The Motley Crew – September 22, 2010

Matthew 20:1-16

The Questions

Happy Autumn, 2010!

Read Matthew 20:1-16

1. What is a denarius?

2. Did the first group of workers know the terms whenever they went out to work?

3. So what is the problem?

4. What does this parable reflect about God's Kingdom?

5. What then is the vineyard?

6. Who is the landowner?

7. What would have happened if the landowner had not gone out looking for workers?

8. What does this tell us about the nature of God?

9. Did the late workers know the terms before they went out?

10. Does this say anything to those who have been in the church/vineyard for a long time?

11. To which class of people do you fit?

12. Does all of this happening one day say anything about God's timing as compared to our timing?

 

 

The Motley Crew – September 22, 2010

Matthew 20:1-16

Some Suggested Answers

Happy Autumn, 2010!

We opened with prayer.

Read Matthew 20:1-16

Matthew 20 (New International Version)

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5So they went.

"He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'

7" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.
"He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'

8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'

9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

16"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

In the Greek, the landowner is first called “owner” but later described as “master.”

It was pointed out that this parable is a continuation of the conversation that Jesus was having with Peter in Chapter 19, and that the last verse of Chapter 19 is substantially similar to verse 16:

Matthew 19:30. “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

Matthew 20:16. “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

For the kingdom of heaven ... - The word "for" shows that this chapter should have been connected with the preceding. The parable was spoken expressly to illustrate the sentiment in the last verse of that chapter: "Many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first." Barnes Notes on the Bible.

All citations from the Holy Bible are from the New International Version, used with permission, except as noted.

 

1. What is a denarius?

A day's wage. What a Roman soldier was paid. About 17 cents in today's currency according to Lenski and others.

Other commentators indicate that this was also the average day's wage for a common worker. According to Vincent's Word Studies, a denarius was regarded as good pay for a day's work.

But tell me, what wages am I to pay you – a drachma a day, and expenses for yourself as for my son? Tobit 5:14 (Revised Standard Version)

 

2. Did the first group of workers know the terms whenever they went out to work?

Yes. Verse 2: “He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.”

This was emphasized by the owner in verse 13: “But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius?' ”

Along with the dawn. "Here (at Hamadan, in Persia), we observed every morning, before the sun rose, that a numerous band of peasants were collected, with spades in their hands, waiting to be hired for the day to work in the surrounding fields. This custom struck me as a most happy illustration of our Saviour's parable …. (Morier, "Second Journey through Persia," cited by Trench, "Parables.") Vincent's Word Studies.

In some parts of our country, we still see workers gathering in specific locations, waiting to be hired for the day.

 

3. So what is the problem?

Potentially, several things, including pride, jealousy, ego, human sense of fairness, greed.

Verse 15: “... Or are you envious because I am generous?”

 

4. What does this parable reflect about God's Kingdom?

Concerning this question, it is a question of God's Rule of Grace which gets into heaven.

The three Kingdom's that we all learned about in Catechism (some of us at the knee of Brother Martin himself!):

This parable begins in the Kingdom of Grace and leads to the Kingdom of Glory.

He needs workers at all times. All workers will receive the same reward. We must keep our eye on the end goal: heaven.

 

5. What then is the vineyard?

The visible church on earth, the Harvest Field. This is the Kingdom of Grace.

The church on earth conveys the Word to the people. It is not a thing of buildings and land, but a spiritual message that we, the priesthood of believers, are bring to the people, in our words and in how we act towards others. The work is imperative, but the time is short.

To hire laborers - Some workmen, των εργατων - for he had not got all that was necessary, because we find him going out at other hours to hire more. Clark's Commentary on the Bible.

Perhaps the pressing nature of the work of the Gospel, and the comparative paucity of laborers, may be incidentally suggested, Mt 9:37, 38. The "laborers," as in Mt 9:38, are first, the official servants of the Church, but after them and along with them all the servants of Christ, whom He has laid under the weightiest obligation to work in His service. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Christ came in person, and here he sends his ministers, his Gospel, to find them out, and by his Spirit and grace he calls them from [the world]; so that afterwards they are no more of it …. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.

 

6. Who is the landowner?

God.

It is imperative that we remember that this is God's creation to do with as He chooses.

Verse 15: “Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?”

The lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward: by the lord of the vineyard may be meant God the Father, who has chosen and separated the vineyard of the church for himself; and has made it the care and charge of his Son Jesus Christ; who, as mediator, may be designed by "his steward"; who has not only all the stores of grace in his hand, to distribute to his people, in this life, as their cases require; but has also eternal life and happiness in his possession for them.... Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.

The Old Testament lesson from this last weekend bears strongly on this (Genesis 24:7-14), especially verses 9 & 10:

“I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them.”

Although Moses begs God to relent, and although God does relent, He is surely within His rights to destroy that which He created! The Flood is evidence of this (Genesis 6):

 5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them."

 

7. What would have happened if the landowner had not gone out looking for workers?

They would have been lost.

Again we see that our salvation is nothing of our own doing, a message reinforced by this week's Gospel Lesson, Luke 15:1-10 (the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin). These workers (us) would have remained idle (unsaved), but for the fact that the owner (God through Jesus) is continually going into the market place to seek them (us) … at the beginning of the day, and at the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 11th hours. Our salvation is only through God's grace; how long or how hard we work in the vineyard is irrelevant. Salvation is a gift that is unearned and unearnable.

And said unto them, go ye also into the vineyard,.... Expressive of a call of divine grace out of the world, into the church; and which arises from mere grace, and good will, without any merit in, or motive from man, as the case here shows: for the householder went out to these men, not they to him; he puts the question to them, and calls them, and bids them go into his vineyard; they do not ask him to hire them, nor desire to be in his service. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The 3rd, 6th, and 9th hours were the hours of prayer at that time, according to Gill.

The Thief on the Cross who confessed Jesus' name is the epitome of an 11th hour conversion.

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Luke 23:42-43.

Should he get any less than you or me, who have labored in the field throughout our lives? Should we, instead, not thank God that this man came to Christ at the last possible moment, and was saved. It's probably a good thing that God is more generous than me, for I fear that I do not love half well enough.

And what about Hitler? Heaven or hell? The thing is that we cannot know what was in his heart in the last second before he pulled the trigger. Did he repent? Only God can see what was in his heart … and if God generously forgives, we have no right to say otherwise. Only Christ will be the Judge, as decreed by God.

It was pointed out that this is probably the best reason for a Purgatory … so that the truly evil will have to undergo some punishment for their sins before being admitted through the gates of heaven. (However, that is also my human weakness speaking … the desire for revenge.)

Again, God wants everyone to come to Him, regardless of when in their lives they come to Him. And He continues to seek the lost throughout all the time that this earth will exist, metaphorically, at the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and even the 11th hour.

Jesus was accused of eating with “sinners” and tax collectors. But in a surprise move (to the Pharisees), he responds that he is actively seeking them. The 11th hour workers did nothing, and could do nothing, to be hired.

We cannot conceive of how great is God's love.

 

8. What does this tell us about the nature of God?

He wants all of us to be saved.

“For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40

"This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" 1 Tim. 2:3-4.

Is it not lawful for me - As eternal life is the free gift of God, he has a right to give it in whatever proportions, at whatever times, and on whatever conditions he pleases. Clark's Commentary on the Bible.

Any reward that we receive is greater than that which we deserve.

 

9. Did the late workers know the terms before they went out?

No. Verse 3: “... 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' ”

It was truly grace – a free gift – to them. All they had was the Word of the owner.

 

10. Does this say anything to those who have been in the church/vineyard for a long time?

Yes. Don't lose your first love, Jesus. One way to lose grace is to condemn it when it happens.

We will all get the same: salvation and eternal life in heaven. How can it get better? Do we foolishly think that there will be front row seats for some … and the nose-bleed seats for most? It's not how long we run the race, it's whether or not we get to Jesus at all.

they received every man a penny: the same they first agreed for, that were hired early into the vineyard; and all, and every man alike, not one more and another less. So the same church privileges and immunities are common to all believers, Jews or Gentiles, sooner or later called; and equal title give to the same eternal life and happiness, which will be enjoyed alike, by one saint as another: they are all loved with the same everlasting love by God; they are chosen alike by him in his Son.... Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.

They received every man a penny. More than most of them expected. God does not measure our reward by the length, but by the faithfulness of service. People's New Testament.

Billy Graham is said to have said that God will make Heaven perfect for him: his dog will be there. We cannot fathom how God will make our heaven perfect for us, because His ways are not our ways.

“If there are no cigars in heaven, I shall not go.” – Mark Twain

Beth mentioned Catherine Marshall's second book, “Meeting God at Every Turn.” In it, Catherine wrote that she had a dream that her husband was in heaven, tending his beloved rose garden. Perhaps in heaven, we will all get and do what we want, that our most heart-felt desires will be fulfilled. Catherine wrote or edited over 30 books. Read more about her at Wikipedia.

 

11. To which class of people do you fit?

Working in the field in the heat of the day, and glad to be there!

For some of us, it's both. Charlie quipped that some of us got there early, and then took a long lunch before coming back. For those of us in that category, we'll still get the same reward of salvation and eternal life, through God's generosity.

Charlie also quipped that some were working for the competitor, but repented. Again, it's a matter of God's grace.

Mention was made of nickel beer night … but the details were a bit fuzzy.

Parents can relate when their children sometimes will shun them as teenagers only to return to them as young adults. Pastor mentioned that the Dad Date Night used to be a good thing, but that during the early teenage years, the preference was that Dad wouldn't be there.

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. – Mark Twain

 

12. Does all of this happening one day say anything about God's timing as compared to our timing?

Out time is short. Mission work is temporal. Worship is eternal.

We cannot conceive of how long (or short) one of God's days is.

 

Homework

There was some home-work from last week. The question was “how many of the apostles were married.”

Mary had done some research and found that all were married except John and possibly James the Younger.

The two key verses in the Bible were concerning Peter's mother-in-law, and a verse from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.

The other important Bible verse was by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:5.

"Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us [Paul and Barnabas], as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas [footnote: that is, Peter]?"

The names of the Lord's brothers – James, Joseph, Simon and Judas – are recorded in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3.

There is also Acts 21:8-9.

Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

Doug also did some research, and found a web site that had quotations from some of the Fathers of the early Church, plus the verses from the Bible. It's on a separate page: Which Apostles Were Married (opens in a new window).

Beth mentioned that Peter's wife was also martyred for the faith. The source for this is Clement of Alexandria in Stromata, Book VII, Chapter XI, p. 451 of the Edinburgh Edition:

“They say … that the blessed Peter, on seeing his wife led to death, rejoiced on account of her call and conveyance home, and called very encouragingly and comfortingly, addressing her by name, "Remember thou the Lord." Such was the marriage of the blessed and their perfect disposition towards those dearest to them.”

 

We closed with prayer.

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17

 

Parallel Verses

 

Description

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Laborers in the vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16

None

None

Death of Christ foretold

Matthew 20:17-19

Mark 10:32-34

Luke 18:31-34

Request of James and John

Matthew 20:20-28

Mark 10:35-45

None

Blind men at Jericho

Matthew 20:29-34

Mark10:46-52

Luke 18:35-43

 

For Additional Study

Online Resources

Book of Concord in PDF Format, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod <http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/TrigBOC.pdf> (2MB file)

These texts are in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely. The source of these translations is Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921).

A number of important Lutheran texts can be found in the Belief and Practice section of the website of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=112

John S. C. Abbott and Jacob Abbott, Illustrated New Testament
http://www.studylight.org/com/ain/

Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament
http://www.studylight.org/com/bnn/

Harold F. Buls
 http://www.pericope.org/buls-notes/index.html and
 http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-bul.html
Adapted from Exegetical Notes, Series A, Festival Season Sundays, Gospel Texts, by Harold H. Buls, Concordia Theological Seminary Press: Ft Wayne IN, 1980

The Adam Clarke Commentary
http://www.studylight.org/com/acc/

Burton Coffman, Commentary on the Whole Bible
http://www.studylight.org/com/bcc/

John Darby, Synopsis of the Bible
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/darby/matthew1.htm

The Greek Interlinear Bible,
http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/Greek_Index.htm
 Based on NA26/27. A word-by-word translation of the Greek New Testament.

David Guzik, Commentaries on the Bible
http://www.studylight.org/com/guz/

The Geneva Study Bible
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/geneva/matthew1.htm

John Gill, Exposition of the Bible
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/gill/matthew1.htm

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)
 http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/mh/matthew1.htm

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/mhc/matthew1.htm

Jamieson, Faussett and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
 http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/jfb/matthew1.htm

B.W. Johnson, People's New Testament
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/johnson/matthew1.htm

John Lightfoot, Bible Commentary
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/light/matthew1.htm

Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians
http://www.studylight.org/com/mlg/

J. W. McGarvey, Original Commentary on Acts
http://www.studylight.org/com/oca/

J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton, The Fourfold Gospel (also known as "Harmony Of the Four Gospels")
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/four/matthew1.htm

Alexander Maclaren's commentaries on the books of the Bible (various titles)
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/m#a2330

The NET Bible. <http://bible.org/netbible/> A completely new translation of the Bible with 60,932 translators’ notes. It was completed by more than 25 scholars – experts in the original biblical languages – who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Excellent notes, citing both the Greek and Hebrew, as needed. Greek and Hebrew fonts available without cost.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures of the New Testament
http://www.studylight.org/com/rwp/

C. I. Scofield, The Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)
 http://www.studylight.org/com/srn/

Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David
http://www.studylight.org/com/tod/

R.A. Torrey, The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
http://www.studylight.org/com/tsk/

W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
http://www.antioch.com.sg/bible/vines/

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/wesley/matthew1.htm

Other Additional Resources:
 http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/SPLC/Motley%20Crew%20Research%20Resources.html

 

Other Resources

Barker, Kenneth L., ed., TNIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006)

Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. Readers Edition. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006)

Davies, Benjamin, ed., Baker's Pocket Harmony of the Gospels (Baker Book House, 1975). Formerly printed as Harmony of the Four Gospels.

Goodrick, Edward W. and John R. Kohlenberger III, eds., The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999). This is the second edition, originally published as the Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance. It was originally published as The NIV Exhaustive Concordance. It should be distinguished from The NIV Complete Concordance by the same authors.

Green, Jay P., ed., The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament. Vol. IV. Second Edition. (Hendrickson Publishers, 1985)

Halley, Henry H., Halley's Bible Handbook. New Revised Edition (24th Edition). (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1965)

Hickie, W.J., Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977). This is a reprint of an older edition, originally published by Macmillan, August. 1893. A contemporary review described this as "A handy little volume, compiled on sound principles from trustworthy authorities." The 1911 edition is available online and for download at http://openlibrary.org/b/OL17866849M/Greek-English_lexicon_to_the_New_Testament

Hoerber, Robert G., ed., Concordia Self-Study Bible. NIV (Great Rapids, Zondervan: 1973, 1984).

Lenski, R.C.H., The Interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1943, reprinted 1964)

The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2009).

Nave, Orville J., ed., Nave's Topical Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1979)

New Bible Dictionary. Second Edition. (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1962)

Nicoll, W. Robertson, The Greek Expositor's Testament. Vol. 1. Five Volumes. (New York: George H. Doran Co., ca. 1910). Excellent notes on the Greek text and summaries of commentators. Available at Google Books ( www.books.google.com ) and the Internet Archive ( www.archive.org - easier to find here than at Google Books).

NIV Archeological Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005)

Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture (Text from Project Gutenberg)

Robertson, A.T., Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Holman Reference, 2000). This “Concise Edition” is derived from the six-volume work by Robertson published in 1933. Robertson was also the author of 45 books, including numerous commentaries, a Harmony of the Gospels, etc. Also available online

Rogers, Cleon L. Jr., and Cleon L. Rogers III, eds., The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998). This is the second edition of the excellent work by Fritz Rienecker, A Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament, translated and edited by Cleon L. Rogers, Jr.

Strong, James, ed., The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990)

Vine, W.E., Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Original Greek Words with their Precise Meanings for English Readers (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, no date). Originally published circa 1940.