MATTHEW LESSON 40

     We will begin this lesson in Matthew 20:1 "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." Matthew
20:2 "And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he
sent them into his vineyard."

     Matthew 20:3 "And he went out about the third hour, and saw
others standing idle in the marketplace," Matthew 20:4 "And said unto
them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will
give you. And they went their way."

     Matthew 20:5 "Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour,
and did likewise." 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?"

     Matthew 20:7 "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." Matthew 20:8 "So when even was come,
the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers,
and give them [their] hire, beginning from the last unto the first."

     Matthew 20:9 "And when they came that [were hired] about the
eleventh hour, they received every man a penny." Matthew 20:10 "But
when the first came, they supposed that they should have received
more; and they likewise received every man a penny."

     Matthew 20:11 "And when they had received [it], they murmured
against the goodman of the house,"  Matthew 20:12 "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."

     Matthew 20:13 "But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I
do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?" Matthew
20:14 "Take [that] thine [is], and go thy way: I will give unto this
last, even as unto thee."

     Matthew 20:15 "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with
mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" Matthew 20:16 "So the
last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few
chosen."

     The kingdom of heaven spoken of here is the church of Jesus
Christ.  His followers and workers are the workers in this story. The
true story behind all of this, is no matter whether you are saved at a
very tender age and work all your life for God; or whether you are
saved on your death bed, the pay is the same (eternal life in heaven
with Jesus).

     There is no work that we can do to pay, it is by grace through
faith that we inherit eternal life.  We have no right to question the
wages He pays. When Jesus worked six hours on the cross (because of
His love for each of us), our salvation was paid for in full.

     I have been telling you the spiritual meaning of this parable
that Jesus had given. There is a physical side, as well. If we make a
deal to work for a certain amount, we have no right to question the
pay of an other, even though it is much more than we agreed for. When
we make a deal, we must stick by it, whatever happens. If, through
kindness of the boss, he pays someone else as much as he does us for a
lesser amount of time, it is none of our business. He paid us what he
agreed to. We can ask no more. What he pays someone else is his
business. It is his money. He can do with it whatever he wishes.

     I really even believe that there is a third message in this
parable for the people who serve God in a ministering capacity. The
early ministers, such as Paul, will receive the same reward as someone
like a Billy Graham in our day. To make it even more unusual, a nobody
who ministers to fifteen or twenty will receive the same as someone
who ministers to thousands. You see, each answered the call that God
had on his life the best he could.  The main thing is not just to
be called, but to answer, here am I Lord, send me, and then be chosen of
God. Hallelujah!

     Matthew 20:17  "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve
disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,"

     This was not a message for everyone.  This was just for His
chosen twelve.

     Matthew 20:18 "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man
shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and
they shall condemn him to death,"  Matthew 20:19 "And shall deliver
him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and
the third day he shall rise again."

     Jesus, in giving this message to His friends, spoke almost as if
He was speaking of someone else. He did not use "I" in His
explanation.  This may very well be because this was not an attack on
Him as a man, but rather, on what He stood for and on Him for who He
really is.

     We need to look at His crucifixion as a perfect Lamb sacrifice
that will do away with the sin of the world, once and for all time.
Even though the chief priests and the scribes were behind all of this,
the Roman soldiers, actually, physically carried all of this punishment
out. (Thus the Gentiles).  Note also, that this Scripture did not say
three days and nights later, but rather, on the third day He shall
arise. Jesus was telling the disciples ahead of time, so that they
would understand when it happened.

     Matthew 20:20  "Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children
with her sons, worshipping [him], and desiring a certain thing of
him."

     This was the mother of James and John (two of Jesus' closest
companions). They were sons of Zebedee, or sons of thunder.

     Matthew 20:21 "And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith
unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right
hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom."

     This mother was very proud of her two sons and was trying to put
in a good word for them to Jesus.  Whether she had been there when
Jesus promised that the disciples would sit on twelve thrones beside
Him, or not, was not evident. At any rate, she wanted her boys to be
right up there at the top with Jesus.

     Matthew 20:22 "But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye
ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him,
We are able."

     They did not understand truly what they were asking. Jesus was about
to be baptized with the baptism of suffering, even to the cruel death
on the cross. Jesus Himself, when praying to the Father for this cup
to pass Him, even sweats drops of blood knowing the agony. Yet He
submits to the Father's will.

     Matthew 20:23 "And 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."

     James really was a martyr. He was killed by Herod. John knew
loneliness and suffered much for Jesus.  He loved Jesus so much that
he suffered with Jesus on the cross.  He was the only disciple present
at the crucifixion. John was banished to Patmos in his old age. The
place of seating, given by the Father, was not given by great deeds
done, but by divine justice. God had preparation made for this, known
from the foundation of the world.

     Matthew 20:24 "And when the ten heard [it], they were moved with
indignation against the two brethren."

     Jealousy had risen its nasty head among the disciples.

     Matthew 20:25 "But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye
know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and
they that are great exercise authority upon them."  Matthew 20:26 "But
it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you,
let him be your minister;" Matthew 20:27 "And whosoever will be chief
among you, let him be your servant:"  Matthew 20:28 "Even as the Son
of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give
his life a ransom for many."

     Jesus was almost scolding them for wanting to be greatest. Really,
there is no place in Christian work for jealousy. To be great in God's
sight, we must humble ourselves to the place of servants. Jesus is
our example, and He humbled Himself to the most shameful of deaths,
the death on the cross. He came asking nothing and giving everything.

     Matthew 20:29 "And as they departed from Jericho, a great
multitude followed him." Matthew 20:30  "And, behold, two blind men
sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried
out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [thou] son of David."  Matthew
20:31 "And the multitude 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 20:32 "And Jesus stood still, and
called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?" Matthew
20:33 "They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened."
Matthew 20:34 "So Jesus had compassion [on them], and touched their
eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed
him."

     This multitude followed Jesus because of the miracles. These two
blind men had heard of the fame of Jesus, and they would not be
quieted.  They wanted to see. They knew that they were not worthy, so
they cried for mercy. Jesus, being merciful, opened their eyes that
they might see. They knew the fleshly lineage of Jesus (Son of David),
not the spiritual ( Son of God).  Jesus not only opened physical blind
eyes, but also spiritual blind eyes.

     In the next lesson, we will begin with the 21st chapter of
Matthew.





























                         Matthew 40 Questions


1.  What was the kingdom of heaven likened unto?
2.  How much did the householder pay the people to work all day?
3.  How much did he pay those that worked one hour?
4.  What did the labourers do when they found what he had paid?
5.  Why was this fair?
6.  The last shall be --------many are called but few ------------.
7.  What is the kingdom of God a symbol of here?
8.  What is the true spiritual story in this?
9.  There is no work we can do to be saved. What saves us?
10. How long did Jesus work on the cross?
11. If the boss pays someone else more than he pays us, do we have a right to
    complain?
12. What is the difference between what a minister of thousands or of
    ten will receive?
13. What is the main thing for us to do?
14. Who did Jesus take apart with Him?
15. Who would the Son of man be betrayed to?
16. To whom would they deliver Him to be crucified?
17. What day shall He rise again?
18. What must we see in Jesus' crucifixion?
19. Who physically carried it out?
20. What woman came to see Jesus?
21. What other names were James and John known by?
22. What did the mother ask?
23. What was Jesus' answer?
24. Which son was martyred?
25. How did the other ten disciples react to this?
26. What must you be, to be great in the kingdom of heaven ?
27. What was wrong with the two men who cried out to Jesus?
28. What did they call Jesus?
29. They knew that they were not worthy, what did they ask for?