Matthew - Week 62

Put to Work 

READ 

Matthew 20:3-5 

3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.” 

This passage continues Jesus’ parable about the farmer hiring workers. The first group was hired around 6:00 a.m. and agreed to work for a day’s wages. Later in the day the farmer hired others and promised to pay them what was right at the end of the day. Then at noon and three o’clock the landowner hired others with the same promise.  

REFLECT 

At this point, what do you think the landowner has in mind? Whatever it was, Jesus would use it to teach a lesson.  

RESPOND 

This parable follows what was said at the end of Matthew 19 about rewards. It should be read without thinking of the chapter break. Jesus was in the process of teaching His disciples a valuable lesson about rewards. 

Late in the Day 

READ 

Matthew 20:6-7 

6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ 7 They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’” 

At this point there would be only about one hour left in the working day. The farmer said nothing about pay as he told these workers to join the others. This parable has the hired hands going out at five different times of the day. How would they be rewarded for their work? 

REFLECT 

What are you thinking about this time? Do you assume that those who worked in the hot sun all day would be paid much more than those hired at the last hour? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a believer about rewards that could be expected of one saved in childhood and spent a life serving the Lord in contrast to the one who had a death-bed conversion. It took the same grace of God to save both. 

Paid the Same 

READ 

Matthew 20:8-12 

8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’” 

Those who were hired last were paid first, so the others saw that they were paid a full day’s wages. Understandably, those who had worked all day thought it was unfair and complained that those who worked for only one hour were paid the same as those who worked all day. How would the farmer justify this? 

REFLECT 

Had you been in this farmer’s position, how would you have paid the workers? They weren’t on an hourly wage.  

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about those you have heard complaining about their salaries. Did they agree to work for what they were earning? If so, do they have a right to complain? Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 says something to think about at such a time. 

Last and First 

READ 

Matthew 20:13-16 

13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ 16 So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” 

This was the farmer’s answer. Those who worked for the full day in the heat had agreed with the wage they would receive. He told them to take their money and go. He explained that he had the right to do what he wanted to do with his money. He told the complaining workers that they should not be jealous because he was kind to others.  

REFLECT 

Have you had family or friends who thought you were too kind in helping others? 

RESPOND 

Matthew 20:16 emphasizes the same point as the last verse of Matthew 19 (see verse 30). Think about how sometimes the man-made chapter divisions interrupt the thought. 

Preparing for the End 

READ 

Matthew 20:17-19 

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” 

The disciples were slow to understand what would eventually happen to Jesus. Here He gives more details about the end of His earthly life. He tells about some of the torture He will experience then, but mentions the good news that He will be raised from the dead on the third day. 

REFLECT 

Is it possible for you to think of some good news when you have a loved one about to pass away? If that person believes in Jesus, the individual will go to be with Him. At that time the person will be free from all pain and heartache. 

RESPOND 

Comfort a believer by sharing John 11:25 and 14:1-6. After a believing loved one has passed away, share with the family Isaiah 57:1-2.