This lesson looks at two parables about the way in which we should respond to the grace and goodness of God.

Seeking or Rejecting Grace (Part 1)

The parables of the Workers in the Vineyard and the Marriage of the King's Son illustrate theme 1 of the parables, namely the kindness and mercy of God. Workers waiting for jobs in the vineyard, and a King's invitation rejected, show us that we need to seek God's grace and say yes to God when he seeks us. The second parable also illustrates theme 2, the wrath of God (Mtt 22:1-14).

1 Workers in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16

Matthew 20:1-7 tell of the owner of a vineyard who goes out early in the morning to hire labourers. He also went out at mid morning, and again at noon. He even went out at 5pm, an hour before the workday was to end. Each time he hired labourers. This shows one aspect of God's kindness. He is always willing to accept people into his kingdom, whatever age they might be. He does not reject those whom he finds still outside of his kingdom late in life.

Matthew 20:8-10 show a second aspect of God's kindness. He rewards everyone equally and fully, even those who have not been profitable servants to him. Those who worked only one hour did not earn the denarius (standard wage for a long day's work), yet the landowner gave it to them, and moreover paid them first. They got the same as those who had worked five, eight, or even eleven hours that day, and those who had worked longer were made to wait at the end of the pay queue! The owner of the vineyard however paid everyone "what is right". Those who had been unemployed most of the day must surely have appreciated the kind and compassionate treatment they received.

Matthew 20:11-12 show how even though God does the right thing, some people will object. The workers who had been employed all day were thinking only of the hard work they had done, not the plight of those who weres unable to obtain work and feed their families. This attitude was not much different to that of the second son in the parable of the lost son which we studied in an earlier lesson (Lke 15:25-30).

Matthew 20:13-15 give the landowner's attitude. He had given people work. He had made an agreement with some to pay them a full day's wage for a full day's work, and he had kept that contract. What was their problem? Only that they resented the landowner exercising his right to show whatever kindness to others he thought proper. We should never envy God's love for others. He treats them right, and he treats us right.

Matthew 20:16 ends the parable with the same statement that began it, "the last shall be first, and the first last". (Mtt 19:30). I often think of this when I consider how fortunate I have been to be brought up in a Christian family. My parents, and others in earlier generations of my family, were faithful members and ministers of the church of our Lord. Is it not right for God to expect more of me than he may do of others who did not have such a good start? God came to me first and I was able to come to him very early in my life. If God gives more honour to someone who sought and found him the hard way, after a long struggle —if he gives them first place and me last— is that not right and proper? He has shown true kindness to me, and true kindness to them. So be it.

Whilst I have made a general application of this parable, it seems also to have a more particular application, namely God's kindness to the Gentiles. The parable helped to prepare the Jewish believers for the ingathering of Gentiles into God's kingdom and the removing all distinction between Jew and Gentile (Acts 10:34-35, Gal 3:26-29). The same may be said of the parable we consider next...

Marriage of the King’s Son