The Questions Jesus Asked About Grace

In today’s parable of the vineyard workers, we learn some things about God’s grace or extravagant generosity. The question: “Or are you envious because I am generous?”

Watch the full Sunday service and message by Pastor Dennis Jacobson below.

SERMON TEXT

Matthew 20:1-15 (ESV)

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’

SERMON NOTES

Truths about Grace

• • Grace is not well understood
  • Grace cannot help you until you are desperate enough to receive it

The parable

• • The workers agree to their wages
  • The owner pays the workers v.8
  • The workers complain v. 11-12
  • The owner responds v. 13-15

Four applications

1. Grace reminds us that God’s favor is a gift
2. Grace keeps us from looking down on ourselves
3. Grace makes us equal to everyone else
4. Grace offers us a fresh start

This parable explodes with meaning when we realize we have all been treated with undeserved, extravagant love.

And there is absolutely no reason to be envious because of God’s generosity!