.

I wish to give to this last man the same as.

You.

So I believe with this statement the Lord gives people a chance.

To.

Rethink their response.

I mean we have all sorts of wrong attitudes and the wrong way of looking at things you know that that's true for

all of us and Christianity and growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

It's a lifelong process of us.

You know having the mind of Christ.

So hopefully these wrong thoughts and wrong attitudes.

Over time we we learn and we we grow but we need to be open to it.

So I think God gives them a chance in the parable if you want to look at it that way that God gives them a chance

to.

To change instead of calling his justice into question look however, he responds in verse 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 and that's

really what this was showing.

It's showing the goodness of God and the depravity of man.

Okay, God is good.

Mankind is not so good man is grumbling against God.

But what God did was Good.

Now, was it fair?

Was it fair?

There's somebody who are thinking well, no, it wasn't fair, but you don't want to say that right?

We're all thinking it, right?

But you know, it represents God because so you don't want to say that which is a good thing.

Okay, is It fair?

Well, here's the thing grace.

Grace isn't really about fairness grace is about grace.

So yeah, is it fair that the person who has served God their entire life gets the

same?

And listen people who do work for the Lord do get a greater reward, you know, so rewards are different.

We're talking about eternal life, but the person who serves God for 70 years.

They get the same eternal life as the guy who repents in his last

Week of his life, is that fair?

Well, maybe it's not fair, but it's grace and I love the grace of God.

I'm thankful for the grace of God because I don't deserve the grace of God and and nobody does here's another thing.

That's not fair.

It's not really fair that Jesus had to die on the cross for all of your sin.

I mean, that's not really fair.

I mean if you really want justice, what would that mean?

Well, you got to pay for your own sin.

See that would be fair.

So we don't actually want fairness.

We want grace.

So we receive eternal life.

Praise God.

We are thankful for eternal life when we see someone else.

Oh, well, you know, not them not them Lord.

There's I'm sure there's somebody in this room.

You can think somebody is thinking of another person.

I don't want God to save this person.

I mean, I want God to save people but not that one person.

Again not gonna admit to that.

Maybe nobody here thinks that I hope not but people do right people think this way.

So we don't really want fair.

It's not really about fairness.

It's about.

Grace.

God.

Can do and besides God can do whatever he wants to do.

I love this verse.

I quoted it a few weeks ago Psalm 115 verse 3 Our God is in the heavens and he

does whatever he pleases.

I Love that.

Do you love that as much as me?

I don't know Romans 9 20 warns about the person who would grumble

against God or accuse God.

Remember what Paul says who are you?

Oh man to reply against God, whatever God decides to do, you know, who are we

to Grumble and complain about that.

I talked a few weeks ago about people who are angry at God.

There's a grumbling against God.

Whatever it is, you know and people have gone through Very difficult situations as a pastor

as fellow Christians when people go through hard times, you know.

If you believe God is sovereign you think well God could have prevented this God could have changed that God could have done.

God could have intervened and and spared this person or Caused this to turn out differently and

sometimes that causes people to blame God for things that took place.

It's really not God who is to blame though.

We do live in a fallen world under the curse is life fair.

No life isn't fair.

But there is a life to come and in the life to come everyone is going to receive

that grace.

Everyone is going to live in a world That will just go on forever where there is no pain

suffering or envy or comparing yourself with others.

See, that's what we need to keep focused on not What's in this life?

But I get it.

It can be easy to grumble against God something happened again.

It's human nature, but I like how the Lord responds to this group.

That's grumbling.

Notice what he calls them.

He calls them friend.

That shows I believe God's good nature towards all men and then Jesus ends the parable

with this Interesting statement of verse 16 and maybe you read through the whole parable and you're okay.

I I see what's going on here I understand this but it's this last statement that makes you scratch

your head.

He says so the last will be first in the first last, okay I mean that we get that's the

equality in the life to come that that's not that hard to understand.

But it's this last statement for many are called but few are what?

Okay, many are called but few are.

Chosen.

What does that mean?

Well, there is a difference between being called and Chosen.

I mean Jesus preached all throughout the nation of Israel.

Everybody who hurt who heard Jesus preach they were called.

Okay, the Apostles went out and preached the gospel.

Throughout the known world everyone who hears the gospel is what?

Called.

But few are.

Actually chosen.

Just an example.

Judas was called.

Judas was not just called by hearing the gospel.

Judas was called to be an apostle.

Was Judas chosen?

Judas was not among the chosen.

The chosen are those who heed the call and endure

in the faith.

Many are called but few are chosen the ones who are chosen and I'm.

We're not going to get into this thing with God from the foundation of the world and then it raises 50 different questions.

Then we're not getting sidetracked with all of that, but those who are chosen are those who understand God's

grace.

Maybe you understand it's not about fairness, but it's about grace.

I believe it.

I receive it the called and the chosen are those who humbly receive

the gospel understanding that salvation is a free gift apart from human

merit because.

Most people even most people I think who identify as Christian they think it's about working, right?

Hey, I've done so much.

I've done this for so long.

I've given so much money I've done so many good works and you just ask people, you know.

Why are you gonna be led into heaven and they start going through the list of things?

They they think it's a merit -based system, right?

Is it a merit -based system?

I was listening to a guy.

We'll just call him a world ruler and I'm not saying this to be critical.

I actually agreed with a lot of what he said.

I like that.

He's saying it but he's talking about the importance of religion and he says it's very important that we have

religion in this country.

And that Christianity, you know, it's very important to the culture.

But he said, you know religion gives people hope and up until that point I was on board and then he said

Religion gives hope if you're good.

You're going to heaven and if you're not good you're going to this other place over there.

And it struck me the first thing that jumped out at me is he it's funny how he mentioned heaven.

But he wouldn't mention like the other place by name, but okay.

But yeah, if you're good you're going to heaven and and you know.

That's the way most people think see this parable is taking that idea and just throwing it into the

garbage.

It's not about how hard you work.

It's not about how long you work.

It's about did you make that agreement with the landowner?

Did you make that agreement with God that you will put your faith in his only begotten Son?

See at the end of the day, it's not what you do.

That gets you to heaven.

It's who you trust it in.

It's that agreement that covenant.

So whether someone has worked for 12 hours, you know their whole life or just the last hour.

It's did you make that agreement with the landowner because everybody is getting the same Eternal life

so we got the parable.

It's all about God's generous Grace, so just a few

closing points.

God's kingdom.

It really does seem like it's an upside -down kingdom.

It's not what you would expect but that's because the world is upside down not God's kingdom.

Okay, everything is backwards in this world.

So.

This parable highlights that God's kingdom operates differently from worldly Expectations.

It's not about equal compensation for equal work again.

It's about the generosity in grace of God.

It also reminds us that we should rejoice When others are blessed.

When you see someone blessed be happy for them.

Also try to avoid comparisons if you are constantly comparing yourself to other

people.

You're just never going to be happy be thankful for what you have.

You know godliness with contentment is what?

Great gain.

Yeah, but this other person got this much and they they don't deserve it again.

That might be true in in you know the world system, but be thankful for what God has

blessed you with and.

Then finally don't judge others who maybe you think are undeserving and don't

judge latecomers into the kingdom.

Don't ever think that you're more worthy than Someone else.

And finally most important for those who have believed that heaven is something that can be earned I'd

say the majority they think heaven is something that is because of what I do.

If that describes anyone listening today, it's time to embrace God's Generous

grace.

Oh, but I want justice and I'm fighting for justice.

You know that all the Christians today fighting for social just you don't want justice.

Because if you got justice you would have to pay for all your sins.

But we thank God and praise God that he paid for all of our sin on The cross let's

pray and father we thank you for the greatest gift of all and that is your grace.

Lord.

We just ask that if there's someone here today who is Struggling.

Maybe they really Have been dealt a bad hand in life Lord.

This world is not fair.

It's been corrupted by the the world the flesh and the devil and father.

We do have compassion for people going through difficulties people who have been treated unfairly

in this world that has happened.

But Lord you it's not about fairness.

It's about your love your mercy and your grace.

And we thank you that is Extended to all.

So if there's someone listening today who has never received the gospel of grace Knowing

that it's not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but it's according to His mercy

Lord that you have saved us.

I pray that they would receive that free gift of salvation even now and we thank you for in advance

in Jesus name.

We pray.

Amen.