The Labourers in the vineyard ( Matthew 20:1-17)

Here’s just a few thoughts I was having on this parable.

There are three main interpretations of this parable which are valid.

The first one is comparing the various times in which one comes to the knowledge of Christ, and if they diligently work for Him, whether it be in youth or old age, if they are faithful from that time forward they are rewarded.

The second one compares the times to dispensations in the gospel, the first being with John the Baptist, going on to the day of Pentecost. In one sense this is a valid application, for while some were called of God during the time of John (like Andrew and John), others came later in Christ’s ministry. (James and Jude, the brothers of the Lord, in all likelihood only became disciples after the resurrection). However, at Pentecost all who had faithfully laboured, and waited in the upper room received the same blessing of the Holy Spirit.

The third one is the one I was thinking about recently, and is the one that I would like to apply to our lives today. I believe that in some ways we are in this parable now. Some of us are labouring in the vineyard of God and are waiting earnestly for God to send the revival He has promised and to see the reward for our labours.

It is interesting when you read of revivals in the past that often some of the people who prayed the hardest to see the move of God oppose it when it comes. Why? Because they see God promoting people who did not labour as they did. V12 “Saying, These last have done only one hour's work, and you have made them equal to us, who have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.”

Right now we are still in the heat of the day, and God’s Word and standards are being reviled in the world, but the day will come as the Gospel works that multitudes will rush into the Kingdom. When that happens, many will be raised up who did not struggle as we have had to for the glory, and when we see that it might stumble some of us to grumble like those in the parable. “Lord, How can you reward that person, I bore the hard work, he has just sprung up overnight.”

To counteract this remember 2 things:

1. It is God’s vineyard. He can do what He wants in His vineyard. The important thing is not who He uses, but that He gets His harvest in. Amen!
2. God’s acceptance of others is not His rejection of us. He will faithfully reward us what is our due. If we are thankful for what God has given us, we won’t have a problem with what He gives others.

Anyway those were just the thoughts I had, may God grant that we all are faithful and cheerful labourers in His glorious vineyard.