“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 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? 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. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 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 good man of the house, 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. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”―Matthew 20:1-161For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They 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. 8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12Saying, 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. 13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Matthew 20:1‑16).
WE have here something that is very instructive. The Lord has been saying in the previous chapter how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. In fact, He says, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (vs. 26), i.e., you cannot save yourself, but God can save you. Peter, struck by this, says, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” Then Jesus said: “Verily I say unto you... Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (verses 27-29). If you follow Jesus, you will have your reward. It is not only the twelve apostles to whom this applies. He will reward every one that has followed Him.
Now, alas! our hearts are very self-righteous, and He has to correct every bit of self-righteousnesses that springs up in our hearts. Peter was rather well pleased with his devotedness, so the Lord says, as it were, You have done very well by it, Peter. Do you, my reader, think of what you have given up for Christ? The rather think on what you have got from Christ, for all we have is but the result of sovereign grace, and no thanks to us. That is the point of the parable which follows.
“The kingdom of heaven is like,” &c. The point of this parable is this, there is no limit to God’s sovereignty in grace. God is sovereign. If you get eternal life, you get it by sovereign grace, and confidence in the grace of the Master of the vineyard is the point. “Whatsoever is right I will give you.” He wants men in His vineyard, but their, call and their reward depend entirely on His grace. All is on the principle of grace, and of God’s sovereignty.
Have you ever begun to work in the Lord’s vineyard yet? He is a wonderful master, so full of grace, and goodness, and encouragement. There is nothing to compare with the love of Christ, and the service of Christ. Look at the ceaseless activity of Christ which leads Him out to seek servants in this parable. The penny is what His grace will give you by-and-by. He goes out “early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard”; then “about the third hour”; again “about the sixth and ninth hour”; and once more “about the eleventh hour.” Only think of the earnestness and activity on His side. If His grace call, and save you, my reader, happy for you, for by-and-by He will reward you. Do not despise His call. Better far to serve Christ than Satan!
But the day closed; and when even was come, the Lord said, “Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.” It will be a grand day when this roll-call is heard! and each receives his reward. Are you a laborer? “I do not think I am a preacher,” say you. It is not a question about being a preacher. It is this, Are you for Him, and are you in His service? All His servants got a penny, and who gave them the penny? Christ. The first thought they should have received more than the last. That was a huge mistake. We are going to heaven, thank God, but we can only go in by sovereign grace) and the call of God. Oh! the blessedness of the sovereignty of God. He might have let you and me alone. Many are called, but few chosen. Are You chosen? Well, you say, I do not know. Thank God, I know. I could not rest if I did not know. Sovereign grace called me, and in that I rest. Grace takes us all in. The heart that knows what grace is, is delighted that you should taste it too.
Observe here what the Master says with regard to giving each a penny―even those who came in last: “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?” (vs. 15.) Certainly! If in His grace He put the one called at the eleventh hour on the same footing as those called “early in the morning,” the latter should have rejoiced. The first got what was justice, the last enjoyed grace. It is sovereign grace that carries us on, and sovereign grace will carry us in; and it is the effect of grace, that what you enjoy yourself, you are very anxious that others should enjoy too. If delighting in Christ yourself, you have such enjoyment in your soul that you desire that others should enjoy what you enjoy. You have lost nothing, although somebody else shares what fills your heart. And that is the way the gospel spreads. A wonderful thing indeed is grace, for it takes in the vilest and most guilty; and when you come to know the Lord, you want others to share what you are enjoying. May the Lord give you, my friend, to taste His rich and infinite goodness just now, and then fill your heart with deep longings for the blessing of others.
W. T. P. W.