©2004 Pastor Tom Miles

Matthew 20:1-2 This parable helps to illustrate, as I stated, Jesus' teaching from chapter 19.  Looking at this in a spiritual sense the householder would represent God; the vineyard would be the kingdom of Christ, and the laborers the disciples (you and me).  So the householder went out early in the morning to hire some help.  He agreed to pay them a denarius (the New Testament penny) worth about 14 cents for a days labor.

Matthew 20:3-7 Jesus is answering a question from 19:27 when they said unto Him, see, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?  Jesus replies in this manner: first, He gives a promise of reward (19:28), second, He gives a warning (many who are the first will be last, and the last first), and finally, He gives an illustration teaching that God's way of rewarding is not like man's way of giving rewards.

The market place was like our union halls or temporary labor offices.  Those needing work came there first thing in the morning and waited for someone to hire him.

Early in the morning is about 6:00 a.m.; the third hour was about 9 am; the sixth hour was about 12 noon; and the eleventh hour was about 5:00 in the afternoon.

The householder comes to the marketplace towards the end of the day and sees others waiting to work and asks why they are not working, they tell him because no one has hired them.  He says to them I'll put you to work and you will receive that which is just!

Matthew 20:8-10 And now shortly after the last laborers went into the vineyard the hour came to pay the workers and the householder called his pay keeper telling him to pay the workers starting with the last and working his way to the first.  Each one received a denarius.  The ones that had just been hired received the same pay as the first ones were hired for and so the others thought surely they would receive more since they had been working longer.  But when it got to their turn to receive their pay they received the same as the others.

Matthew 20:11-16 This turn of events does not go over well with the ones hired first thing in the morning or the ones hired later in the morning.  These folks do not believe they should get the same as the last hired because they put in more hours.  The householder though tells them they received their just pay.  He hired them for a denarius and that is what they received.

God deals with us by His grace.  He does not go on a merit basis.  And thank God He doesn't some of us would never receive anything.  It is very easy to follow the world's plan of action; you get what you deserve.  But this is not the way grace works.  Grace does not follow the plan of the world.  God works in our lives according to who HE is not who we are!  The lesson we need to see here is that God gave to the last workers out of the abundance of His heart.  He didn't give according to what they deserved.

Be cautious when you ask God to give you what you deserve  He just might do it one day and you just probably wouldn't like it!  God treats us better than we deserve.  We could never repay the debt of love that God gives us through grace!

Matthew 20:17-19 Jesus now gives an overview of the crucifixion and resurrection again.  He has mentioned this to them before and now He tells them of it again.  This should be no surprise to the disciples.  But, did they understand Him?  Did they get it yet?  NO! (Luke 18:34.)

Matthew 20:20-21 The mother of James and John approaches Jesus asking for a place of special status for her sons.  Now at first it might seem she is asking without the knowledge of her sons but this, I believe, is not true.  I am sure by reading the balance of the Scripture that her sons knew exactly what she was doing.  She is really asking this question on behalf of her sons.  Looking at Jesus' reply in verses 22-23 pretty much lets us know that James and John put mom up to this.   Also remember this is not James the brother of Jesus.

In Mark 10:35 we find also that it says James and John were of the same mind. So this helps us to realize it was not a matter of mom coming up and asking a question out of nowhere and embarrassing her sons.  Jesus answers directly to James and John not to their mom, letting us also know, that Jesus knew who truly was asking the question.

Matthew 20:22-23 Jesus replies to them asking if they truly knew what they were asking for.  They were insistent though and responded quickly.  Jesus knew they did not understand what He was saying. They didn't understand the nature of His kingdom and what would be required of them to sit beside Him.  The "cup" is His suffering and "the baptism" is His cruel death.  Jesus wanted to be sure they knew and understood that to continue following Him would bring great suffering and trials.

Matthew 20:24-28 Now of course, you must realize, the other disciples are overhearing some of this and seeing things before them and probably, being human, are thinking that James and John just received some special position in Jesus' kingdom.  It's just human nature for us to want what the other has.  And sadly enough the church falls into that pattern as well.  Jesus wants us to see that the church is not to follow after the ways of the world and neither are we.

In the Kingdom of Christ your status, in society, makes no difference.  You could be the wealthiest or the poorest and your treatment will be just the same.  Popularity, money, possessions does nothing for you when it comes to being a leader for Christ!  The only thing that will make a difference is humility!  Your humble service to others and to Christ is what God looks at.  Real ministry has nothing to do with benefiting you!  It's not about what you can get from the people but instead what the people can get from you!

Jesus all through His life gave us an example of the way church is supposed to be; it is to be led by a shepherd!  What does a shepherd do?  A shepherd leads, guides, protects, directs, feeds, nurtures, comforts, watches over, and all this without thought of what they will receive!  A shepherd is one that is always there.  In other words when you pick up the phone and call your pastor he answers the phone (he or she might not always be home but they are available if they are truly a shepherd).  How many of you do not even know the phone number of your pastor or where they live?  Probably quite a few, I'd dare to say the percentage would be in the 80 percentile range.  Most pastors are not shepherds; they are just doing a job!  This is not what God wants!  God wants what Jesus said in verse 28, for us to serve not to be served!

Matthew 20:29-31 As they left Jericho a great multitude followed them.  And two blind men, sitting by the road, heard it was Jesus coming by them.  They were ready to receive.  You could actually call them desperate for a healing.  They didn't care what the crowd was saying to them.  They were going to meet Jesus and were going to receive their healing!  It was their day of salvation and healing.  Notice how they address Jesus: Lord, Son of David!

Matthew 20:32-34 They gave Him the full honor due Him and Jesus heard them and asked them what it was they wanted from Him.  A wonderful, simple question that God has not stopped asking: What do you want me to do for you? They responded and Jesus healed them.  They then glorified Him by following Him! Many times we lack, simply because we will not answer the simple question: What do you want from me?  Why did Jesus ask? Jesus knew they were blind.  He knew exactly what they wanted.  God wants to hear us tell Him what we want Him to do!  And then when He does it He wants to see us follow Him!

Father, help me to always follow You and to always answer the simple question you ask of me. I ask in Jesus name amen.

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

For instructions on being Born Again click here.
Thank you for reading.

Tom's Menu
Home Page