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.
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. We must work hard at our salvation to realize them (Phil. 2.13).
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 realize the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Ps. 27.13). And that means you and me.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Then God blessed them, and God said to them,
‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden
to tend and keep it” (Gen. 1.28; 2.15).
From the very beginning we have been given work to do.
We have been invited to be co-laborers with God:
“For we are God’s fellow workers…” (1 Cor. 3.9).
God has overseen the plans for the work each of us should do:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2.10).
We are to do this work with diligence—like Jesus did:
“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…
For consider Him Who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Heb. 12.1, 3).
“I will run the course of Your commandments,
for You shall enlarge my heart” (Ps. 119.32).
And we should do our work with joy:
“So I saw that there is nothing better for men
than that they should be happy in their work,
for that is what they are here for…” (Eccl. 3.22 TLB).
“And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Therefore, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to all,
especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6.9, 10).
How thankful we should be that God has invited us to work with Him!
How grateful we should be that He asked.
“Therefore…do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10.31).
Reflect.
1. How would you explain to a non-Christian friend the work God has given you to do?
2. How can mapping our Personal Mission Field help us in doing God’s work?
3. When we are doing our work, to what does that contribute?
If any man infer from this, that men are created for the purpose of doing something, and that every man has his province assigned him by God, that they may not sit down in idleness, he will offer no violence to the words of Christ. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Matthew 20.1-13
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.
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!
Then all the poor 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. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues readings from the book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is working through a study of the role of reason in the life of faith. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
