Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Matt 20:1-16

Theme: God gives us what we need.

Doctrine: Grace

Image: Receiving payment.

Need: Unity, be less judgemental

Message: Be content with what you have.

Matt 20:1-16

*Intro*

As Jesus was teaching in the countryside, a rich young man came up to him and asked, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus tells him he has to keep the commandments.

“But I have,” replies the young man, “ever since my youth.”

Jesus turns his full attention to the man, and with a raised eyebrow says, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell all you possess, give the money to the poor, and come follow me.”

When the young man hears this his heart drops; he turns and slowly walks away realising just how much he loves his wealth.

When the disciples heard what Jesus said to the man, they say, “Well, we have left all that we had, and have followed you.

What then will we get?

We did what you told the man to do, what is our reward?”

“You will sit on twelve thrones,” Jesus answers.

“And you will judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

And everyone who has left everything for my names sake will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

The confused looks on the disciples's faces makes it obvious the lesson does not sink in, so Jesus tells them the parable we just read.

*Page 1: The early workers think they should get more than they did.*

It was early morning and the time for the grape harvest was beginning.

A vineyard owner awoke early in the day.

It was a fine morning.

The birds were singing in the trees, and the sky was a clear deep blue.

He could tell it was going to be a hot day.

The past few days, the mornings have had a chill to them, reminding him that the harvest season was fast approaching.

It was getting close to the end of September, and he could feel the heat of the summer beginning to dissipate.

His steward came into his office and said, “Master, the grapes are ready, and we do not have enough workers.

If we don't get the grapes in before the Autumn rains come, they will all be ruined.”

“Don't worry,” replied the master.

“I will get enough workers for the harvest.”

As he left he house and stepped onto the street, the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon and bathe the city in a rich, warm, golden glow.

He made the short stroll down to the marketplace, where things were already hectic; farmers bringing in produce from the countryside, vendors selling various household goods, and people beginning to line up looking for work.

He walked over the men congregating around the well.

“Who wants to work?” he asks.

Immediately all eyes turn to him.

“I'll give you each a normal days wage if you want to work for me.”

The men could not believe their luck.

Most of the men had only just arrived, and usually had to stand around for a while, at least a couple hours, before they got hired.

They all jumped at the chance to have a good day's wage and he sent them off to his vineyard.

About 9 in the morning, the master decides to go back down to the marketplace to see if he missed anybody looking for work.

The sun has not risen high enough to drive away the shadows and the air in the city is still rather cool.

The master walks down to the bustling marketplace, now in full swing.

He is harassed by various vendors trying to get him to buy the latest cloth, the best chicken, the most luxurious couch.

He ignores them all and their voices become a background buzz; he is looking for more workers.

He spots some lounging in the shade waiting for a prospective employer.

They spot him too, and begin strutting about like a bunch of roosters; hoping he will pick them.

He tells them all, “Go into my vineyard too, whatever is right I will pay you.” “Great,” they think, “we haven't had to sit around here too long.

Hopefully we will get a good pay cheque out of this.”

And they hustle off to the vineyard.

The owner does the same thing at noon, then again at three, and then again at five, only an hour before quitting time.

He wanted to make sure he had as many people working for him as he could get.

Then, at the end of the day, he instructs his steward to divvy out the pay, beginning with the last hired, and moving on to the first hired.

When the people line up for their pay, the ones who came last feel kind of sheepish.

They had only worked an hour, and not hardly gotten their hands dirty.

They had been standing around all day at the marketplace, and had not been hired by anyone.

They were happy they were finally hired, but were not expecting much pay.

When they put out their hands, and received the shiny denarius, a full days pay, they were ecstatic.

They were so surprised they could hardly even say thank you, and they scurried out of the vineyard.

Word got back to those hired first, that the others had received a days wage.

“Really?” said one, incredulous.

“They only worked one hour!

If they got that much, and we worked 12 times as long, we should get twelve times their pay!”

Visions of glory begin to fill their heads as they begin to mentally spend all the money they will get; days of luxury and leisure, of relaxation and refreshment.

They finally stand in front of the steward, goofy grins adorning their faces, both hands out to catch the windfall of silver they will get for their day's labour, they were extremely disappointed when he placed the single denarius in their hands.

“No, no,” said one of them to the steward.

“There must be some mistake.

How could we be paid the same amount as those who came last?

We deserve more.

We have been here all day long.

We have done all this work for you, while they lounged in the shade of the marketplace.

Why should they get paid the same amount as us?”

As they walked away they muttered under their breath, “What kind of business man is this guy?”

The owner was standing by the gate of the vineyard, thanking all the workers as they left for the night.

As the early workers were approaching him, he heard their conversation, he saw their angry gestures, he realised what was going through their heads and he shook his head in sadness.

“Friend,” he says to one of them.

“Have I done you any wrong?”

The worker was shocked at the intimacy the owner was showing toward him.

He stood there, mouth gaping, staring at the owner.

He was speechless.

“Did you not agree to work for a denarius?

Why now are you demanding more.

When you came to the marketplace looking for a job, I offered you one.

I have given you what you need.

I have given you what you were searching for, why then are you demanding more?”

They forgot how grateful they were when the owner walked into the marketplace and told them to go and work in his vineyard.

They forgot how nerve racking it could be to sit down in the marketplace all day while no one hires you; praying that something will come up so that you can bring home a little food for your wife and kids.

They forgot the blessing they had been given to be hired in the first place.

Now they demanded something which was not theirs to demand.

They thought they should get more than they did.

The owner had given them what they needed, yet they demanded more.

*Page 2: We think we should get more than we do.*

God has given us what we need too, yet still we demand more.

We think that we deserve something which we do not.

God came out and found us in the religious marketplace, while we were searching for meaning and direction.

God provided us meaning, he provided us with direction, and he promised to save us in the end.

Why then are we angry when the same promises are given to others?

I grew up on a dry land farm on the plains of Alberta and do not know a thing about harvesting grapes.

When I was in Europe, however, I met a couple of guys from Denmark who did.