Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Any parent knows these three words:

“It’s Not Fair!”

It’s the battle cry of every child from whatever age they begin talking until . . .

well, does it ever really stop?

ILLUST - Kids complaining about fairness

Definition of fairness: Aristotle, who said that "equals should be treated equally and unequals unequally."

Whining about the fairness of ice cream scoops is a bit different than struggling with our perception of fairness as it pertains to how God blesses (or withholds blessing) from one believer as compared to another believer.

Ex, Thief on the Cross

Have you ever felt God was unfair?

‘I’ve served God faithfully all these years and look at what I’m going through.

Look at him/her, they are not nearly as spiritual and look at how God is blessing them!’

Hear the Story

Unequal pay and equal grace

Matt 19:30-

Understand the Story

One main point

The common grace of God is anything but common.

Thank God he is just not fair.

Unlike many other parables, this parable is not about those who are in the kingdom and those who are not.

This parable is about equality within the kingdom.

Master of House’

vineyard

in the plains of Israel are planted the wheat and the hills are terraced for vineyards.

Generally, the master of the house would have hired servants to plant, prune, care for the vines throughout the year.

Sept - harvest time - also rainy season - rain can spoil the grapes so there is a short window for harvesting the grapes

The master would need more than his usual servants in order to be able to harvest the grapes in time.

‘early morning went out to hire laborers’

day laborers - not like bondservants - These laborers did not have a steady job instead they would gather in the marketplace each morning hoping someone will hire them for the day so they can, at the end of the day, buy food for them and their family.

day laborers - not like bondservants

early morning = 5 or 6 AM

Jewish day was 12 hours from sunrise to sunset with first hour being 6 AM, third hour being 9 AM, etc.

For some reason, these men did not have a steady job so they

‘agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day’

denarius = full day for soldiers

This was extremely generous for a day laborer

This was what they needed in order to be saved - to help their families

‘third hour. . .

others standing idle’

third hour (9 AM)

These were men were likely victims not sluggards.

‘No one has hired us’ tends to indicate that they were available but passed over for whatever reason - least skilled, weakest, etc.

If no one hired them by the end of the day they would go home empty-handed and would not have any money to buy food for themselves or their family.

**If it is true that the men were not lazy, then the landowner chose them based on their willingness, not their ability.**

(remember who the landowner represents)

‘whatever is right I will give you. . .

sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.’

The master went back the marketplace at noon, and 3 PM, finding more workers who had not been hired.

He gave them the same offer of paying them ‘whatever is right.’

‘eleventh hour he went out and found others standing’

about 5 PM - about an hour before quitting time.

they were likely not lazy

These were men were likely victims not sluggards.

‘No one has hired us’ tends to indicate that they were available but passed over for whatever reason - least skilled, weakest, etc.

If no one hired them by the end of the day they would go home empty-handed and would not have any money to buy food for themselves or their family.

**If it is true that the men were not lazy, then the landowner chose them based on their willingness, not their ability.**

(remember who the landowner represents)

‘Evening came. . .

owner of the vineyard said to foreman, “Call the laborers and pay them their wages.’

‘beginning with the last, up to the first.’

‘Those hired at eleventh hour . . .

received a denarius.’

A denarius for a day laborer was generous to begin with.

This was extremely generous - a full day’s wage for an hour’s work.

‘Those hired first. . .

through they would receive more but each received a denarius.’

they grumbled

They were the ones who had struggled in the heat

‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong.’

The master was not being unjust.

They had agreed on a denarius so they are getting what was agreed upon

Apply the Story

What were your reactions to the story?

How would you feel as the first-hired workers?

How would you feel as the last hired workers?

Second or third-hired workers?

I think if we are all honest we can sympathize with the first string of workers.

They were out in the hot field the longest, they worked the hardest - the natural reaction is that they should receive the most pay.

When that doesn’t happen, I feel their pain.

Technically, as the master of the house pointed out, there was no wrongdoing beyond extreme generosity.

(France)

‘Why then do we still feel that there is something wrong?

Because we cannot detach ourselves from the ruling convention that rewards should be commensurate to the services rendered.

When one man is “rewarded” far in excess of what has been earned while another receives only the bare sum agreed, we detect unfair discrimination.

Any union leader worth their salt would protest at such employment practices.

Anyone who took this parable as a practical basis for employment would soon be out of business.’

[Sifra ]

(remember context)

- Rich young ruler

Would not admit his sin

Would not submit to Jesus

He was unwilling - thinking he had the ability to DO something to make it into the kingdom.

Matt

Following

There are three key characteristics that this story teaches us.

The story poignantly reveals the absence of these characteristics in our lives:

Grace

Grace is what the story teaches.

(It’s all grace)

The fairness of God is oftentimes overrated while his justice is under-appreciated.