At The Heart Of Christianity
Matthew Twenty
Matthew twenty takes us to the
very heart of Christianity. At the heart of Christianity is (1) God's grace,
(2) The death of Christ, (3) The spirit of service, and (4) Compassion for the
hurting. All of these truths are seen in this great section of Scripture.
This chapter begins with the
parable of the workers in the vineyard. Jesus said some that were hired early
in the morning agreed to work for a penny a day. The trouble came when others
that were hired later in the day were also paid a penny. Those
that had worked through the heat of the day though they should have received
more. The lesson of this parable was to demonstrate God's grace. Jesus
said "the first will be last and the last shall be first."
Jesus again reminded the disciples
that He was going up to
As Jesus and His disciples
started towards
At The Heart
Of Christianity Is The Grace Of God Matthew 20:1-16: The parable of the workers in the vineyard is a
powerful lesson on the theme of God's grace. What God gives comes from His
goodness not from what we deserve. Some workers were hired early in the
morning to go work in the vineyard. It was agreed that they would receive a
penny for their work.
However, we are more like
workers that stood idle all day. They waited through the day and finally were
hired at the last hour. We are like them in that they did not earn what they
received but received it because the man who hired them was good. "Is it
not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil
because I am good?" (Matthew 20:15) In the parable the householder is God.
The vineyard is the church and the undeserving laborers are Christians. We do
not deserve anything but by God's grace we are saved.
When the last ones hired
received a penny those hired first thought they should have received more. How
dare anyone try to tell God Almighty what to do with what is rightfully His in
the first place. The order was the last shall be first and the first shall be
last, many are called but few are chosen. The workers complained but they
should have praised the Master for His generosity. We were called from the
market place of the world's idleness into work in the Lord's vineyard. Do not
put off obeying God until your lose your reward.
God, in His goodness, allowed
the Jews to be first called into His kingdom. He likewise allowed the Gentiles
to be called last. Now He also gives us what we do not deserve nor can we earn
salvation by His grace. But His message is still the same. "Why are you
standing here idle all day?" "...Go into the vineyard..." But
remember, "many are called, but few are
chosen." (Matthew 20:16)
At The Heart Of Christianity Is The Death Of Christ Matthew 20:17-19: We are allowed to walk along with Jesus and His
disciples as they make their way to
The details Jesus provided concerning His resurrection must have given
both comfort and encouragement to the disciples. Without the death of Jesus for
our sins we would be in a hopeless and helpless spiritual state. We must come
to know and appreciate the words of I John 1:7. "But if we walk in the
light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." The betrayal, suffering and death of Jesus should make us aware of
the role that God's grace played in our salvation.
At The Heart Of Christianity Is The Spirit Of Service Matthew 20:20-28:
On at least three occasions there was a discussion among the apostles
concerning greatness in the kingdom. (Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 20:20-28 and Luke
22:24-27) In John 13 Jesus taught the lesson of humble service by washing the
feet of the apostles. "You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for
so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example,
that you should do as I have done to you." (John 13:13-15)
The mother of Zebedee's
children with her sons and the other disciples were still thinking about an
earthly kingdom, rather than the church, God's spiritual kingdom. This mother
wanted her sons to have honor in that earthly kingdom. Jesus asked them if they
were willing to suffer for the kingdom and to agonize with Him is building the
church or kingdom? Christ let it be know that be great
in His kingdom did not come through worldly power but by humble service to
others.
Every Christian must have a
servant's heart. "...whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
(Matthew 20:26-28) The price paid to set us free from sin was Jesus becoming a
servant and giving His life a ransom for many. Those that would become His
follower must follow His example of service.
At The Heart Of Christianity Is Compassion Matthew 20:29-34: As Jesus left
These men knew that Jesus was
their only opportunity of getting their sight back so they would not allow the
multitude to silence them. When He called them they went to Him immediately. Some hear the Master call thousands of times
and never go to Him. Jesus heard their cries for mercy. In pity or compassion
He touched their eyes and they received their sight. (Matthew 20:34) The result
of Jesus having compassion and helping these men was they followed Him.
Following Jesus was the best way these men could express their thanks.
To become a Christian by God's
grace and through the blood of His Son you must hear the gospel (Romans