Parable of the Laborer's Wages Matthew 20: 1 - 16 Continued, 5th Post.
In the last post we talked about the meaning of the eleventh hour, now we will look at the payment process. The landowner instructs his foreman to pay the workers who came to the vineyard late to be paid first. According to this parable, some of the workers got to the vineyard just ahead of the landowner. They were the first paid, and received a denarius for their trouble. Put yourself in these worker's shoes for a minuet. These workers have been idle all day and just walk to the vineyard and are paid a days wages for their trouble. What a deal! And so it went with all these laborer's as they were paid, and all receiving a denarius. These workers are also very happy, because they received a full days wage for less than a full days work. This brings us to the laborer's who were the very first to enter the vineyard, when they received their denarius, they were less than pleased. They felt they had been cheated. If you go back in the story to when they were hired, they agreed to work for that wage. So why were they upset? When they saw the other workers being paid the same amount that they were promised, they felt they should receive more, because they had worked the longest, through the heat of the day, and have done the most work. The truth is they received exactly what they had contracted out for. Unfortunately, the way they reacted is according to our human nature. We are sinful, and are greedy as part of this nature. We feel we have been wronged, even when have received exactly what we had agreed on. If you look at the world today, Jesus could have told this parable today, instead of over 2,000 years ago. I have run out of space again, will continue next post.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
589th Post Jesus Said Conerning Parables Con't. - Parables About The First Being Last Con't. - Parable on the Laborer's Wages Con't. - 4th Post - Matthew 20: 1 - 16.
Matthew 20: 1 - 16 Parable of the Laborer's Wages Continued 4th Post.
We left last post talking about the eleventh hour and what did Jesus mean when He said it. To try to understand this, we need to look at the context in which this passage was said. Remember, it was late in Jesus' earthly Ministry and it was very close to the time He was to be crucified. As we have found with earlier parables, much of the information given, was to answer or explain the topic Jesus was currently preaching on; in this case "End Times", and what was to happen. If you look at this parable in context of Jesus Ministry, He was in the evening of His Ministry, nearing the end. When Jesus died, what would that mean to "Laborer's" to His vineyard? Would the door be closed at that time, or does this give new meaning to the term "eleventh hour"? This is one meaning of the term "eleventh hour". There is another meaning to this statement in the parable. The different times that the landowner goes out and finds laborer's to work in his vineyard, symbolizes the period in their (the laborer's) life, when they decided to make a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and follow Him.
We left last post talking about the eleventh hour and what did Jesus mean when He said it. To try to understand this, we need to look at the context in which this passage was said. Remember, it was late in Jesus' earthly Ministry and it was very close to the time He was to be crucified. As we have found with earlier parables, much of the information given, was to answer or explain the topic Jesus was currently preaching on; in this case "End Times", and what was to happen. If you look at this parable in context of Jesus Ministry, He was in the evening of His Ministry, nearing the end. When Jesus died, what would that mean to "Laborer's" to His vineyard? Would the door be closed at that time, or does this give new meaning to the term "eleventh hour"? This is one meaning of the term "eleventh hour". There is another meaning to this statement in the parable. The different times that the landowner goes out and finds laborer's to work in his vineyard, symbolizes the period in their (the laborer's) life, when they decided to make a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and follow Him.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
588th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parables About First Shall Be Last Con't. - Parable of the Laborer's Wages Con't. 3rd. Post Matthew 20: 1 - 16.
Matthew 20: 1 - 16 Parable of The Laborer's Wages Continued 3rd Post.
We left last post with the first group of laborers leaving to go into the vineyard early in the day. The parable continues with the landowner going out about the third hour, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The landowner finds more people standing idle and offers them a job of working in his vineyard and this time the landowner says whatever is right I will pay you. The laborers go to work in the vineyard. Again at the sixth and ninth hour the landowner went out and did likewise. The sixth hour is Noon to 3:00 pm; and the ninth hour, 3:00 pm to sunset. The landowner hired all who were idle and wanted to work, and they went, meaning they agreed to the terms of the arrangement. The landowner goes out at the eleventh hour and found others standing idle, and he said to them,"Why are you standing here idle all day?" They said to him "Because no one has hired us." The landowner said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive." Not sure when the eleventh hour is, because the ninth hour is from 3:00 pm to sunset. Further on in this parable Jesus says toward evening the landowner tells his foreman to pay the workers, so the eleventh hour has to be between sunset and evening; starting with the last, to be paid first. More on the eleventh hour in my next post.
We left last post with the first group of laborers leaving to go into the vineyard early in the day. The parable continues with the landowner going out about the third hour, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The landowner finds more people standing idle and offers them a job of working in his vineyard and this time the landowner says whatever is right I will pay you. The laborers go to work in the vineyard. Again at the sixth and ninth hour the landowner went out and did likewise. The sixth hour is Noon to 3:00 pm; and the ninth hour, 3:00 pm to sunset. The landowner hired all who were idle and wanted to work, and they went, meaning they agreed to the terms of the arrangement. The landowner goes out at the eleventh hour and found others standing idle, and he said to them,"Why are you standing here idle all day?" They said to him "Because no one has hired us." The landowner said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive." Not sure when the eleventh hour is, because the ninth hour is from 3:00 pm to sunset. Further on in this parable Jesus says toward evening the landowner tells his foreman to pay the workers, so the eleventh hour has to be between sunset and evening; starting with the last, to be paid first. More on the eleventh hour in my next post.
587th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parables About First being Last Con't. - Parable of the Laborers Con't 2nd Post. - Mathew 20: 1 - 16.
Mathew 20: 1 - 16 The Parable of the Laborers Continued 2nd post.
This was spoken by Jesus very late in His earthly Ministry, just before His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday about a week before His death on the cross. Jesus is addressing the multitudes that were following Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Jesus starts this parable with the words the "Kingdom of Heaven is like..." You know from previous posts of mine if you have read them, that when Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, He could be talking about three different places, Heaven, the world, or our heart. The context of which this phrase appears, dictates the place Jesus is talking about. In this case the Kingdom of Heaven is the world. The vineyard in which this story takes place is Israel, and the Laborers are the people who have believed and are walking with Jesus trying to do His Commands. The denarius symbolizes payment for a job well done, in this case admittance into Heaven. Now that we have explained the places, the cast of characters, and the reward, lets look at the parable. The scene opens with the landowner who represents God going to the marketplace to find laborers to work in his vineyard. The landowner goes early in the morning to find laborers to work for him. Early in the morning would be the "First Hour", time from 6:00 am until 9:00 am. Notice here that the landowner and the potential laborers came to an agreement on payment before they went into the vineyard to work, and they went. I am running out of space for this post will pick up story on next post. Stay, tuned...
This was spoken by Jesus very late in His earthly Ministry, just before His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday about a week before His death on the cross. Jesus is addressing the multitudes that were following Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Jesus starts this parable with the words the "Kingdom of Heaven is like..." You know from previous posts of mine if you have read them, that when Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, He could be talking about three different places, Heaven, the world, or our heart. The context of which this phrase appears, dictates the place Jesus is talking about. In this case the Kingdom of Heaven is the world. The vineyard in which this story takes place is Israel, and the Laborers are the people who have believed and are walking with Jesus trying to do His Commands. The denarius symbolizes payment for a job well done, in this case admittance into Heaven. Now that we have explained the places, the cast of characters, and the reward, lets look at the parable. The scene opens with the landowner who represents God going to the marketplace to find laborers to work in his vineyard. The landowner goes early in the morning to find laborers to work for him. Early in the morning would be the "First Hour", time from 6:00 am until 9:00 am. Notice here that the landowner and the potential laborers came to an agreement on payment before they went into the vineyard to work, and they went. I am running out of space for this post will pick up story on next post. Stay, tuned...
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
586th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parables on The First Shall Be Last Con't. - Parable of The Laborer's Wages - 1st Post.
The Laborer's Wages Matthew 20: 1 - 16. 1st Post.
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius 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 to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you." So they went. 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 said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day?" They said to him, "Because no one hired us." He said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive." So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, "Call the laborer's and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first." And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received a denerius. And when they received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, "These men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day." But he answered one of them and said, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?" So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.
This was spoken by Jesus late in His earthly Ministry. Comments will be made on this next post.
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius 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 to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you." So they went. 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 said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day?" They said to him, "Because no one hired us." He said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive." So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, "Call the laborer's and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first." And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received a denerius. And when they received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, "These men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day." But he answered one of them and said, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?" So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.
This was spoken by Jesus late in His earthly Ministry. Comments will be made on this next post.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
585th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parables Concerning the Last Shall Be First New Section - My Comments.
New Section of Parables dealing with the topic of the Last Shall Be First. First Post this Section.
The Parables in this section are as follows:
The Laborer's Wages
The Guests' Excuses
The Rich Man and Lazarus
We will be looking at these parables in the upcoming posts. When you look at all the above parable titles, you will notice they all deal with End Times, and Judgment. This will be the theme that ties these different stories together. They all deal with End Times and Judgment, but different phases of these two subjects. Jesus told these stories because He knew what Heaven looks like, but had to try to put this knowledge into language the people would understand. It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus spoke these words. There have been a lot written on these parables. This study, from when it first started in January 2010, has been trying to look at Jesus' Words in the context they were spoken, and then trying to apply them to our lessons today. This has been our objective, only you can tell if I was successful or not.
As you read the Gospels with us, you have undoubtedly noticed that Jesus seldom told parables one at a time, but in strings. Jesus did this because all of the different parables in the string all had the same theme. This was not by accident, but by design, sometimes the themes of the parables did not always seem like they were connected, but they are. Parables were told to provide truth and understanding, to those who seek the truth.
The Parables in this section are as follows:
The Laborer's Wages
The Guests' Excuses
The Rich Man and Lazarus
We will be looking at these parables in the upcoming posts. When you look at all the above parable titles, you will notice they all deal with End Times, and Judgment. This will be the theme that ties these different stories together. They all deal with End Times and Judgment, but different phases of these two subjects. Jesus told these stories because He knew what Heaven looks like, but had to try to put this knowledge into language the people would understand. It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus spoke these words. There have been a lot written on these parables. This study, from when it first started in January 2010, has been trying to look at Jesus' Words in the context they were spoken, and then trying to apply them to our lessons today. This has been our objective, only you can tell if I was successful or not.
As you read the Gospels with us, you have undoubtedly noticed that Jesus seldom told parables one at a time, but in strings. Jesus did this because all of the different parables in the string all had the same theme. This was not by accident, but by design, sometimes the themes of the parables did not always seem like they were connected, but they are. Parables were told to provide truth and understanding, to those who seek the truth.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
584th Post Jesus Said Concerning Parables Con't. - Parables on Forgiveness Con't. - Parable of the Prodigal Son Con't. - 11th Post Luke 15: 11 - 30.
Parable of the Prodigal Son Continued, 11th Post.
The last part of this Parable, deals with the oldest son. He sometimes gets lost within this parable and is overlooked. As you remember, this son comes home after working in the fields all day and hears the sounds of celebration coming from the house. He asks a servant what is going on, it is then, that he finds out his younger brother has returned, and his father has killed the fatted calf for this celebration. The brother, instead of being glad that his younger brother is alive again, is upset because he is getting a party. The older brother stays outside, is angry and feels sorry for himself. The father has to come outside the house to try to console him and get him to join the party. The father demonstrates agape love again, but this time to the older son. Look how the son talks to his father, there is no respect there. The Father could have responded in like fashion, but Jesus is telling us this story, and He controls all of the elements of it. When the older son rebels here, he is guilty of the same sin that his younger brother committed. The only difference is he is on the other side of the spectrum. Rebellion is rebellion, no matter if you leave, or stay and live in a situation you feel is wrong. Rebellion, here is the older son's attitude. He felt that his father wronged him in giving his younger son his part of the inheritance early, the older son felt he had been robbed of some of his inheritance. He did not speak up before, but now when he sees that his brother has returned, he feels he will lose out again. This is what caused his anger. If we are honest with ourselves, we can see when we have been angry with our Heavenly Father, when He seems to have taken advantage of us or we don't wait until His plans have clearly been made known to us. It is at these times when we need to Trust in the Lord.
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The last part of this Parable, deals with the oldest son. He sometimes gets lost within this parable and is overlooked. As you remember, this son comes home after working in the fields all day and hears the sounds of celebration coming from the house. He asks a servant what is going on, it is then, that he finds out his younger brother has returned, and his father has killed the fatted calf for this celebration. The brother, instead of being glad that his younger brother is alive again, is upset because he is getting a party. The older brother stays outside, is angry and feels sorry for himself. The father has to come outside the house to try to console him and get him to join the party. The father demonstrates agape love again, but this time to the older son. Look how the son talks to his father, there is no respect there. The Father could have responded in like fashion, but Jesus is telling us this story, and He controls all of the elements of it. When the older son rebels here, he is guilty of the same sin that his younger brother committed. The only difference is he is on the other side of the spectrum. Rebellion is rebellion, no matter if you leave, or stay and live in a situation you feel is wrong. Rebellion, here is the older son's attitude. He felt that his father wronged him in giving his younger son his part of the inheritance early, the older son felt he had been robbed of some of his inheritance. He did not speak up before, but now when he sees that his brother has returned, he feels he will lose out again. This is what caused his anger. If we are honest with ourselves, we can see when we have been angry with our Heavenly Father, when He seems to have taken advantage of us or we don't wait until His plans have clearly been made known to us. It is at these times when we need to Trust in the Lord.
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