Labourers in vineyard parable in Mathew

Mathew chapter 20, beginning.

I need explanation and insight into this parable please. Does it mean no matter how late a man comes to Christ in his life, he shall have eternal life?
Or does it mean earning your way to heaven is not the principle point?

There are aspects of both of these things, as well as the sovereignty of God.
Another thing worth considering is the audience. It is being spoken to Jews who had a sense of superiority towards other people groups, and the Gentiles are soon to be set on equal footing with them in the kingdom of God. Those who for so long have found their identity as the people of God might be resistant to this occurring.

I think one of the lessons of that parable is the Jews aren’t going to be given more than gentiles in the kingdom simply because they were chosen first , but anyone who is called and responds to the kingdom will receive everlasting life the same who were called last as to the ones called first same rewards

just my opinion though

one major thing taught here is that salvation is not a matter of the works we do but the mercy of God - those who were called late and did little received the same reward as those who were called early and labored long.

cannot God do as He wills with that which is His own? so we should never grumble or complain with envy, nor should we boast of ourselves

"Earning our way to heaven is not the principal point" for sure--salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned.

The laborers who were hired first and bore the brunt of the weather and work had a legitimate gripe from a secular perspective. They should have been paid more on an hourly work system.

But that's not how God's kingdom works. God's generosity and mercy is beyond human comprehension. Those of us who have bore the brunt of the work spreading the gospel for all of our adult lives have been blessed. Those who come to Christ later in life or perhaps on their death bed will be given that same gift of salvation--we should rejoice about that.

Jesus sums it all up with:

Matthew 20:15-16

New International Version

15 Don’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.”

God's generosity transcends our competitive aspirations for what place we are in within His team. The longer we have labored in His vineyard and endured the "heat of the day", the more blessed we are to have that extra time in this life with our Lord.

This is the correct interpretation. Eternal life is God's GIFT to the one who repents and believes on Christ.

Here is my prime example, the thief on the cross.

i notice that none of the workers decided for themselves, "I will go work in the Lord's vineyard and earn a reward"

... they all sat idle, until the Lord sought them out, called them, and brought them to His fields, to work.

all were standing around being useless until God on His own chose to make use of them. we're not told what they thought of themselves before God put them to work, however we may through experience have an informed guess - - and we do know the last were become first...

amen if I offer you at 6 am one dollar to work until 5 pm i o my owe you a dollar at 5 pm . Even if I hired another man at noon and offered him one dollar to work until 5pm

basically its not my business how long or how much the other guy was hired for I have already made my agreement at 6 am

There are those who belive themselves to be "special" to God. They believe they rule on Earth and in Heaven. (The pope)

And that's just not the case.
There's a difference between the saints....but what God grants them is still equal. It's just that some people are capable of doing more with less for longer and always will. Some will enter Heaven as beggars but they thought themselves as having a high station. (Big laugh on them)

The reward for all is the same. (Access) What you are capable of when you get there has yet to be determined but it's not given by God...it is determined by you and your abilities. Only that which is holy gets past the gates....meaning that all your sinful attitudes are stripped from you. What's left gets through. How much is left is strictly up to you.

Mat 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.
Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Mat 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

Mat 20:6 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?
Mat 20:7 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.

Mat 20:8 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.

Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 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.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

They all received an equal pay of one penny no matter how long they labored in the vineyard.

Which they all agreed for a penny at the start no matter how long they labored whether 12 hours, 9 hours, 6 hours, 3 hours, or 1 hour.

So there was nothing to complain about for they all agreed at the start of their laboring no matter how much they labored.

Which means it does not matter how long you have been living for God the reward is the same eternal life.

Shall a person living for the Lord for 20 years think they should receive more than a person living for the Lord for one year.

Eternal life is the same for everyone no matter how long they have been living for the Lord.

But this does bother some people that have been living for God for a while when a person is on their deathbed and then they turn to the Lord and ask for forgiveness to be saved.

Which it is a good reason why they would be mad about it for they lived for God for years caring about His ways, loving His holiness, laboring for the kingdom of God, and a person was out enjoying sin, and whooping it up, not caring about the things of God, and then they get on their deathbed and ask for forgiveness and be saved.

But if they are sincere they will be saved.

But the truth of the matter people that did not care about God, and His ways, but enjoyed sin all their life, when they get on their deathbed are they truly sincere, or do they ask for forgiveness seeing they cannot enjoy sin anymore so they confess Christ and want to be saved.

The truth is we do not know if they are sincere, or they cannot enjoy sin anymore so they want to be saved, but God knows the heart.

No matter how long we live for God the reward is the same eternal life.

Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

But the thief on the cross asked for forgiveness when he was on his deathbed so to speak, and was saved.

There are several things that we learn from this Parable in my view

It reveals how God's Kingdom Works -----it works upside down from this world ------

it reveals that all rewards given are deemed by God alone ----

It reveals that God chooses to show His Mercy to whom He chooses ----the Fist will be last and the Last will be first ----God chose Jacob who was born last and rejected Esau who was born first for His Covenant -----
It reveals our sin nature of envy --jealousy and lack of compassion -----

It reveals that all can be saved no matter what time early or late they come to Jesus in their life time -----

Exactly--that's a basic management/contract principle which is still in effect today. If I agreed to work for a dollar today, I need to uphold my end of the contract. What the other workers get paid is none of my business--that's between the owner and the workers.

My wife has been at her organization for 15 years, and she is a little ticked that new employees are getting paid the same or more than she is. But, that is where the market is currently--it's basic supply and demand. Should management up the rate for faithful employees? That would be great, but it's not likely going to happen due to economics.

However, her faithfulness has yielded her the best schedule (no nights or weekends), 3 weeks of paid vacation per year, and a nice 401k package that these new workers do not have.

Notice how the laborers who spent the whole day in the vineyard complained/grumbled about what appeared to be an unfair situation (v. 11). As a manager myself, I would tell them sorry, you agreed to this contract. The most challenging employees to work with are the ones who are negative and complain about everything (they tend to be the laziest, too). Those folks are the ones who get laid off first when there is a downturn in business.

I try to stay positive and do the best I can to fulfill the obligations I've committed to--that principal has paid off in many ways, and God has blessed me far beyond what I deserve.

Amen to all you said brother wonderful stuff

Thanks bro. Hey, I want to circle back to what you mentioned above about the Jews and Gentiles because it's important to see the context of Jesus' parables as you allude to by pointing out the original audience (he explains many of His parables to the disciples later after the Pharisees go away scratching their heads but not this one).

Note in Matthew 19:30, Jesus leads into the parable about the laborers in the vineyard with this whole principle of the first being last and vice versa. This comes after the rich young man refuses to follow Jesus because he was asked to sell what he has and give to the poor. Jesus said it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom, and the disciples are "greatly astonished" and ask "Who then can be saved?" (Matt. 19: 25). Here's the answer and remaining dialog:

Matthew 19:26-30

New International Version

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Do you see these verses supporting the idea of being saved by grace but rewarded according to our works, or better yet the works produced through us by the power of God's Spirit?

I see this distinction

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

for there is no respect of persons with God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:4-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I don’t think ( just my own belief from what I’ve read ) that we can be saved while we’re serving satans Will which is sin or anything that’s not Gods Will

But the key is to understand what Paul’s talking about there he isn’t referring to the works of the law he’s talking from the gospel

When we read chapter 2 we’re supposed to have already heard and believed this part in the gospel

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be given into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:36-38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

so Paul begins like this

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself;( judge not lest ye be judged ) for thou that judgest doest the same things. ( if I tell lies I have no place judging an adulterer as unworthy we’re both sinners )

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Im not sure that makes sense as to my point Gods eternal judgement is. Ot what Moses said to isreal it’s what Jesus said and sent to all people for salvstion

We need to learn to pardon others sins against us to forgive to not condem. Others for thier sins to help others to be filled with mercy towards others because that’s where our judgement will begin as Jesus taught

The apostles will judge the twelve tribes based on tbier covenant which e apostles were all born under even as they converted to Christ they are e last generation of Moses covenant it’s why they will judge the tribes based not on the gospel but upon the words of th over covenant written by Moses

“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father:

there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:45‬ ‭

a Jesus isnt there to accuse us like the law of Moses but to advocate for us and intercede on our behalf

abut as always deer brother it’s o my my own thoughts according to what I have read and prayed about it doesn’t mean I’m right or your not right I’m just expressing my own thoughts about it based. What I have learned in scripture, which my wisdom and knowledge is incredibly limited

Those are great verses from the apostle Paul, Pilgrim, and he sums up the value of working hard for the gospel and our Lord.

There are so many great lessons and insights from this Parable of the Vineyard, and a main point Jesus emphasizes is this concept that the first will be last, and the last will be first. That is such a paradox from a worldly perspective where people work hard in the vineyard all their lives to retire in Florida, for example. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, and my parents are in that category and love their lives down there in the winter--good for them.

However, if that's all we're laboring for in this life with Christ out of the picture, it's all vanity in the end because we die and can't take our money and possessions to the grave with us. And, if we think we can work our tails off and buy a "stairway to heaven", we are in another realm of futility as well. God gives us the kingdom, and Jesus actually calls it an inheritance. Wow, we are children of God through Jesus Christ, and what an inheritance He has planned for us!

We've done nothing to earn it, and that actually upsets a lot of people who think their intellect and efforts should be rewarded, and God owes them for their "hard work." I'm all for diligence and putting our noses to the grindstone, but it can also lead us down a path of arrogance and entitlement if we're not careful.

Let's go back to the lesson Jesus taught His disciples in chapter 18 of Matthew:

Matthew 18:1-5

New International Version

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Humility is the key to greatness in God's eyes. We need to humble ourselves like children and have that excitement and openness to what Jesus is teaching us. Satan is the author of pride. In his eyes, who needs God; we can rule ourselves, work hard, and exalt ourselves to authority, independence, and material prosperity. Meekness is weakness to the devil.

Like one of my wise pastor's pointed out, true humility comes from God. It's not an attribute we can muster up by our own strength. We need to humble ourselves before the Mercy Seat, and Christ will exalt us in due time. The first will be last (those who think they can earn heaven), and the last will be first (those who have humbled themselves like a "little child").

yeah im not sure he’s advocating for labouring in that part I quoted He’s just revealing this eternal truth

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

pauls just revealing that truth to the church so they dont misrepresent his doctrine

“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;


but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:5-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That’s just a more detailed version or like this it tells us more info about how God will do this

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Of course this is part of it and what we should believe

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;

and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:28-29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

These are just truths of what’s coming being told to people by Jesus or Paul or the ot preacher or Peter

“because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:16-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There’s many other things as well brother like repentance and intercession , our advocate at Gods right hand , and then There the motivation part of course

Like all things should be centered on Jesus and his love for us and the people we are called to love in deed and truth

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:

and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:16-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

we know what love really is because of what he’s done for us when we were sinners

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

and so we should have his love in us and actually walk and act in it towards others in deed and truth

The whole idea of who’s going to be saved isn’t my judgement to make I can’t see a person living a wicked life and not repenting then bieng saved but this is only an opinion of an old fool who read the Bible a lot lol No one’s judge or anyone who matters especially

Jesus is the one who will decide if I’m saved and if anyone else is saved in the end is my firm belief but again one persons belief is a pretty small box to try to paint as the universe so it should be taken as just an old man who has a lot of time on his hands in a discussion forum

i think ultimately each believer has to stand before God and give an account of themselves not give an account of anyone other than themselves. But of our own lives works whether good or evil