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DCLM STS for Sunday 12th February 2023. Parable Of The Labourers
Search The Scripture Lesson: 49
MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 20:6
And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them Why stand ye here all the day idle?”.
TEXTS: Matthew 20:1-34; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:35-43
THE MESSAGE:
Christ, the greatest Teacher that ever lived, illustrated kingdom of God with many parables. As a style of teaching, it is used to help inculcate higher spiritual truths with familiar stories or comparisons. Here, we are presented with “an householder” who went out “to hire labourers into his vineyard”. The householder refers to our Lord Jesus Christ and the vineyard is His Church.
This parable teaches significant lessons about the work of the kingdom of God. It instructs that there is always something to do in the house of God and even outside the church for all categories of believers. Also, believers who are doing little or nothing to advance the kingdom of God should be encouraged to work to enable them partake in Kingdom benefits now and on the last day (2 Corinthians 5:10).
CALL TO THE SERVICE OF THE MASTER (Matthew 20:1-8,17-19; 4:18-22; John 9:4; Mark 10:32-34)
“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard”. The call to service in God’s vineyard is the noblest under the sun. Believers are saved to serve. It is, therefore, abnormal for a true believer to fold his arms without getting involved in the work of the Master.
Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, demonstrated His obedience to the call of God upon His life by going about doing the work of His Father. He publicly declared “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). He called Peter and his brother Andrew, as well as James and John, the sons of Zebedee and they followed Him. It is pertinent to note that before one responds to the call to service, he or she must first respond to the call to salvation. The sinner must repent of sin, recognise Christ as Lord and personal Saviour and abide in the truth and holiness before he or she can get involved in the work. The church has the unfinished task of evangelising the whole world and that makes it more compelling for all believers — old and new converts — to ensure they do not stand idle all day.
In the parable, some persons gave excuses of not being engaged by anyone in any work. Immediately, the householder reached out to them so they could join the workforce. The Lord expects leaders in the church to encourage believers to see the need of working for God. The great commission cannot be accomplished if we do not join hands and labour together. The people in the days of Nehemiah responded positively to the work of God: “So built [they] the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6). Believers should get involved because evangelism is the only means through which redemption can get to souls languishing in sin.
Christ was a faithful and committed Labourer. Near the end of His service on earth, He predicted His suffering and death for the third time. He had earlier hinted His disciples on His forthcoming trial and suffering (Matthew 16:21; 17:12,22,23). Nevertheless, the Lord always talked about His resurrection each time He prophesied His death. Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem marked the beginning of the last phase of His public ministry. Having accomplished His part, He has handed over the baton of ministry to His disciples and to us (John 17:4, 18,20). We should be sure of our calling and be ready for whatever the Lord demands of us. Believers should place a high premium on their call and avoid distractions that the pursuit of mundane things brings. We should never lose sight of the eternal value of souls and the imminent return of Christ with our rewards for faithful service.
COMMITMENT TO SERVICE WITHOUT PREJUDICE (Matthew 20:9-12,20-23; Mark 10:35-40; John 6:43; Philippians 2: 14; Colossians 4: 17; 1 Corinthians 15:58)
“But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house” (Matthew 20: 10,11). The first set of workers in this parable murmured and complained because they expected greater rewards than the other workers who were called in to work in the vineyard at a late hour. The Lord expects believers to render acceptable service to Him. We are not to serve in expectation of personal gain but in appreciation of what God has done for us. Hence, our services should not be done with murmuring, complain or jealousy.
The Bible admonishes us to “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Philippians 2:14). As believers, we should not be surprised or take offence when God rewards others in unexpected ways. When we are converted, we become members of the body of Christ; and as we grow in grace, we should reason that when any member is honoured, the honour is for all of us. It took the disciples a long time before they fully understood Christ’s mission. Most of them felt Jesus was a political Messiah who would, upon entering Jerusalem, overthrow the Roman government and set up His own reign. Besides, two of His disciples — James and John — came “desiring a certain thing of him…[that they] may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in [His] kingdom” (Matthew 20:20,21).
Christ has just spoken about His impending death in the hands of the religious leaders. This did not occupy their thoughts. Instead, they contemplated how to be above the other disciples. Believers should Walk in the Spirit and prioritize the will of God above other pursuits instead of dwelling on the mundane. Christ, in His answer, told James and John, “Ye not what ye ask”. He asked them whether they were ready to drink of His cup and pass through the same baptism of suffering with Him. Since they were ready,”…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” (Matthew 20:23). Indeed, they drank of His cup, for James was later killed by Herod (Acts 12:2) while John experienced much persecution and tribulation (Revelation 1 :9), and eventual banishment on the isle of Patmos.
Believers should not fight for position in the church or in the world, but diligently and faithfully serve the Lord who will reward everyone in due time. We must take steps to ensure the work of God is done acceptably. Paul admonishes us to, “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it” (Colossians 4: 17). This godly counsel is instructive to believers of all ages. Some workers, like Demas, who once worked diligently for the Lord, abandoned their first love. The mundane gains of this world should not make us leave the work of God. We should strive and labour to the end without quitting the work. Christ’s admonition to us remains, “Occupy till I come”. Therefore, we must continue in His work until He comes.
CORRECTIONS FOR THE SERVANTS IN THE MINISTRY (Matthew 20:13-16,24-34; Mark 10:41-45; Luke 18:35-43; 1 Samuel 30:21-25; Hebrews 12:5,6)
Some of the labourers who entered into service early misunderstood the power of agreement and the benevolence of the householder. They grumbled against his good gesture of rewarding the servants accordingly. “But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?” (Matthew 20:13).
Aside, murmuring, position- seeking and self-aggrandisement are evils believers must avoid. We must serve the Lord based on His own terms and be willing to accept His will. As a righteous and an impartial Father, He will not short-change any of His own but will reward them handsomely. James and John’s request was borne out of a desire to be prominent among the rest of the apostles. They were ambitious for honour and fame. The request of the two disciples generated a bit of jealousy among the rest. They were angry with the two brothers and this occasioned an important teaching from the lips of the Saviour. In His explanation, Jesus drew the line between leadership in the world and leadership in the church. Leaders in the world exercise authority and lord it over their followers and subordinates. In the church, the idea of leadership is different.
To lead is to serve others humbly in love, in line with Christ’s own example. He gave His life as a ransom for many. Jesus pointed out that humility is a supreme attribute of a Christian leader. He was to buttress this point later when He washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:3-15). In addition, Jesus never closed His eyes to the needy. His compassionate touch brought a miracle to two blind men sitting by the way side. The blind men were quick to recognise Him as the promised Messiah, since the “son of David” is a messianic title. Their faith in Christ was honoured. Their prayer could not be silenced by the multitude who ”rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David” (Matthew 20:31).
Sinners are spiritually blind and, more than the physical healing, they need salvation for their souls. Spiritual blindness and darkness persist in and outside many religious circles and only the gospel message, delivered by faithful witnesses, can illuminate their hearts. Paul’s ministry was geared towards this singular purpose. It is remarkable that consequent upon their healing, the two men decided to follow Jesus. Jesus once told a man He cured of a thirty-eight year infirmity to sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon him (John 5: 14). This is the response God expects from all saved souls. They are to consecrate everything to Christ and continue to follow Him. Many are helpless around us. They live in misery that is worse than physical blindness. Christians should have compassion on them and rise up to win their souls before they are eternally lost.
There are lessons to draw from the corrections of the householder and that of Jesus to the disciples. One, we should be contented with whatever the Lord gives us. Two, God holds the prerogative to determine what He does with His resources. He distributes to people according to His own will (1 Corinthians 12:11). Three, we should glorify God when He blesses others and not become jealous (Luke 18:43). Four, we should avoid carnal comparison of our service with that of others. Five, we must understand that God owns us and all we have.
The services we render to Him are products of the grace He gives us freely. We have to allow Him have control over our ambitions. We should not dictate to Him the way He should reward us. Six, God does not want His children to run others down in order to get more advantage. Seven, we should never resent God’s gracious acceptance of the despised, the outcast and sinners who have turned to Him for forgiveness; neither should we be jealous of what He has given to other people. Rather, we should focus on His gracious benefits to us and be thankful for what we have. In summary, we should receive the call of God on our lives with gratitude and serve Him with all our hearts without comparing ourselves with anyone.
Our focus should be to please the Master who knows how to reward everyone accordingly. Since there is no partiality with Him, no one would be short-changed or owed anything; the Judge of all the earth cannot do unrighteously (Genesis 18:25; Hebrews 6:10). Let us labour fervently until the Master comes.
Questions for review:
- What steps should a sinner take before serving God acceptably in His vineyard?
- Explain the expression “Believers are saved to serve”
- What was James and John’s request? Why should believers not fight for position in the church and in the world?
- How should a believer react when God blesses a fellow member of the church?
- Why is sanctification a necessity for Christian service?
- State the importance of correction in the church.
- What do you learn from the corrections of the householder and Christ?
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