Parable of the hired laborers

Matt. 20:1    For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

2  And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

4  And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5  Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6  And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

7  They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

8  So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

9  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

12  Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13  But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

14  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

15  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Introduction: A man has fields that need to be harvest, He needs workers, John 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

36  And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Lu 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

I.  The Lord is seeking willing workers

1. He gives the call

Mt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  2.  The Lord qualifies those he calls, with a cross and self denial

 II.  The Lord rewards his workers

Mark 10:28  Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

A.   beware of instant success and instant gratification

I Cor 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5   Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9  For we are labourers together with God:  Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

  B.  Pride and jealousy are stumbling blocks to God’s work

Luke 15:28  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

  C.  Bad things are enjoyed and then paid for, Good things are paid for then enjoyed(Sin will take you farther than you want go, sin will keep you longer than you want to stay, and sin will cost you far more thanyou want to pay)

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

III. Many are called but few are chosen

Lu 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple

(100 men will test today but only 3 will win the Green Beret)

Conclusion: Are you willing to be called and chosen?

Heb 11: 36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.