39 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. (Matthew 20:1)

The harvest was ready to be harvested and so the landowner needed laborers. Notice, he goes early in the morning. If you want to bring in the harvest, there will always be a price to be paid.

The landowner went out 5 times to hire laborers:

early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard

he went out about the third hour (9 am)

Again he went out about the sixth (12 pm)

and the ninth hour (3 pm)

And about the eleventh hour (5 pm)

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? (Matthew 20:8-13)

How we react to the way the landholder paid the men he hired to work in his vineyard depends on the state of our own hearts. We could respond, “Oh, what a generous employer!” or we could say, “Isn’t that terribly unfair?”

They were interpreting another’s gain as their loss. This exposed what was in their heart - envy.

The context of this parable teaches us that this is a lesson on grace. Regardless of our performance, we all need God's grace because we have all come short of God's standard (Romans 3:23).

Lord Jesus was emphasizing that the benefits of the kingdom are the same for all who have become subject to its King, regardless of what they have done.

But Jesus replied You do not realize what you are asking. (Matthew 20:22)

From this, it is clear that sometimes we don’t know what we are asking for. Our asking must be regulated by the word of God.

Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, [e]and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” (Matthew 20:22)

Likewise, James and John would share His sufferings even to the point of death but not in a redemptive sense. James was the first apostle to be martyred (Ac 12:2), and John endured many years of persecution and exile (Revelation 1:9).

Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, (Matthew 20:26 Amplified)

The pathway to greatness is faithful service. I have often heard stories told of men and women who started out in a company as common staff but eventually rose to managerial positions because of their faithfulness and commitment. Start serving your way to the height of greatness.

Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” (Matthew 20:29-30)

Two blind men who heard that Jesus was passing by. Despite a lifetime of blindness, they must have thought, We don’t have to stay like this. There’s hope for a better future. So they began to cry out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” (Matthew 20:31)

These two men made one of the most effective appeals to God—an appeal to His mercy.

So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32)

This is a good reminder that you should always be specific in your prayers and petitions. Don’t just pray, “Bless me, Lord.” Be specific. Jesus wanted to know precisely what these men were believing God for.

Chapter 20