Matthew 20: Calvary in Sight (1)

Pray Psalm 22.23.
You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!

Sing Psalm 22.23.
(Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King)
All you who fear the Lord, now praise His holy Name!
You children of His glorious Word, declare His fame!
We stand in awe of our eternal God, and on His mercy call.

Read and meditate on Matthew 20.1-7.

Prepare.
1. To what did Jesus liken the Kingdom of heaven?

2. Who should expect to work in the Kingdom of heaven?

Meditate.
Matthew 20 continues the thrust of previous chapters in illustrating aspects of life in the Kingdom of God. Only here, Calvary and the cross are much more on Jesus’ mind. Yet this does not prevent Him from continuing to teach His disciples how to think about the Kingdom, so that they will be ready for its coming.

The parable of the workers in the vineyard has two important lessons. The first, it seems to me, is that we should not think of the Kingdom of heaven as some kind of work-free paradise. The Kingdom is like a landowner who employs people to cultivate and harvest fruit. The aspect of work which Jesus includes in this parable is as important as the teaching about rewards, which we will see in the second part (vv. 8-16).

Seeking the Kingdom is thus a physical discipline. There are things to do. Paul considered the believers to whom he wrote to be co-laborers in the Kingdom. Work is the exertion of energy – physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual – toward certain specific outcomes. In the Kingdom of God, the outcomes we seek are righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, manifested in love for God and neighbors. Such outcomes don’t just happen.

Jesus is not content for us to be idle while the desperate world becomes overgrown with weeds and tares. As in the parable of the sower (Matt. 13), here too, Jesus reinforces the idea that we must work out our salvation in fear and trembling, applying ourselves to the Lord’s vineyard, with all our soul and strength, to bring forth fruit that expresses the pleasure of the Lord.

We don’t ever want to hear Jesus asking, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” We all have a mission field. We all have work to do, beginning with working to understand the Word of God, laboring in prayer for the day ahead, and giving ourselves soul and body to good works of love at every opportunity.

The Kingdom is like a great vineyard, that covers the earth. For it to bring forth the fruit our Lord seeks, workers must go out into it daily, applying themselves diligently, continuously, conscientiously, and fruitfully to bringing forth the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And that means you and me.

Reflect.
1. Why is work such an important part of life in the Kingdom?

2. Should we expect everyone in the Kingdom to have the same work? Or to be capable of doing the same amount of work? Explain.

3. How do you prepare for the workday you face as a Kingdom citizen each day?

By the vineyard he means the commandments of God, and the time of working refers to the present life. The workers—those called to the task at different times: early, at the third hour, at the sixth, at the ninth, at the eleventh—are those who have come forward at different ages and lived justly. John Chrysostom (347-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 64.3

Lord, today I go to work for Your Kingdom again. Help me to…

Pray Psalm 22.24-28.
What work will you do today to realize the vision Jesus lays out in these verses? Seek the Lord’s Presence and strength for every opportunity of doing good works.

Sing Psalm 22.24-28.
Psalm 22.24-28 (Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King)
For He has not despised the anguish of our King,
nor from Him hid His eyes, Who knew such suffering.
Let praise arise from all who love and serve the Ruler of the skies!

The suff’ring King shall eat and praise with us the Lord.
Forever we His praise repeat and trust His Word.
Praise God above, all you who keep His vows and who His mercies love!

All nations shall repent and hasten to the Lord;
All those to whom His truth is sent shall praise His Word.
The Lord is King!  His sovereign rule on high now we His people sing!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).