[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 20
“So, the last will be first and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16)
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27)
THE PARABLE OF THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD (vs. 1-16)
A landowner hired men to work in his vineyard with an agreed amount of a denarius for the day. He also hired others on the 3rd hour, 6th hour , 9th hour and 11th hour. When evening came, he gave them equal pay of a denarius. Those working early in the morning grumbled and cried for unfairness. But the man answered: “You agreed to work for a denarius. And if I wanted to be generous to the others, do you have the right to complain? Didn’t I have the right to do what I want with my money? So, the last will be first, and the first will be last” (v. 16)
JESUS AGAIN PREDICTS HIS DEATH (vs. 17-19)
Jesus took the 12 disciples and told them that He will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. He will be condemned, mocked, flogged and crucified. But on the third day, He will raise to life.
A MOTHER’S REQUEST (vs. 20-28)
The mother of James and John made a request to Jesus to grant his two sons to be seated at the right and left in His Kingdom. Jesus said: “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” (v. 22). He also said that it is the Father who decides on who will sit at His right and left in the Kingdom. When the other 10 disciples heard about this, they were indignant. Jesus used this opporyunity to teach the disciples a lesson on humility. A truly servant of God is not to exercise “lordship” and authority but to serve others. Jesus came to serve and not to be served.
TWO BLIND MEN RECEIVE SIGHT (vs. 29-34)
Two blind men sitting by the roadside heard that Jesus was going by so they shouted: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” (v. 30). The crowd rebuked them and told them to shut up but they shouted the more. Jesus had compassion on them and they immediately received their sight and followed Him.
SUMMARY:
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard is Christ’s explanation of His statement about the first and the last. To understand this parable, we have to look into the previous chapter where Peter asked Jesus: “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Mat. 19:27). His question revealed a wrong motive, He was serving Christ for what he could get. Jesus used this parable to let them know the importance of motive in serving Christ.
Christ was not talking about reward for service here because God will reward each according to his service. He pointed out that they must not compare against each other with regards to their service to the Lord because God has the right to do what He pleases with His servants. Therefore, when we labor for Him, we must serve Him out of love and loyalty and not looking for rewards. We must watch our motive because if we do His work with wrong motives, we dishonor God and lose our blessings.
When the mother of James and John requested that her sons sat on the right and left side of Jesus, Jesus said that they had to taste His cup of suffering. James was the first disciple being martyred (Acts. 12). John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos (Rev. 1). But the privilege to sit on His right and left side is His Father to decide. When we pray to God, be sure it is not for self-glory.
The two blind men represent lost sinners. The crowd who tried to stop them from calling Jesus are the world today. Many people are trying to keep sinners from coming to Christ. Jesus touched and healed them. Those who come to Jesus and pray for mercy will be saved and their lives will be changed.
“Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16)
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