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Matthew 20:1-16

Listen to Matthew 20:1-16

1 "God's kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

2 They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work.

3 "Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed.

4 He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage.

5 They went.

6 At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, 'Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?

7 ' "They said, 'Because no one hired us.' "He told them to go to work in his vineyard.

8 "When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, 'Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.'

9 "Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar.

10 When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar.

11 Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager,

12 'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.'

13 "He replied to the one speaking for the rest, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn't we?

14 So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you.

15 Can't I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?'

16 "Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first."

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Matthew 20:1-16 Study Resources

5 Important Lessons in the Meaning of the Parable of the Vineyard

Jessica Van Roekel

Who Are the Workers in the Parable of the Vineyard?

Chris Swanson

Sermons

Salvation Is Free

Raul Ries

Today, Pastor Raul underscore's God’s generosity in gifting us eternal life. Good works and religious activities – however well meaning – will never earn you a heavenly home. The price of your salvation was paid with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and your new life begins when you choose Him over everything else. Learn more on Somebody Loves You with Pastor Raul Ries.

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Working and Laboring for God Part 2

Jeff Johnson

In the world as we know it the powerful, rich and famous are highly regarded. But in the Kingdom of Heaven God has a much different standard for position and rewards that just may surprise you! We’re in Matthew chapter 20 today and upon first glance at this story you might be tempted to think God isn’t being fair or just! Some have totally missed the point of the passage and drawn the wrong conclusion as you’ll soon see.

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Not Fair (cont'd)

Tony Clark

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God Calls Many, but Few are Chosen Part 2

James Kaddis

We’re in Matthew chapter 20 today and upon first glance at this story you might be tempted to think God isn’t being fair or just! Some have totally missed the point of the passage and drawn the wrong conclusion as you’ll soon see. But before we get there pastor James will take some time to explain the difference between equality and equity, and yes there is a big difference.

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Evidence of Grace

Stuart and Jill Briscoe

A topic often discussed in Christian circles is grace-based faith versus law-based faith. It is our nature to gravitate toward a law-based faith. In fact, we do this without even realizing it. It's as simple as convincing yourself that God will not bless your day because you missed your morning quiet time. This law-based thinking is not what God wants us to have. In this message, Pete explains the importance of grace-based faith and gives us three Bible passages that are evidence of God wanting us to live in His grace. This is the 15th message in Pete's 16-message series "True Identity." Matthew 20:1-16

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Working and Laboring for God Part 1

Jeff Johnson

It may seem unfair to you that someone who has been walking with God for many years can potentially receive the same reward as someone who barely makes it into heaven. How in the world is that fair and if it is, by whose standards? Let’s talk about it today on Sound Doctrine as we open up Matthew chapter twenty with pastor Jeff Johnson.

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