Matthew 20:1-19
Today's Passage: Matthew 20:1-19
How would you define grace? My parents always taught me that grace is receiving a gift you did not deserve. This parable uses a common, everyday experience at that time to teach us about Jesus’ gracious generosity towards those who accept his call.
In Jesus’ day, there was great poverty. Many people, due to high taxation, debt, and limited resources had to hire themselves out as day laborers. The landowner went out and hired workers throughout the day, and even hired workers at the end of the day. Imagine the dire situation those workers must have been in to have waited there for work until 5:00!
At the end of the day, the landowner pays them all a full day's wage. This startled Jesus’ listeners and should shock us as well. Why would the landowner do that? His actions don’t seem fair!
The landowner chose not to pay based on hours worked but by his own measure of grace. He intentionally gave them all more than they deserved. The Kingdom of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the true fulfillment of this parable.
No matter your upbringing, background, or degree of piety, you CANNOT make ends meet. You and I are spiritually poor, destitute, and desperate for someone to save us. Jesus has the righteous means to save us, so he graciously invites all to come to him. Some of us come into saving faith at a young age - others believe later in life - and still, some confess Jesus in their final moments…the timing does not matter because the full wage was paid to all.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:23)
Two thoughts for you take away:
Written By: Joe Weaver
How would you define grace? My parents always taught me that grace is receiving a gift you did not deserve. This parable uses a common, everyday experience at that time to teach us about Jesus’ gracious generosity towards those who accept his call.
In Jesus’ day, there was great poverty. Many people, due to high taxation, debt, and limited resources had to hire themselves out as day laborers. The landowner went out and hired workers throughout the day, and even hired workers at the end of the day. Imagine the dire situation those workers must have been in to have waited there for work until 5:00!
At the end of the day, the landowner pays them all a full day's wage. This startled Jesus’ listeners and should shock us as well. Why would the landowner do that? His actions don’t seem fair!
The landowner chose not to pay based on hours worked but by his own measure of grace. He intentionally gave them all more than they deserved. The Kingdom of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the true fulfillment of this parable.
No matter your upbringing, background, or degree of piety, you CANNOT make ends meet. You and I are spiritually poor, destitute, and desperate for someone to save us. Jesus has the righteous means to save us, so he graciously invites all to come to him. Some of us come into saving faith at a young age - others believe later in life - and still, some confess Jesus in their final moments…the timing does not matter because the full wage was paid to all.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:23)
Two thoughts for you take away:
1. If you came into faith at a young age, like I did, you may think that those who worked for Jesus their whole life should be paid more. We’ve put in more blood, sweat, and repentance than the rest!
First, what more could you receive? We’ve been given full salvation and made co-heirs with Christ. We have been promised eternal proximity with the king. We lack nothing.
2. Second, those who have walked with Jesus for years have been given more - they got to walk in the good works prepared for them by the Lord (Eph 2:10). They got to share their faith with others and see other lives transformed by the same God who saved them.
If you came into faith later in life, think of the lavish grace that was given to you and allow it to produce exceeding amounts of gratitude, thankfulness, and joy in your life. Your late salvation should generate a heightened sense of urgency to share that good news with others. God is not done with you, he is still using your story for his glory.
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