The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a
landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
1. Why does Jesus tell this story and who do the main characters represent?
This story starts off with the word “for” which means it is connected to the end of the previous chapter.
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Matt 19:27-30
It would appear that Jesus is continuing to illustrate a biblical principle that he began teaching on in the previous chapter. The landowner would be God, the hired workers are us, the called and chosen to enter the vineyard which is the Kingdom of God as it exists in the world. The pay would be the rewards, salvation, as well as blessing both now and in heaven for faithful service.
2. What kind of a labor contract is this?
The grape harvest ripened towards the end of September, and then close on its heels the rains came. If the harvest was not ingathered before the rains broke, then it was ruined; and so to get the harvest in was a frantic race against time. Any worker was welcome, even if he could give only an hour to the work.
The pay was perfectly normal; a denarius or a drachma was the normal day’s wage for a working man—Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)
This was typical during harvest. Day laborers stood in the market place from dawn, hoping to be hired for the day’s work. The work day began at 6:00 a.m. and went to 6:00 p.m.
3. Why didn’t he just hire all the workers at the same time?
The landowner made a decision to hire a certain number of workers early in the day. We might ask, why did Jesus call only 12 disciples why not 47 or 532?
F0r various reason some enter the vineyard, the Kingdom of God, at different times. Some are saved and begin their service as children, some in their middle years, some on their death bed. Why this is the case, only God knows. Either predestined or freewill, Gods sovereign election or mans rebellious freewill, all do not either hear the call or they hear and ignore or maybe they will never respond or were never called. We just don’t know for sure. What we do know for sure is that people come into a relationship with God at different ages and for different durations.
4. Why did some expect to be paid more?
They worked longer and in comparing themselves to those hired later it seemed fair to them that they should get more
5. Is grumbling appropriate?
“These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.”
They got paid exactly what they had been promised. Their agreement was an individual one and did not depend on what the others got. If they had not known what the others were paid, they would not have been upset.
6. What theological point is being illustrated by this story?
Two possible points:
The parable teaches that service for Christ will be faithfully rewarded, and that equal faithfulness to one’s opportunity will be equally rewarded. However, only God can adequately assess faithfulness and opportunities, and thus human judgments may be reversed. WBC
last shall be first …first last. In other words, everyone finishes in a dead heat. No matter how long each of the workers worked, they each received a full day’s wage. Similarly, the thief on the cross will enjoy the full blessings of heaven alongside those who have labored their whole lives for Christ. Such is the grace of God. MSN
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb 9:22(NKJV)
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19 (NIV)
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Heb 9:15 (NIV)
8. How did the disciples react to this news?
They totally disregard or do not understand what Jesus has just said. It’s like they are oblivious to these many statements that Jesus makes with regard to the cross and his death.
A Mother’s Request
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
9. Isn’t it normal for a mother to want the best for her sons?
Mark presents the request as coming from the sons. Matthew shows that they at first asked through their mother, but that later they personally joined the conversation. 20. Mother of Zebedee’s children.Salome, apparently the sister of the Virgin Mary, as shown by comparing Mt 27:56 with Mk 15:40 and Jn 19:25. 21. The request for seats of highest honor in Christ’s kingdom may have been prompted by his previous revelation about the twelve thrones (19:28). Though it arose from the idea that the kingdom would very shortly be established (Lk 19:11), and betrayed a spirit not altogether humble, it should be noted that it was based on a firm faith that Jesus was the Messiah and his kingdom a reality. —WBC
It does show great faith in the fact of Jesus being the Messiah, but show a complete misunderstanding of the principles of the Kingdom as outlines by Jesus during His sermon on the mount.
It’s like they had not even been there , and they were expecting to get there new places of honor next Tuesday.
10. What? “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,”, what kind of a deal is that?
Pride is what motivates the natural man to become great among his brethren. The Kingdom reflects the character of Christ who was entirely other centered. Is was pride and the issue of Adam and Eve wanting to “be like God”that got us in this fine mess.
Two Blind Men Receive Sight
29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
11. What can we tell from these two blind guys?
a. These two blind men were undiscourageable. The crowd commanded them to stop their shouting; they were making a nuisance of themselves. It was the custom in Palestinefor a Rabbi to teach as he walked along the road; and no doubt those around Jesus could not hear what Jesus was saying for this clamorous uproar. But nothing would stop the two blind men; for them it was a matter of sight or blindness, and nothing was going to keep them back.
b. These two blind men had an imperfect faith but they were determined to act on the faith they had. It was as Son of David that they addressed Jesus. That meant that they did believe him to be the Messiah, but it also meant that they were thinking of Messiahship in terms of kingly and of earthly power. It was an imperfect faith but they acted on it; and Jesus accepted it.
c. These two blind men were not afraid to bring a great request. They were beggars; but it was not money they asked for, it was nothing less than sight.
d. These two blind men were grateful. When they had received the boon for which they craved, they did not go away and forget; they followed Jesus.
So many people, both in things material and in things spiritual, get what they want, and then forget even to say thanks. Ingratitude is the ugliest of all sins. These blind men received their sight from Jesus, and then they gave to him their grateful loyalty. We can never repay God for what he has done for us but we can always be grateful to him. —BDB
BDB…………..Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)
· ESV………….ESV Study Bible Notes
· MSN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes
· NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes.
· JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
· ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
· BN …..Barnes Notes
· WBC…… Wycliffe Bible Commentary
· CN ……Constables Notes
· IC……….Ironside Commentary
· NET………Net Bible Study Notes.
· JFB…………..Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
· VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies
· CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark
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