Matthew 20:1-16 | For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard ... (read the whole parable) |
This parable is about:
Matthew 20: | 8: “So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9: And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10: But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.” |
Ponder the scene at that amazing payout.
Matthew 20: | 12: “Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.” |
Verse: 11: | The Master is called the ‘goodman of the house.’
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Verse: 2: | He made an agreement which he is keeping.
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Verse: 4: | He also made subsequent agreements with later workers to give them ‘whatsoever was right.’ No doubt he is also keeping that agreement. He is paying out what is right. |
Matthew 21: | 28: “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29: He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30: And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31: Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32: For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” |
How do you measure up to this survey? Which brother are you like? You need to give that question serious thought.
Isaiah 5: | 1: “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.” |
Proverbs 24: | 30: “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31: And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.” |
Matthew 7: | 19: “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” |
Proverbs 31: | 15: “She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16: She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17: She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms... 27: She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband (Messiah) also, and he praiseth her.” |
Mark 12: | 1: “And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2: And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3: And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4: And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5: And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6: Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7: But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8: And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9: What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.” |