TEXT: Mat. 20:1-7

INTRODUCTION:

A.      A WELL KNOWN PARABLE.

B.      GOOD FOR OUR STUDY.

I.      THE KINGDOM IS LIKE A MAN WHO WENT OUT TO HIRE LABORERS.

A.      GOD DOESN'T ATTEMPT TO FORCE MEN TO WORK( Rev. 22:17 )

B.      THE LORD WANTS ALL TO BE SAVED( 2 Pet. 3:9 ).

C.      THE MAN OFFERED A DECENT WAGE.  WHAT DOES GOD OFFER?

          1.       Fellowship( 1 John 1:7 ).

          2.       Justification from sin( Heb. 5:8-9 ).

          3.       A home in heaven( Mat. 7:21 ).

          4.       Eternal life( 1 John 2:25 ).

          5.       Rest( Mat. 11:28 ).

D.      PAUL HELPS PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE( 2 Cor. 4:16-18 ).

II.     HE WENT OUT TO HIRE LABORERS.

          A.  GOD DOESN'T WANT THOSE WHO WON'T WORK( James 1:22 ).

          B.  JESUS LEFT US AN EXAMPLE OF HARD WORK( John 5:17; 9:4 ).

          C.  OUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN( 1 Cor. 15:58;  Mat. 10:42 ).

          D.  LABORERS WORK( Eph. 2:10 ).

III.    THE LORD'S LABORERS WORK IN HIS VINEYARD.

A.      WE GLORIFY GOD IN THE CHURCH( Mat. 5:16; Eph. 3:21 ).

B.      WE DO THE WORK HE ASSIGNS( Mat. 7:21-23 ).

IV.   SOME WENT EARLY, SOME LATE, ALL GOT THE SAME PAY.

A.      CONTEXT HELPS TO UNDERSTAND( Mat. 19:16-30 ).

          1.       Man can't save himself.

          2.       We often hold the wrong thing in high esteem(19:30;20:16).

          3.       God saves us because he loves us.

B.      AND THIS IS THE LESSON OF THE PARABLE - WE NOT PAID BY THE

          HOUR OR BY THE PIECEWORK AS THOUGH WE EARN SALVATION.

          1.       Eternal life is a gift( Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9 ).

          2.       The gift is for those who obey( Mat. 7:21 ).

          3.       We are still undeserving( Luke 17:10 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      2 Cor. 6:1.

B.      Acts 22:16.