The Strand Study Bible

MATTHEW 20:1

MATTHEW 20:24

1534

will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, be- cause I am good? 16 10 So the last shall be first, and the first last: 11 for many be called, but few chosen .

1. or, “Christ” - Mt 13:24-27 2. that is, “to save and to put to work” - Mt 4:19 & 9:37-38 3. or, “9 AM” 4. or, “12 noon” 5. or, “3 PM” 6. or, “5 PM” 7. Lk 17:10 8. or, “fellow worker” 9. Rom 9:20 10. Mt 19:30 & Lk 13:30 11. Mt 22:14 12. Fulfilled - Mt 26:47-27:50 (Christ’s Rejection and Death) 13. Mt 27:31 & Dan 9:26 & Psa 22 & Zech 12:10 & Rev 11:8 14. Fulfilled - Mt 28:6 (Christ’s Resurrection) 15. or, “James and John” - Mt 4:21 16. Fulfilled - Rev 20:4,6 (Christ’s Kingdom) 17. that is, “the cup of suffering” 18. Lk 12:50 19. Lk 22:24-25

Matthew 20 Parable #32 - The vineyard laborers [A lesson for the saved - Learn to see God’s goodness, not yours] Date - AD 32

CHRIST again foretells of His crucifixion and resurrection (S/A - Mk 10:32-34 & Lk 18:31-34)

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a 1 MAN that is an HOUSEHOLDER , which went out early in the morning 2 to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the la- bourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the 3 third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the 4 sixth and 5 ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the 6 eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they sup- posed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the GOODMAN of the house, 12 7 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, 8 Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 9 Is it not lawful for me to do what I

17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

The promise of CHRIST’S rejection, betrayal, death, and resurrection (Fulfilled - Mt 26:47 - 28:6 - AD 32)

18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the 12 SON OF MAN shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death , P 19 And shall deliver 12 HIM to the Gen- tiles to mock, and to scourge, and to cru- cify 13 HIM : and the third day 14 HE shall rise again . PP CHRIST explains about the greatness of serving (S/A - Mk 10:35-45) 20 Then came to him the mother of Zebe- dee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. The promise of a Kingdom where 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou ? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two 15 sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in 16 THY kingdom. P 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of 17 the cup that I shall drink of, 18 and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father . 24 And when the ten heard it, 19 they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. CHRIST will rule (Fulfilled - Rev 20:4,6)

20:1 According to this parable, Jesus is not only looking to hire people (to save them), He is looking to put them to work in His vineyard reaching the lost. This parable illustrates Jesus’ previous teaching to Peter regarding true Christian service and riches ( Mt 19: 27- 30 ). According to Jesus, our proper reward in the future will be based on two things: 1. Did we “follow” Him (Mt 19:27) and attempt to reach the lost (Mt 4:19)? 2. Did we have the “right motive” for why we did what we did for God (vs 11-16)? It is not enough to simply labor for the Lord; we must possess the proper motive ( II Cor 5:14 ).