Sermon Tone Analysis
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Emotion Tone
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Analytical
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Extraversion
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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“THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD”
*Matt.
20:1-16*
*Introduction*: One of the hardest parables, and one that is greatly abused.
Various interpretations are given, many fanciful, others downright absurd.
But if we can once see the main point and intent of the parable, the lesson will be valuable indeed.
! I. Contextual Background
A.
Mt.
19:16-22 - The Rich Young Ruler
1.
Had “great possessions.”
2. “Went away sorrowful.”
3. Jesus’ statement - “It is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven.”
B.
Mt.
19:23-30 - Peter’s question.
1.
Peter implies that he and the other eleven had left all, just as Jesus had asked.
(“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” Mt. 4:19).
2. His question - “What shall we have therefore?”
3. Jesus’ reply gives great encouragement of tremendous blessings:
a.
Sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes.
b. Receive a hundred-fold of houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, land.
c. Inherit eternal life.
C.
But, there is within the question a seed that may grow to fruition if not checked.
1.
There is a tendency to become proud of sacrifices.
2. We can become arrogant of our work.
3. It is possible to boast of labor or service rendered.
4. We can be “puffed up” at our accomplishments.
5. The twelve were not exempt from these things.
a.
Mt.
18:1 — “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” (Mk.
9:34)
b. Mt.
20:20 - “Grant that these my two sons (James and John) may sit one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.”
D.
Jesus, knowing how men think and act, follows with this parable.
1.
Note the word “For...” with which the parable begins.
2. The chapter division is quite unfortunate in this place.
! II.
The Setting of the Parable
A.
A householder, a vineyard.
1.
The householder is one who is in authority.
2. The vineyard requires work, and so he hires laborers.
3. The market place was the common meeting-ground for those who were seeking work.
B.
The successive hirings.
1.
“Early in the morning” - the time when the working day began.
a.
These were hired, and a fixed sum of wages was agreed upon.
b.
The wages, “a penny a day,” were the common wages: this was the same paid a Roman soldier (/denarius/).
2.
“Third hour...sixth hour...ninth hour”
a.
These represent different stages of the workday, corresponding generally to 9:00 A.M., 12:00 Noon, and 3:00 P.M.
b.
No sum was set for the wages, the householder simply saying, “Whatsoever is right I will give you.”
These are entirely in the hands of the householder and his good pleasure.
3.
“About the eleventh hour...”
a.
Near the close of the day, only about an hour left to work.
b.
Notice the householder’s generosity in offering work at this time.
c.
Note the laborers’ willing response to “do what they could.”
\\
C.
The payment of wages.
1.
Settlement comes at the day’s end.
2.
Deut.
24:15 - “At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it.”
3.
Beginning with the last hired, “They received every man a penny.
D.
The reaction of the laborers.
1.
Though not stated, the “eleventh hour” laborers were probably surprised to receive a whole day’s wage for only an hour’s work.
2.
Likewise, the ones hired at the 3rd, 6th, and 9th hours were probably surprised.
3.
Remember, no amount had been set, the agreement being, “whatsoever is right, I will pay you.”
4.
What is plainly stated is the “murmuring” of those who had worked all day.
a.
They expected more, but received the same.
b.
They were envious of the ones who had labored but one hour but still received the full day’s wage.
c.
Envy is that which desired less for the other fellow!
E.
The householder’s response.
1.
He answered one of them, probably a spokesman, or the loudest.
2.
“Friend...” is the address used here, not necessarily in a “friendly way” (the guest at the wedding feast, Mt. 22:12; to Judas when he came to betray Jesus, Mt. 26:50).
3.
His defense is two-fold:
a.
He has lived up to the agreement of the wages due, a penny.
b.
He has the right to dispense of his property as he pleases.
4.
He asks, “Is thine eye evil...?”
a.
The “evil eye” in Scripture refers to envy, or greed, or covetousness.
b.
See the parallel in Mt. 6:19-23.
(“Lay not up for yourselves...”)
! III.
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