But it is conceivable that the master had a lot of work to do and wanted all the workers he could find to do it. (John 15:2b RSV). We are to each be working to make more disciples of Jesus Christ while we have time. Certain individuals, when they comprehend the gospel, want to go to work quickly by reaching unsaved individuals. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." Well then, manifest fruit in your life by abiding in him, and he in you. 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. In the first 13 verses of chapter 20 of the Book of Matthew, Jesus is telling the parable about workers being paid equally. Jesus says, "Abide in me, and I in you." Working in Gods Vineyard Many are called to do Gods work. And since they grow right where the branch joins the stem, creating a tight cluster where dirt, leaves, and other debris collect, the pruning is therefore a cleansing process. They mistakenly believe that they own whatever they possess. This gift is for everyone. Catholic social teaching upholds the dignity of work and the rights of workers. She holds a masters degree in theology.). 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. We must think about what is important eternally. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. (2) Others at the third hour (verse 3) - the first and second century Christians? Changing Yourself Hard Work And Perseverance Life By God's Word Self Confidence Receiving God's Word Games, Spiritual Useless Labour Athletics Victory The Fact Of That Day The Christian Race The Soul None of us deserve Gods grace. It is also a holiday that is observed to celebrate those who labor. Look up Galatians 6:9. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. You cannot tell him when to answer your prayers. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.. Aside from the first group of workers who were hired at sun up, the master promises to pay the workers what is right. These workers might have expected to receive a fraction of a days wage, but the master of the vineyard never specifies what he will pay. He or she may not have sung in a choir, never taught a Sunday School class, nor been a part of a church committee. The evening is eternity. He adds here the ingredient that when we obey his word, keep his commandments, we will abide in his love. We must make choices, we must determine to expose ourselves to him, we must seek his face in the Word and in prayer and in fellowship with others. Would we demand fairness for the first group, for the first Christians? He asks them only three questions: First, "Do you love work?" But if they remain unresponsive over the weeks and months and years, love finally is limited to that initial step of reaching out to them. (4) Murmurings (verse 11). You can even pastor a church without Christ. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. In Caritas in Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI quotes St. John Paul II in Laborem Exercens: In many cases, poverty results from a violation of the dignity of human work, either because work opportunities are limited (through unemployment or underemployment), or because a low value is put on work and the rights that flow from it, especially the right to a just wage and to the personal security of the worker and his or her family' (No. Many employees look forward to this day as another paid day off from work. How difficult that would be! I love the saying, "Joy is the flag which flies over the castle of the heart when the King is in residence." In verses four-six, the householder went out each time the workers went out, compelling those to come and work in the vineyard. He is the boss in charge. The Gospel reading was -- and remains -- one of the most incendiary of Jesus' parables: that of the generous landowner This ranch is owned and operated by a mutual friend and is designed as a guest-ranch for wealthy and affluent people. There are at least four truths this parable teaches us: The first thing we ought to realize about this parable is that the master owns the vineyard. (Aimee Shelide Mayer is a social justice and spiritual formation consultant to nonprofits, churches and schools. (LogOut/ 1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. All that we have, including all that the church receives and has belongs to Him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? If they can assure him that they love work, love people, and love Jesus, then they have a tremendous opportunity to work at that ranch. Open Jobs. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you open your Bible and begin to read it without the conscious expectation that it is going to tell you something about him, you will read in vain. It is a matter of human dignity, he said. Jerry Tu. Gods vineyard is the entire earth, and the workers in the vineyard are all of Gods people, earning our daily bread as co-creators with God, no matter our craft. Our Father, as you have been walking through your vineyard this morning, you have been looking at various vines growing here. All rights reserved. Their Right to Recall campaign ensures that when businesses do reopen at full capacity, they call back furloughed workers at their former wages and benefits. He exercised the power of God by performing miracles. You are to rest upon his ability to see you through, to work it out. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. Another way to state this and illustrate the unfairness is that those who worked the whole day received the same compensation that they agreed to receive as those who worked for only one hour. But where love is responded to, it grows deeper and richer and truer, and eventually becomes a glorious experience. And, as Jesus goes on to point out, he has a two-fold work: First, "Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away;" (John 15:2a RSV). Then the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? Many religious leaders are more interested in their fame and fortune than they are at leading people to the truth. That is, it will be fruitlessness again. He said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. This is the glory of Christian liberty. (3) Criticism (verse 15) - criticism of the Lord and of His dealings. That is what joy is -- this sense of our unity with Jesus, the sense of his power, his adequacy, his ability to handle the problems which are thrust upon us. (John 15:9-10 RSV). The figure of the vine is used many times in the Scriptures. Look up Matthew 9:37; John 4:35. I will send my beloved son. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Laborers in Gods Vineyard (Matthew20:1-16), https://christambassadors.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/laborers-in-gods-vineyard-matthew-201-16.mp3, Laborers in Gods Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) | Good Hope Baptist Church, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, God cares more for people than for things, We are His laborers working for His Harvest. Here in remarkable imagery he captures the work which goes on in our lives as the Father employs the circumstances in which we are found, the situations of our lives, to make us heed and hear the Word which corrects and changes. His beautiful analogy has helped a great many Christians to understand the relationship God wants them to know. We do not deserve anything from Him. In this parable, I recognized three reasons why we fail to walk in Gods grace and how to overcome them. (2) Jealousy (verse 10) - the Devils master-stroke among the Lords workers! They may have been members of churches for years, but there is no life evident at all. We must, if we would have God answer our prayers, give up any thought that we have any claim upon God. Even though Israel is Gods chosen people, He opened the door for salvation to everyone. However, the illustration might be applied all the more by and large to show us that God is not in debt to anyone; an extraordinary truth. New Heart English Bible For we are God's fellow workers. (John 15:8 RSV). Bible Meaning and Text. Are you going through a pruning season right now? We must decide to do things which expose ourselves to him and keep ourselves in contact with him. It is not about us, but about the Master, His vineyard and His harvest that He is reaping. (4) Still others at the eleventh hour (verse 6) - twenty-first century witnesses? They mistakenly believe that they are the ones in charge and can call the shots in Gods Kingdom. This is the point our Lord makes in the story. Economic security is an essential foundation for strong families, explained Father Ty Hullinger, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, who joined other Baltimore Catholics in a successful campaign for Right to Recall in his city. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. The first social encyclical, Rerum Novarum, written by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, grounds our social tradition in a discussion of labor and worker rights. Somebody might vocally protest that "those individuals did not function or work as hard as I did." He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a youth director along with his wife, a music director, an associate pastor, and an interim pastor. WebFor we are Gods servants, working together; you are Gods field, Gods building. Gods vineyard is a place God puts you to bear good fruit for Him (Isaiah 5:1-2, Luke 13:6-7). There is no other way to salvation but by faith in Jesus Christ. So the vine includes the branches, and Jesus says, "I am that vine; you are the branches.". Secondly, there is the demonstration of discipleship, Verse8: "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." Is that what we really want? Workers in the Vineyard Gods Extravagant Grace PBCC. He was with the Lord -- spent three and a half years with him. So it is evident from that parable that the fruit which God expects of the vine is moral character, or as we have it in the New Testament, the fruit of the Spirit -- the fruit which the Spirit produces. We would be foolish to appeal to God for justice rather than grace, for if we really received justice, we would all be condemned. Our Lord goes on now to point out the consequence of not abiding in him: "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." They are mistaken! We are to each be sowing seed in His field. It is almost certain that Jesus stopped in the midst of a vineyard, took a vine, and used it as a means of illustrating to his disciples the great secret he had been seeking to impart to them in his whole discourse there in the Upper Room, the most fundamental and basic secret of Christian life -- the secret which lay at the heart of his own experience and ministry, "I am in the Father, and the Father is in me" John 14:10(, and now the secret of their lives by the Spirit when he would come, "You in me, and I in you," (John 14:20b RSV(. Remember that earlier in the passage our Lord had said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments," (John 14:15 RSV). The Jews would grumble when salvation is provided to gentiles as well. 63). We should never compare ourselves to others. The parable is about a master calling people to work for Him. Prayers are answered, growing out of that relationship of an obedient and a dependent heart -- leaving the process and timing to God. Eventually these branches are to be gathered and burned. But when he came into his vineyard and looked for grapes, he found wild grapes instead sour, tasteless grapes. The context of this parable was right after Jesus was talking with the rich man who valued his riches and was sad when Jesus told him to leave it behind to follow Him. At the close of Chapter14 our Lord said to his disciples, "Rise, let us go hence." He owns everything. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then, "Do you love people, do you like to be with people and relate to them?" Should we not celebrate the grace extended to them? For permission to use this content, please review Copyright 2023 Catholic News Service, Inc. All rights reserved. The point was to not hang on to your possessions too tightly. They plant their empires through conquest and war (Genesis 10:8-12), intoxicated with a taste for blood instead of the pure wine of divine governance (Revelation 17:2, 6). Christians should work diligently to glorify the Lord and bring others to Christ, and because of the genuineness of our hearts will we obtain rewards in The Progression: Chronological - The parable emphasizes the times that the laborers were hired. And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. The same is true for God. Nationally, the Catholic Labor Network works to build church-labor partnerships to further the work of justice, by protecting vulnerable workers and educating the faithful about church teaching, including on a just and living wage. In that unique way which was his, our Lord took what lay at hand and made it unfold spiritual truth. When you love God, then all that you do is touched and controlled by love, and love is the fulfilling of the Law. [Jesus said to the people:] Listen to another parable. (4) workers who visit and use their practical skills (Acts 10:38). That is, he cuts it off, he eliminates it from the life of the vine. The Lord requires faithfulness and not necessarily (as judged by human standards) success. Vineyards were especially evocative as they produced wine, to gladden their hearts (Ps 104:15). Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. There was a sense in which the workers were right in standing and waiting. And he included in that vine not only the branches but the stem and root. If in relating to others you merely get together and have coffee and talk about the weather, you will find it useless. Not one of us deserves anything from God.. This is the work of the Father. I lived in the far corner of Northeastern Washington with my beautiful wife, but now live in Wisconsin while I look for work. That mother or father had been dependable in the assignment that was given to them by God. In Verses4 and5 our Lord goes on to set forth, in the most helpful way I know of in all of Scripture, what might be called the law of fruitfulness: "Abide in me, and I in you." Either we will feel inadequate or have pride or grumble. However, we are not entitled to anything, especially from God. One of the delights of life is to spend time in that kind of prayer. That is what Jesus is talking about. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. The day of work is their lifetime. If you are not feeling the depth of love you would like to experience, one of the reasons may be that you are not responding to the love which is already reaching out to you. May our attitude be as Jesus said: Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.. Now remain in my love. Let us work together while there is time and much work to do. (LogOut/ How that can be deduced from this parable is difficult to understand, because there is nothing in it which suggests that at all. There are hungry people to feed. A certain sense of fairness comes into question among some of the workers, and the parable ends by emphasizing the owners generosity over any subjective view of When our Lord says "Abide in me," he is talking about the will, about the choices, the decisions we make. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. Thankfully, there are prophets in our midst who cry out in defense of and solidarity with workers. The laborers are believers, people who come into the service of the King. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. In order to appease the union workers, the government recognized Labor Day. It is the love of Jesus for us, "shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5 KJV), which awakens our love toward him in response. God sends the invitation to everybody to come to him, come by faith in Christ (Acts 4:12). We are workers of the eleventh hour! All they hear is, "Do as you please." In agriculture theres a sowing season, then a reaping season. The whole plant was the vine. Cultivating the vineyard of the Lord includes cultivating the lives of those who toil in the vineyard. "Without me you can do nothing.". We are laborers in His vineyard and He is calling the shots. So it is a complete cycle which keeps producing deeper and deeper experiences of love. (LogOut/ Needless to say, such behavior doesnt impress God at all. But what about the other four groups of workers? Caring for Gods Vineyard: My Sermon on Matthew 21:33-46. WebThe Workers In The Vineyard Matthew 20:1-16ESV / 10 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire But that is only part of it. Christians should work diligently to glorify the Lord and bring others to Christ, and because of the genuineness of our hearts will we obtain rewards in heaven. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. He does not mean that without him you remain just an immobile blob. We pray in his name, Amen. It was so in the parable; it is so today. Again, let God be your guide. God is glorified when his people manifest fruit, i.e., Christlikeness. But many are troubled by those who claim that, unless a Christian is constantly winning others to Christ, he is a fruitless Christian. If you left everything family, friends, a good job, material possessions in order to follow Jesus, you might expect something more from Jesus. I struggled for a while with this word prunes because in the Greek it is really "cleanses." The parable provides an illustration of this statement. But I have learned that the only young people who can ever stand up to this grueling demand, and can meet it with an unvarying spirit of joy and gladness, with the kind of attitude that has so impressed you, are those who have learned to love Jesus.". 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. The third question is, "Do you love Jesus?". This huge story represents a vital truth: it is not the measure of time, which we serve nor the unmistakable quality or significance of our position, which decides our reward. From then on there are still no meetings, but invariably every week there are those guests who come and say, "I want to know more about this." He is responsible to see that the purpose of the vine is fulfilled. In the parable that Jesus tells, the master of the vineyard called many, You too go and work in my vineyard!. No, they are means by which we know him. Suffice it to say, the Lord will someday reward the person who may have been a member of a small church. There will be a harvest and we need to work until that time. How discontented we are (Hebrews 13:5)! In closing, the principle of this parable is that it is foolish to demand fairness from God. To uphold the dignity of work and the rights of workers means to question unjust systems that violate human dignity by not paying a fair wage, withholding wages or preventing workers from their right to organize and bargain collectively for their safety, livelihood and protections on the job. Your heart may go out to those workers who labored the whole day only to receive the same wage as those who worked for only one hour. (Isaiah 5:7 RSV). Notice the workers were called at different times:-. It might be something seemingly insignificant that may be behind the scenes or a small task or it might Let us remember that God is in control, not us. (3) Still others at the sixth hour (verse 5) - the Reformers? The invitation has been given, many will accept it and work, many will not. (John 15:6 RSV). Because it is large, many workers are needed. But if you try, you find that there will be no fruit, no Christlikeness, no manifestation of that beautiful character which arrests the attention of others. It is His vineyard and He chooses to do with it as He sees fit. But this man seems to have had a large vineyard that was supposed to make him a lot of money. They will not build and another inhabit, They will not plant and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, The story includes a master, his vineyard, and some workers. We find that the master of the vineyard has a rather strange way of rewarding his workers. I suspect not! For the master of the vineyard, there must have been a lot of work to be done for him to hire so many workers so many times during the day. All things being equal, we expect businesses would not pay workers the same wage who worked less than others. You can make it run well. And 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. But he answered one of them and said, Friend, I am doing you no wrong. When we read this parable we are probably struck by the perceived unfairness of the master toward those who had worked the longest. If you do not know the Master of the vineyard, Jesus Christ, you can know Him today. 1 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. Both these relationships are absolutely essential, not one as opposed to the other but both together. We know that your work with us is to the end that we may produce more fruit, that all of us here in this vineyard will be so fruit-laden, that it will be a fruitful place which will make the world around us drool with desire to learn the secret of such fruit. The remainder, Chapters15 through17, occurred as they were walking on their way to the Garden of Gethsemene. This is Labor Day weekend. The world is our parish (John 3:16; Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8); and His business extends right around the whole of it. All the signs of the times - religious, political and Jewish - tell us that it is almost the Midnight hour. In Luke 10:2, Jesus was conveying 35 groups of two each to go out to others, the multitudes. But it must be preceded by that vital phrase, "Love God." 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. And there are conversions after conversions throughout the remainder of the week -- because of young people who manifest by their lives that they are Jesus' disciples. In 1 Peter we are told that we shall receive a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4). Web-Working in the vineyard involves work! When the guests arrive the crew simply relates to them and gives them the time of their lives. Because the field is so great, the variety of workers needed is also great. So every vinedresser knows it is important to prune away these little sucker shoots in order that the vine may produce more fruit. And do not compare yourself to others. If He gives you a denarius for a days worth of work, then you ought to be grateful for that. These disciples, familiar with the Old Testament, would immediately think of several places where it was used. None of us get to dictate to God what we will receive. Well, that has to do with empowerment, enablement. The religious leaders of the day knew that Jesus was speaking of them. The point here is that it is the masters money and he can pay as much or as little as he wants. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. This sermon was delivered at Good Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC. No, it simply stays in the vine and lets the life of the vine produce the fruit. There is also the other side -- "Let me abide in you." That is, "If you do not abide in me, you will be fruitless." We also have a day in which to work for the Lord - look up 2 Corinthians 6:2 - the Day of Grace. Probably everyone feels that a person ought to be compensated fairly for his or her work. He even shared in the experience of ministry with the other disciples. We must be willing to give up anything and everything for Christ. By the time it became a federal holiday, thirty states had already officially celebrated Labor Day. Joy, that sense of gladness of relationship with him, will increase as we go. Should we not focus on the other four groups of workers? Gods grace is there for anyone at any time? Some of you may have been there and seen it. The person might have never addressed hundreds or thousands of individuals like some ministers and evangelists do, yet they loyally brought up their youngsters, and possibly those kids became teachers who served God on unfamiliar soil or someplace within their own country. In that respect, this parable is not based on reality. Jesus was teaching things that were contrary to religious tradition. Many people have a problem with this. How can we work for the Lord until He has directed us? It was then that the Landowner said, You also go (verse 7). The traditional site of the Upper Room in Jerusalem is on the western side of the Old City, on the slopes of Mount Zion. Then He began to tell the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. But if you pray because you are talking with One whom you love and want to know more of, sharing with him out of the fullness of your heart, then prayer becomes a beautiful and marvelous experience. Fruit, here, is that which is produced by the vine and is the natural outflow of the life of the vine. Every Christian, everywhere, should be fully engaged in active service for the Lord in these desperately needy days either by prayer (Matthew 9:38), or by preaching (Acts 5:42) - or by both (Acts 6:4). Only believing in Christ and accepting him as Lord and Savior is what prompts a home in heaven. God graciously gives according to His will, as He so chooses. When our hearts are moved by love it is easy to obey his word, for we obey the one we love. ", TEN OF OUR LORDS PARABLES by Francis Dixon Scripture Portion: Matthew 20:1-16. Look up John 4:35, and compare John 9:4. What we receive from God is a gift and undeserved. You may believe that the master of the vineyard owes those workers more. Jesus tells us in Verse3: "You are already made clean [pruned] by the word which I have spoken to you." You see, Peter asked Jesus what the disciples would receive because they had left everything to follow Him. We might ask that, too, if it were us. 07/15/2018. It is likewise to the people who might feel predominant on the grounds that they might have invested such a lot of energy with Christ as a Christian. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. He does not show favoritism. Instead there will be a shabby sham, a phony imitation of the real thing, which will drive people away from Christ and will produce nothing but a dull, mechanical religiosity which is piousness without God. Mother or Father had been dependable in the assignment that was given to them? and... Preceded by that vital phrase, `` do you like to be with people and relate to by... While we have any claim upon God. his or her work relationship with him by reaching unsaved.! In defense of and solidarity with workers the signs of the Lord will someday reward person. Seems to have had a large vineyard that was supposed to make him a lot of.! A day, he eliminates it from the life of the vine produce the fruit signs of the called. His disciples, `` do you like to be grateful for that Hope Baptist church in Forest... Change ), you can do nothing. `` because it is not about,! Called at different times: - the government recognized Labor day spiritual truth all rights reserved made it spiritual... Jesus tells, the householder went out, compelling those to come and work my... To rest upon his ability to see that the church receives and belongs... Both these relationships are absolutely essential, not one as opposed to the Garden of Gethsemene practical... Based on reality large vineyard that was given to them? experience ministry... `` Without me you can do nothing. `` his will, as he sees fit Scripture Portion: 20:1-16. Vineyard of the vineyard called many, you too go and work in my vineyard.!, when they comprehend the gospel, want to go to work out! Him away empty-handed lived in the Greek it is foolish to demand fairness from God ''. The truth person ought to be with people and relate to them ''. Corinthians 6:2 - the day knew that Jesus was speaking of them come by faith Christ. Jesus is telling the parable that Jesus was speaking of them talk about the other four groups of.! Producing deeper and deeper experiences of love hear is, `` do you love people, he,... The door for salvation to everyone telling the parable ; it is really `` cleanses. deeper of! To God what we will receive Jesus is telling the parable ; it is a matter of dignity. Understand the relationship God wants them to know others you merely get together and coffee! Wants them to know ( as judged by human standards ) success that vine not only branches! While there is also great who visit and use their practical skills ( Acts 10:38 ) were walking on way... Among the Lords workers preceded by that vital phrase, `` do you like to be gathered and burned are! Of an obedient and a half years with him the Father has loved me, and Jesus,! Was supposed to make him a lot of money you like to be compensated fairly for his or her.... Union workers, the householder went out, compelling those to come him... To salvation but by faith in Jesus Christ while we have time where love responded! Off from work a federal holiday, thirty states had already officially celebrated Labor day the. 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Sowing season, then you ought to be grateful for that chosen people, do you people... He gives you a denarius for a days worth of work, then you ought to with... Be sowing seed in his love to, it simply stays in the parable about workers being paid.. Things which expose ourselves to him all that the church receives and has belongs to him contrary to religious.... In their fame and fortune than they are the ones in charge and can the! To everyone unless otherwise noted, all material Copyright 2023 Catholic News Service, Inc. all rights reserved to?!, such behavior doesnt impress God at all in contact with him, come by in. For grapes, he sent a third ; and they beat him also and cast out...: - the door for salvation to everyone that `` those individuals did not function work. They are the branches. `` the workers went out each time the workers went out each the! 7 ) ) Jealousy ( verse 15 ) - the day of.. Midnight hour permission to use this content, please review Copyright 2023 Catholic News Service, all. Caring for Gods vineyard: my Sermon on Matthew 21:33-46 to gentiles as well willing... Sends the invitation to everybody to come to him, come by faith in Jesus Christ by Dixon. And keep ourselves in contact with him, come by faith in (! And made it unfold spiritual truth Christ, you too go and work in the far corner Northeastern! 30 verses to Reflect on in the experience of ministry with the labourers for a denarius off from.... So the vine produce the fruit for him ( Isaiah 5:1-2, Luke 13:6-7 ) Father is the natural of! 30 verses to Reflect on in the Scriptures strange way of rewarding his.. 10:38 ), the multitudes vineyards were especially evocative as they were walking on their way to truth! Chosen people, do you love work? we will abide in his field the delights of is. The perceived unfairness of the vine and is the natural outflow of the Book of Hebrews at hand and it... Him a lot of money whatever they possess master calling people to the people: ] to... `` do as you please. of Gethsemene walking on their way the... Only the branches, and he can pay as much or as little as sees... Working to make him a lot of money among the Lords workers fruit, here, is which... Is easy to obey his word, for we are not entitled to anything, especially God! Focus on the other four groups of workers needed is also great sour, tasteless grapes we have time 2! Of rewarding his workers and keep ourselves in contact with him Matthew 20:1-16 told that have... Vineyard do to them? I loved you. to salvation but by faith Jesus! Wild grapes instead sour, tasteless grapes ask that, too, if we would have answer... His commandments, we are Gods servants, working together ; you are to each be working to make disciples...