"Another parable put Jesus forth unto them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in h/His field ..." He answered and said unto them, "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man." (Matthew 13:24; Matthew 13:37)
As we've learned from Matthew 20, the good man is the Lord God Himself. He has come on a long journey, bringing with Him a bag full of treasure -- intended to bring forth good things. When dwelling among us, He likens the kingdom of heaven to a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers for His vineyard.
"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28; Matthew 26:28; I Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 9:7-8)
It is important to note that the Lord God is a debtor to no man. He willingly brought His gifts with Him and this self-same Spirit to this very day divides those gifts severally as He will. (I Corinthians 12:11) Equally important, the same recompense of reward given to those who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith is not based on some workplace seniority plan, but rather "according to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13) The stark contrast, as Jesus points out earlier -- is that out of the heart the good man brings forth good things but an evil man brings forth evil things.
From previous posts, the good man's mission is to ensure the good news gospel is preached to the Gentiles who are grafted in, and when their hearts respond to His love, they enjoy the same privileges and blessings as His chosen people from afore, whom the world was not even worthy. (Ephesians 3:3-6; Hebrews 11:1-13)
Within the parable of the vineyard, there is a progression. While all of the labourers agree to work for a penny, or for whatsoever is right, the labourers hired late in the day receive the same pay as those who struggled through the noon hour heat. This led the labourers hired in the third hour of the morning to complain bitterly. Notably, their complaint was not against the labourers who worked shorter days-- but instead their murmurings were directed against the Master Himself. This might be a good place to observe that when the householder hired these men, they were standing idle - with nothing to do.
So what was happening here? As we see, the Lord is setting before them an incorruptible crown. Like apostle Paul writes, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (I Corinthians 9:24-27)
Apostle Paul understood the importance of God's abundant mercies and grace and that the Lord our God can do no wrong. Sadly, however, the labourers that murmured believed the householder had committed a grave injustice against them -- even though the Lord had in actuality done them no wrong. (Matthew 20:13-14) As we know from the parable, the labourers receive their agreed upon pay rate for the day's work, By complaining, they essentially were stating their preference for the temporal worldly kingdom.
"These last have wrought but one hour, and Thou hast made them equal with us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day." The householder then -- calling him Friend - states, "I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with Me for a penny? Take that thine is; and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee." (Matthew 20:12-14)
As you can see, they had no reason to complain. The householder had given the labourer his due reward. What he missed, however, is the blessings from the householder going forward. Indeed, he only looked for what was in the Lord's hand -- not what was in His heart. Again, up until He met the Master (the Lord of glory!) these were standing idle in the marketplace -- because no one up until this point had even hired them. The labourers also had no reason to envy their fellow servants, for it was the householder ultimately responsible for hiring -- according to His perfect timing. Again, quite the contrast to apostle Paul -- who said, "I labour more abundantly than ye all!"
Therefore, at the end of the day, the labourers in the vineyard missed the higher calling -- His purpose that we are chosen to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to serve one another -- flowing through His love to those around us. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:20-31; I Peter 5:5' Ephesians 5:21; Romans 15:2; I Corinthians 9:19)
Some other questions worthy of consideration -- should we be encouraged that the labouring herein is only for one day (and not longer?), or discouraged that the day we are now in is far spent? If the latter, are we ready (our lamps filled with oil) for the householder's return -- "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." (I Thessalonian 4:13)
Certianly, there is much more to learn from this parable, but for now, let it suffice to close with a relevant scripture from apostle Paul -- emphasizing the mystery that was from the beginning of the world -- and only revealed now, in these latter days:
" ... how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." (Ephesians 3:3-6)
Stand in the offering plate.
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