Laborers in the Kingdom:

Context:

• Jesus just finished discussing the reward for leaving everything for the sake of the kingdom of God.
• Now He tells what working in the kingdom is like.

Matthew 20:1-7 “...For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’...”

What was the master of the house doing?

• Offering laborers the opportunity to work.

What was the agreed upon wage for a day?

• A single denarius.
• Believed by scholars to have been a Roman soldier's daily pay.
• Some say this small silver coin was worth about 20 cents.
• Some say it was worth 10 donkeys.

Matthew 20:8-10 “...And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius...”

What did the master of the house pay the laborers?

• The agreed upon amount.

Matthew 20:11-12 “...And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’...”

How did the workers respond to the pay?

• Those who had worked the longest grumbled about not receiving more.

Was their response legitimate?

• In worldly, fleshly terms - yes. They did indeed bear “the burden of the day”. The world is always comparing and rating people’s worth.
• In heavenly, spiritual terms - no. They received the agreed upon amount. In the kingdom, people are of equal, immeasurable worth for who they are.

Matthew 20:13-16 “...But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last...”

What was the master of the house allowed to do?

• What he chose.

What is God allowed to do?

• What He chooses.

What was the trait the master was displaying?

• Generosity.

What is one of the wonderful traits that God displays?

• Generosity.

How did Jesus demonstrate the last/first concept with His own life?

• Philippians 2:4-8 “...Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross...”

• Philippians 2:9-11 “...Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father...”

The Obsession of Possessions:

A question is recorded in three of the four gospel accounts.

• In Matthew, someone came and said, “What good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”
• In Mark, a man knelt before Him and asked, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
• In Luke, a ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

What is similar about all three accounts?

• A person has questions about eternal life.
• The person thinks Jesus has the answer.
• The person wants to know what they should DO to obtain (inherit) eternal life.

Matthew 19:17-19 “...And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself..."

Mark 10:18-19 “...And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'..."

Luke 18:19-20 “...And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’...”

How does Jesus answer the “what shall I DO” question?

• He directs a person to the commandments.

Are the commandments what we DO?

Are the commandments a report card on our progress?

Has anyone ever kept the commandments perfectly?

How does the person respond?

• Matthew: “All these things I have kept; what do I still lack?”
• Mark: “all these I have kept from my youth.”
• Luke: “All these I have kept from my youth.”

Did Jesus question the person’s response?

• Mark: “Jesus, looking at him, loved him.” 
• Jesus didn’t challenge him. He loved him enough to share a deeper truth.

Matthew 19:21 “...If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me...”

Mark 10:21 “...You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me..."

Luke 18:22 “... When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me...”

What is the deeper truth that Jesus reveals with His challenge?

• How do our possessions possesses us?
• What we possess, we withhold from the Lordship of Christ.
• Our treasures on earth keep us from the treasure in heaven.
• We cannot serve two masters, and many times we aren’t serving the Lord.

Do you think Jesus wants everyone to sell all that they possess?

• I think He does!!
• God owns everything. We are but stewards.
• The “possessions” that get us in trouble are the things we claim as ours.
• What we think of as ours is rarely available for God to use as He sees fit.
• Good stewards don’t have “little” to work with, they have “abundance”.
• The abundance all belongs to God.
• We should “possess” nothing!
• We should distribute everything according to God’s direction.

How can we resolve the possessions/stewardship dilemma?

• Jesus makes it abundantly clear.
• We must follow Him.
• Walking with Him leads to proper stewardship.
• Only as we walk with Him will we take our hands off “our possessions” and become good stewards of God’s blessings.

Is eternal life obtained by DOing the commandments?

• Eternal life is obtained by surrendering earthly treasures.
• Eternal life is obtained by coming to Jesus.
• Eternal life is available to those who will follow Jesus.

How did the person receive the deeper truth from Jesus?

• Matthew: “he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
• Mark: “disheartened ... he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
• Luke: “he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”

Matthew 19:23-24 “...And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God...”

Mark 10:23-25 “...And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” ... Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God...”

Luke 18:24-25 “...Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God...”

Did this “Truly, I say to you” settle things for the disciples?

• Matthew: “they were greatly astonished, saying, “who then can be saved?”
• Mark: “the disciples were amazed at his words.”
• Luke: “those who heard it said, Then who can be saved?”

Matthew 19:26 “...But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible...”

Mark 10:27 “...Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God...”

Luke 18:27 “...But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God...”

Can a person find salvation from the tyranny of possessions?

• Not by their own ”DO” efforts.
• Come, follow Jesus, and observe how God makes all things possible.

Matthew 19:28-30 “...Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first...”

Mark 10:29-31 “...Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first...”

Luke 18:29-30 “...And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life...”

What is the ultimate value obtained from leaving the world’s way to follow Jesus?

• Eternal Life.

Access to Blessing:

Matthew 19:13 “...children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,...”

Mark 10:13 “...they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them...”

Luke 18:15 “...Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them...”

Context:

• All three of the synoptic gospels tell of children being brought to Jesus that He might touch them.
• All three accounts tell of the disciples rebuking those who brought children (infants).

Why would people bring their children (infants) to Jesus?

• They obviously thought that the children would be blessed by Jesus.
• They recognized that Jesus was special.

Why would the disciples rebuke people for bringing their children?

• Did they think it was inappropriate?
• Did they think it was a distraction?
• Did they think it was a waste of valuable time?

Do people still bring infants and children to Jesus?

Is it ever a problem to bring children to Jesus?

Matthew 19:14 “...but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven...”

Mark 10:14-15 “...But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it...”

Luke 18:16-17 “...But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it...”

How did Jesus respond?

• He didn’t want to hinder anyone from coming to Him, even if brought by another.
• He was actually indignant - feeling or showing anger because of something unjust.
• He advocated bringing people for blessing.
• He went so far as to say that the kingdom was received like a child.

How did you receive the kingdom of God?

• As an insignificant human that needed the blessing of Jesus?
• As a free gift that was not in any way earned?

Divorce Defilement:

Context:

• Matt.18:1-5 The greatest are those that humble themselves like a child.
• Matt.18:7-9 Temptations come and resisting temptation is serious business.
• Matt.18:10-14 Those who go astray are searched for, and their return is cause for rejoicing.
• Matt.18:15-20 There are specific steps for seeking reconciliation, and God is in the midst of the process.
• Matt.18:21-35 Unforgiving servants are delivered to the jailers.
• After these teachings, Jesus left Galilee and entered Judea beyond the Jordan.
• Crowds followed and He healed them.
• The Pharisees again tested him, asking if it was lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause.

Matthew 19:4-6 “...He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate...”

• Genesis 2:24 “...Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh...”
• Ephesians 5:31 “...Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh...”
• 1 Corinthians 6:16 “...Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh...”

What is Jesus saying about marriage?

• It’s a male/female union created by God.
• It’s a joining process where the two become one flesh.
• It’s not to be separated.

How did the Pharisees respond to what Jesus stated?

• They challenged Him with a teaching of Moses.

Deuteronomy 24:1-4 “...When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, and if she goes and becomes another man’s wife, and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the LORD. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance...”

Does this sound like God authorizing divorce?

• Isn’t the flavor of the passage more one of God’s disapproval of the whole process?

Matthew 19:8-9 “...He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery...”

Mark 10:5-9 “...And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate...”

Mark 10:11-12 “...And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery...”

How did Jesus explain the situation?

• Divorce was not God’s intention from the beginning.
• Divorce comes from hardness of heart.
• Divorce leads to additional sin.

Matthew 19:10 “...The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry...”

What were the disciples saying?

• God has high expectations.
• Man has low performance.
• Marriage may be impossible to handle correctly.

Matthew 19:11-12 “...But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it...”

What is Jesus saying?

• He isn’t saying that marriage should be avoided.
• He isn’t saying that divorce is the will of God.
• He isn’t saying that those who divorce have no future with God.
• He is saying that some have been given the ability to receive a eunuchs life. They will not face the issue of divorce, but they certainly face a lot of other issues.

What is the basic underlying truth of this passage?

• God has created things to be a certain way.
• We shouldn’t live contrary to God’s intentions.

The Deuteronomy passage reveals that our abominable behavior defiles and therefore negatively affects the land in which we live.

Has divorce defiled our land?

If God didn’t love us in spite of our sin, would He have sent His son into the world?

• Our God seeks reconciliation.
• He provides the way back.

We choose defilement or redemptive transformation.