The Parable of the Vineyard
TEXT
: Mat. 20:1-7INTRODUCTION
:A. A WELL KNOWN PARABLE.
B. GOOD FOR OUR STUDY.
I.
THE KINGDOM IS LIKE A MAN WHO WENT OUT TO HIRE LABORERS.A. GOD DOESN'T ATTEMPT TO FORCE MEN TO WORK( Rev. 22:17 )
B. THE LORD WANTS ALL TO BE SAVED( 2 Pet. 3:9 ).
C. THE MAN OFFERED A DECENT WAGE. WHAT DOES GOD OFFER?
1. Fellowship( 1 John 1:7 ).
2. Justification from sin( Heb. 5:8-9 ).
3. A home in heaven( Mat. 7:21 ).
4. Eternal life( 1 John 2:25 ).
5. Rest( Mat. 11:28 ).
D. PAUL HELPS PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE( 2 Cor. 4:16-18 ).
II.
HE WENT OUT TO HIRE LABORERS.A. GOD DOESN'T WANT THOSE WHO WON'T WORK( James 1:22 ).
B. JESUS LEFT US AN EXAMPLE OF HARD WORK( John 5:17; 9:4 ).
C. OUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN( 1 Cor. 15:58; Mat. 10:42 ).
D. LABORERS WORK( Eph. 2:10 ).
III.
THE LORD'S LABORERS WORK IN HIS VINEYARD.A. WE GLORIFY GOD IN THE CHURCH( Mat. 5:16; Eph. 3:21 ).
B. WE DO THE WORK HE ASSIGNS( Mat. 7:21-23 ).
IV.
SOME WENT EARLY, SOME LATE, ALL GOT THE SAME PAY.A. CONTEXT HELPS TO UNDERSTAND( Mat. 19:16-30 ).
1. Man can't save himself.
2. We often hold the wrong thing in high esteem(19:30;20:16).
3. God saves us because he loves us.
B. AND THIS IS THE LESSON OF THE PARABLE - WE ARE NOT PAID BY THE HOUR OR BY PIECEWORK AS THOUGH WE EARN SALVATION.
1. Eternal life is a gift( Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9 ).
2. The gift is for those who obey( Mat. 7:21 ).
3. We are still undeserving( Luke 17:10 ).
CONCLUSION
:A. 2 Cor. 6:1.
B. Acts 22:16.
