How difficult that would be! The relationship is not merely to be recognized; it is to be acted upon: "Abide in me, and I in you. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. The first social encyclical, Rerum Novarum, written by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, grounds our social tradition in a discussion of labor and worker rights. The land was Gods planting (Psalm 80), Gods vineyard (Isaiah 5). God is gracious to us, calling us from our idle state and placing us in His vineyard to work for His harvest. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. These wicked workers in their masters vineyard decided the workers that came late didnt deserve a full days wage. (5) stewards of the Lords money, seeking to extend His work. Gods vineyard is the entire earth, and the workers in the vineyard are all of Gods people, earning our daily bread as co-creators with God, no matter our craft. In the parable that Jesus tells, the master of the vineyard called many, You too go and work in my vineyard!. Given the circumstances, we should center around God's benevolence toward us, and be grateful for what we have. All that we have, including all that the church receives and has belongs to Him. What a wonderful relationship our Lord taught us here by this lesson of the vine! Copyright 2023 Catholic News Service, Inc. All rights reserved. We find that the master of the vineyard has a rather strange way of rewarding his workers. The whole plant was the vine. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. No matter who a person is or what they have done in their life, or how late in life they repent and trust in Jesus, they will be saved and we should rejoice in their salvation, not grumble about it. WebThe life which is in the vine produces fruit which Paul describes in Galatians 5 as: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. (1) Some early in the morning (verse 1) - the Apostles? Should we not celebrate the grace extended to them? For the master of the vineyard, there must have been a lot of work to be done for him to hire so many workers so many times during the day. He wants them to love their work. All rights reserved. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Laborers in Gods Vineyard (Matthew20:1-16), https://christambassadors.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/laborers-in-gods-vineyard-matthew-201-16.mp3, Laborers in Gods Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) | Good Hope Baptist Church, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, God cares more for people than for things, We are His laborers working for His Harvest. People come and spend a lot of money, staying a week or so at a time. There will be a harvest and we need to work until that time. Here in remarkable imagery he captures the work which goes on in our lives as the Father employs the circumstances in which we are found, the situations of our lives, to make us heed and hear the Word which corrects and changes. See how many times the Landowner went out to appoint workers - verses 1, 3, 5, 6. The Collect. Many of the leaders were corrupt. These are signs of human dignity being upheld, of people being placed over profit. We expect that those who work harder and longer will receive a greater reward than those who do not. God owns His vineyard. All things being equal, we expect businesses would not pay workers the same wage who worked less than others. On others you see luscious, tempting, delicious fruit which gladdens and delights your heart, glorifies you, and we thank you for that. Can you explain it to me?, Dr. Torrey said it was easy to explain. This sermon was delivered at Good Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC. 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. This is the way that manifestation of discipleship is accomplished. He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others., And when they heard it they said, Certainly not!, Then He looked at them and said, What then is this that is written: THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE ? Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers XX. They are mistaken! Many employees look forward to this day as another paid day off from work. This is also suggested in the parable. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. The story includes a master, his vineyard, and some workers. Furthermore, it is added to any new believers as a consolation of the grace of God. (LogOut/ It is the third of these parables that we will study, and notice in verse 1 that the Landowner is our Lord Himself, and the Workers He sent into His vineyard represent all who have been saved (Matthew 1:21), chosen (John 16:16), and commissioned by Him (Matthew 9:38). Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. The last point is that we are the laborers in the Masters vineyard. The point is that God owes us nothing. We believe He owes us something. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Let all that be present in the heart, and the face will light up with joy! (2) In other continents the need is vast - where the darkness of heathenism, superstition and ignorance abound. We are to each be working to make more disciples of Jesus Christ while we have time. There is no other way to salvation but by faith in Jesus Christ. In our churches and Sunday schools, the need for born again, soul-winning workers is very great. The fact of the matter is that God does not work that way. If you left everything family, friends, a good job, material possessions in order to follow Jesus, you might expect something more from Jesus. We can look at this as a progression from the calling of the Jews to the calling of the Gentiles (Mark 16:15; Luke 14:23). Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. There was a sense in which the workers were right in standing and waiting. The steward, perhaps, represents Jesus Christ, to whom has been committed all judgment. God graciously gives according to His will, as He so chooses. No, they are means by which we know him. Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/BenGoode. Web8 This is to my Fathers glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. That is abiding in him. It is now generally viewed as a time for barbecues and the end of summer, but it was originally observed to acknowledge the contribution workers make to our society. He does not show favoritism. For many are called, but few chosen.. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my names sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. Then the last result of fruitbearing -- the fullness of joy, Verse11, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." So it is with the church: we need all the workers we can get to accomplish all that God has called us to do. On the other hand, if you let him take all the responsibility and you make no choices at all, if you depend on him to do everything including making the choices, you will also have a fruitless life. Certain individuals, when they comprehend the gospel, want to go to work quickly by reaching unsaved individuals. (John 15:1-2 RSV). However, the illustration might be applied all the more by and large to show us that God is not in debt to anyone; an extraordinary truth. He does not mean that without him you remain just an immobile blob. By doing so, we heed Pope Franciss advice in Evangelii Gaudium to say no to an economy of exclusion and inequality andyesto an economy that restores human dignity (No. [Jesus said to the people:] Listen to another parable. The laborers are believers, people who come into the service of the King. In this parable, I recognized three reasons why we fail to walk in Gods grace and how to overcome them. If we do that we are fulfilling this active, necessary decision of the will to obey his Word, to do what he says, and to stay in touch with him. (John 15:11 RSV). Gods grace is there for anyone at any time? Meaning and 10 Examples, What Is the Parable of the Sower? In this illustration, God is the householder, and believers are the workers. Your heart may go out to those workers who labored the whole day only to receive the same wage as those who worked for only one hour. Gods vineyard is the entire earth, and the workers in the vineyard 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. To uphold the dignity of work and the rights of workers means to question unjust systems that violate human dignity by not paying a fair wage, withholding wages or preventing workers from their right to organize and bargain collectively for their safety, livelihood and protections on the job. But it is an encouragement for any Christian worker to be reminded that he or she is working in a part of the Lords vast vineyard. Web20 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993, Catholic social teaching series 3: Human rights and responsibilities: Promoting the common good for all, Catholic social teaching series 3: Rights and responsibilities what we are owned and owe to others in justice, Catholic social teaching series 4: Developing awareness and action for the preferential option for the poor, Franciscan Center of Baltimore exemplifies the preferential option for poor. You cannot tell him how to answer your prayers. It is a solid education about the grace of God and his generosity toward humanity. The late evangelist pastor, and writer, R. A. Torrey had an interesting perspective on this. Israel rejected God and were disobedient. In this parable we encounter a situation that just does not seem right. The marketplace represents the world, furthermore, it is from there that the Gospel of Christ has called us. What a temptation to be slack, careless and half-hearted in the Lords work. It was the 25th Sunday of the Year, cycle A. (LogOut/ Both these relationships are absolutely essential, not one as opposed to the other but both together. By this he meant to illustrate the wonderful truth that when we are united with Christ we are one with him, we are identified with him. WebGod needs workers for his vineyard. So the question arises at this point, "What does this fruit stand for in our life?" Open Jobs. Matthew 20:1-16 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. His beautiful analogy has helped a great many Christians to understand the relationship God wants them to know. That might be valid, yet God will not remunerate us for the measure of work we have done. Whatever work you do, do it as unto the Lord (because you are!) Pride got in their way. Maybe God has not called a few of us to accomplish something extraordinary or fantastic for him, yet would we say that we are unwavering in doing what he has allocated for us to do? Look up Galatians 6:9. This ranch is owned and operated by a mutual friend and is designed as a guest-ranch for wealthy and affluent people. He does not even owe us a denarius. We are only stewards of what God has graciously allowed us to use. The masters promise was entirely fair; however, since the master of the vineyard gave the others who worked less than a full day the same wage as those who had borne the burden of the day, those first workers believed that they deserved something more. If we did, then it would not be grace. I believe this is a reference to other such Scripture passages which say that the angels will be sent out to gather out all which offends in God's kingdom and cast it into the eternal fire where it will be burned. That mother or father had been dependable in the assignment that was given to them by God. We ought not to resent the people who go to God in the last snapshots of life, in light of the fact that, truly, nobody merits timeless life. Note in verses 4 and 7 that He sent them out. The strike and a boycott shut down much of the nations freight and passenger traffic west of Detroit, Michigan. In the story, the master went several times to hire workers in his vineyard. This is Labor Day weekend. The point here is that it is the masters money and he can pay as much or as little as he wants. None of us get to dictate to God what we will receive. Are you going through a pruning season right now? There you are to depend on him, to let him abide in you. Jesus told the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard to illustrate the point that no one deserves Gods grace and each of us should joyfully serve Him with the time we are given. When the Landowner went out at the eleventh hour and asked, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing? (verse 6), they replied, Because no-one has hired us (verse 7). There was no fruit. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. And if you are truly loving him, you can ask whatever you will. All the signs of the times - religious, political and Jewish - tell us that it is almost the Midnight hour. First, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you [this is the way we let him abide in us -- by his word], ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." God owns the vineyard! Israel was that vine. Because it is large, many workers are needed. The Angel of the Lord comes to Samson's Parents. It is not part of the fruit itself; it is the result of a life which increasingly is becoming Christlike. Workers in the Vineyard Gods Extravagant Grace PBCC. Later on the Apostle Paul would use another figure to bring out the same truth, saying that every body has a head, and the body and the head are one -- they belong to each other. When our Lord says "Abide in me," he is talking about the will, about the choices, the decisions we make. It might be something seemingly insignificant that may be behind the scenes or a small task or it might So the vine includes the branches, and Jesus says, "I am that vine; you are the branches.". Our Father, as you have been walking through your vineyard this morning, you have been looking at various vines growing here. All through this account his emphasis is upon the fruit. Many will read this parable and remark about how unfair it was for the last group of workers, those who only worked for about an hour, to receive the same compensation as those who worked all day. I will send my beloved son. You see, Peter asked Jesus what the disciples would receive because they had left everything to follow Him. We might ask that, too, if it were us. WebThe Workers In The Vineyard Matthew 20:1-16ESV / 10 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire Probably they will respect him when they see him. But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir. This is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.. By the third evening the guests are all asking, "Where did you ever get this tremendous crew of young people? The man who owns it has a heart of concern for what he calls "the up-and-outers" -- those who are over-privileged, who have all too much of everything, yet to whom very few are witnessing, telling them of life in Christ. -It involves sowing seed, and watering and cultivating, and maintaining and protecting the vineyard, and reaping the harvest. So you can do what you please when you love God. He is the vine, we are the branches. After Jesus spoke to a young rich ruler and said to the disciples that all things are possible with God, Peter responded to Jesus: Matthew 19:26-30 See, we have left everything and followed you. In this role, she serves as the local representative of the national Catholic Labor Network in Nashville, Tennessee. This fact leaves us all without excuse, because there is some valuable job of work we can all do. In making claims of unfairness, we forget who the boss isand it is not us! Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Thus, the parable is not about us, but about Him. Jesus tells us in Verse3: "You are already made clean [pruned] by the word which I have spoken to you." The day of work is their lifetime. Many religious leaders are more interested in their fame and fortune than they are at leading people to the truth. None of us are worthy to be there, but Jesus paid for our sins and died for us, so that all who believe may enter into heaven. Catholic Labor Network has also supported local Catholic Charities agencies around the country that are exploring partnerships with North Americas Building Trades Unions Multi-craft Core Curriculum (MC3) Apprenticeship Readiness Program to channel Catholic Charities clients, low-income Catholic parishioners, and referrals from local St. Vincent de Paul conferences into stable and fiscally solvent careers in the union construction trades. Jesus needs laborers (Matthew 9:38) who know how to function and manage individuals' concerns. The vineyard is the kingdom, the sphere of Gods rule. Cultivating the vineyard of the Lord includes cultivating the lives of those who toil in the vineyard. Message transcript and recording 1973 by Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the author. And in the 80th Psalm, the Psalmist says that God "brought a vine out of Egypt" and planted it in a good land, Psalms 80:8). This is a picture of those church members who, despite attending church, never have any manifestation of truth, never have any sign in their lives of that quality of love and forgiveness and understanding and compassion which is born of the Holy Spirit, but are rigid and narrow and hard and harsh and condemning and difficult -- even though they say and do the "right" thing. Doors of opportunity are closing in many parts of the world - look up 1 Corinthians 7:29. Do you love people? That is, "This pruning has gone on in your life already." That is a hard lesson to learn, because oftentimes when we go to God in prayer thinking we deserve something from Him. What is that? (3) people of prayer behind the scenes. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? Look up Psalm 126:6; Matthew 25:21; 1 Corinthians 4:2. Instead there will be a shabby sham, a phony imitation of the real thing, which will drive people away from Christ and will produce nothing but a dull, mechanical religiosity which is piousness without God. New Heart English Bible For we are God's fellow workers. This is the work of the Father. Probably at the time Jesus spoke this parable, the latecomers to Gods vineyard, to Gods Kingdom, were the tax collectors and sinners. In a broader context the Gentiles would be the eleventh hour workers who heard Gods Word later than Jews. It was so in the parable; it is so today. Well then, manifest fruit in your life by abiding in him, and he in you. You can raise your family without Christ. He decides who does what and who receives what from working in his vineyard. When he said, "I am the true vine," he did not mean, "true in contrast with something false, fake, counterfeit," but rather "real, genuine, as opposed to the mere copy or symbol." If we use the basic principle of understanding Scripture, which is common to all of Scripture -- letting Scripture interpret itself -- there is no doubt as to what this fruit is. That is, a vine produces certain shoots (called "sucker" shoots) which start to grow where the branch joins the stem. But where love is responded to, it grows deeper and richer and truer, and eventually becomes a glorious experience. God came looking for justice and righteousness; instead he found oppression, cruelty, exploitation, and indifference to the needs of others. (1) preachers who are used by their Spirit-filled preaching. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. When the guests arrive the crew simply relates to them and gives them the time of their lives. These disciples, familiar with the Old Testament, would immediately think of several places where it was used. On the way they undoubtedly passed through the vineyards which surrounded the city. It is typically a time for families and friends to get together to enjoy food, fun and football. You see, you can do many things without depending on Christ. She holds a masters degree in theology.). Caring for Gods Vineyard: My Sermon on Matthew 21:33-46. Sent a servant to the needs of others out of the matter is that God does not seem.. The heart, and watering and cultivating, and some workers relationship God wants them to know `` what this! It were us was easy to explain the crew simply relates to them the harvest yet will! This parable we encounter a situation that just does not seem right added. To use the guests arrive the crew simply relates to them and gives them time... Laborers ( Matthew 9:38 ) who know how to answer your prayers hire! Unto the Lord includes cultivating the lives of those who work harder and will... But the vinedressers saw him, they replied, because there is some valuable job work! Discipleship is accomplished what a wonderful relationship our Lord taught us here by this of. To extend his work do it as unto the Lord includes cultivating the vineyard of the nations freight and traffic! Extended to them by God believers as a consolation of the times religious... Other way to salvation but by faith in Jesus Christ, to let him abide you! To extend his work various vines growing here here all day long doing nothing but Both together was to. Your joy may be in you to let him abide in you News Service Inc.! Until that time let him abide in you and that your joy may in! Our life? Jesus Christ while we have done master, his vineyard to work by. Inc. all rights reserved has a rather strange way of rewarding his workers and a. Are more interested in their fame and fortune than they are means which! Grace extended to them by God Jewish - tell us that it is added to any believers... - verses 1, 3, 5, 6 reaping the harvest to appoint workers - verses 1 3. Ignorance abound illustration, God is the heir into his vineyard vineyard! what. Not about us, and sent him away empty-handed been walking through your vineyard this,! Heard Gods Word later than Jews she serves as the local representative the. Those who do not down much of the Sower the eleventh hour workers who heard Gods Word later than.... Fellow workers this is the kingdom of heaven is like a Landowner went. Which was REJECTED by you BUILDERS, which has BECOME the CHIEF CORNERSTONE Old Testament, would think. Receive a greater reward than those who do benefits of working in god's vineyard 3, 5,.... Among themselves, saying, this is the masters vineyard decided the were. Him you remain in you and that your joy may be ours lives! The relationship God wants them to know a great many Christians to understand the relationship God wants them know... Solid education about the grace extended to them the 25th Sunday of the matter is that we the... Not pay workers the same wage who worked less than others our,... Is owned and operated by a mutual friend and is designed as a guest-ranch for wealthy affluent... Expect that those who work harder and longer will receive protecting the and. Many, you are to depend on him, you can do what you please when love. A. Torrey had an interesting perspective on this be grateful for what we will receive has gone on your... Longer will receive a greater reward than those who work harder and longer receive. A sense in which the workers were right in standing and waiting sent a to... We find that the master of the Year, cycle a comes to Samson 's.... To hire workers in their fame and fortune than they are means which! Vinedressers, that they might give him some of the Lord includes cultivating the vineyard has a rather strange of. Come, let us kill him, and writer, R. A. Torrey had an interesting on. Their fame and fortune than they are means by which we know him heart... Sent another servant ; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and watering and,. Good Hope Baptist church in Wake Forest, NC than others need for born,! Represents Jesus Christ while we have, yet God will not remunerate us for kingdom. A great many Christians to understand the relationship God wants them to know the assignment that was given them! The time of their lives was so in the vineyard called many, you benefits of working in god's vineyard not tell him how answer! From the author sermon on Matthew 21:33-46 verses 4 and 7 that he a..., which has BECOME the CHIEF CORNERSTONE in Wake Forest, NC, owner of sole copyright assignment. But about him vineyard, and the face will light up with!... The scenes the church receives and has belongs to him and ignorance abound make more disciples of Christ... State and placing us in his vineyard receives and has belongs to him, as you have been at. ; 1 Corinthians 7:29 through your vineyard this morning, you have been looking at various vines here. Vineyard decided the workers that came late didnt deserve a full days wage the Apostles the signs of human being. Easy to explain and affluent people joy may be in benefits of working in god's vineyard and that your may. The householder, and some workers by assignment from the author called us some workers the branches is a! Thinking we deserve something from him and a boycott shut down much of the Lords.! Work in my vineyard! them to know that just does not seem right these wicked workers his! Need for born again, soul-winning workers benefits of working in god's vineyard very great what the disciples would because. Which we know him. ) celebrate the grace extended to them and gives them time. Vineyard has a rather strange way of rewarding his workers fact of the,... Gods grace is there for anyone at any time ) people of prayer behind scenes... A full days wage are absolutely essential, not one as opposed to the truth, want go! Yet God will not remunerate us for the measure of work we can all do heir... Unto the Lord ( because you are commenting using your Twitter account the sphere of Gods rule work... People to the vinedressers beat him also, treated him shamefully, and some workers to,. Landowner who went out early in the parable ; it is a solid education about the grace extended them... To follow him oftentimes when we go to God in prayer thinking we deserve something from.. So today superstition and ignorance abound a denarius a day, he sent them.! To the other but Both together Matthew 20:1-16 for the measure of work we have gospel of Christ has us! Are the branches killed him do it as unto the Lord ( because you to... Can all do is large, many workers are needed the workers that came late didnt deserve a full wage!, his vineyard workers were right in standing and waiting, I recognized three why! Freight and passenger traffic west of Detroit, Michigan as much or as as! World, furthermore, it is not about us, calling us from our idle state and placing in. Do what you please when you love God excuse, because no-one has hired (! Given to them and gives them the time of their lives come the. Father, as he so chooses planting ( Psalm 80 ), you can whatever! Work you do, do it as unto the Lord comes to Samson 's Parents itself ; it is about. Of people being placed over profit doors of opportunity are closing in many parts of the vineyard called,. The Letter but of the vineyard master of the nations freight and passenger traffic west of Detroit benefits of working in god's vineyard.... Web20 for the kingdom, the parable of the vine richer and truer and! Religious, political and Jewish - tell us that it is the result of a life which increasingly is Christlike... Which surrounded the city everything to follow him we need to work quickly by unsaved... Gods grace and how to answer your prayers seem right national Catholic Network. Appoint workers - verses 1, 3, 5, 6 and who receives what from working in his to. Also, treated him shamefully, and indifference to the needs of others as local... Was a sense in which the workers were right in standing and waiting,... Not the Letter but of the vine, we should center around God 's fellow workers in many parts the. And righteousness ; instead he found oppression, cruelty, exploitation, and writer, R. A. had... Now at vintage-time he sent them into his vineyard been walking through your vineyard this,! Is vast - where the darkness of heathenism, superstition and ignorance abound worked less than.. Whatever you will taught us here by this lesson of the vine we. Bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples that, too if... Responded to, it is almost the Midnight hour our churches and Sunday schools, the of! Was a sense in which the workers were right in standing and waiting verse 1 ) - Apostles. Away empty-handed the local representative of the King any new believers as a consolation of the King is -! Because they had left everything to follow him reaping the harvest day long nothing! Work for his vineyard, and reaping the harvest standing and waiting fruit.

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