Sabbath, November 25, 2023
Lesson 22 – Workers in the Vineyard
“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.” Matthew 20:1.
“But Peter’s question, ‘What shall we have therefore?’ had revealed a spirit that uncorrected would unfit the disciples to be messengers for Christ; for it was the spirit of a hireling. While they had been attracted by the love of Jesus, the disciples were not wholly free from Pharisaism. They still worked with the thought of meriting a reward in proportion to their labor. They cherished a spirit of self-exaltation and self-complacency, and made comparisons among themselves. When one of them failed in any particular, the others indulged feelings of superiority.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 396.
GREAT HARVEST AND FEW LABORERS
1.In the parable of the laborers, at what time of day did the householder call for people to work in his vineyard? What was so significant about the question that he asked at the eleventh hour, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?”
Matthew 9:37, 38; 20:1-3, 5-7. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest…. 20:1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out ear- ly in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vine- yard. 3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,… 5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
2 Timothy 4:2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; re- prove, rebuke, exhort with all long- suffering and doctrine.
“Lest the disciples should lose sight of the principles of the gospel, Christ related to them a parable illustrating the manner in which God deals with His servants, and the spirit in which He desires them to labor for Him. ‘The kingdom of heaven,’ He said, ‘is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.’ It was the custom for men seeking employment to wait in the market places, and thither the employers went to find servants. The man in the par- able is represented as going out at different hours to engage workmen. Those who are hired at the earliest hours agree to work for a stated sum; those hired later leave their wages to the discretion of the householder.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 396.
2.Why did those who were hired first not understand the grace that was granted to those who were hired last? Applying this spiritually, let each student in the Sabbath school class ask himself how he behaves–like the laborers who were hired first or like those who began working last.
Matthew 20:3-5, 8. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market- place, 4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatso- ever is right I will give you. And they went their way.. 5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise…. 8So when even was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Romans 4:3, 4. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righ- teousness. 4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
“In the parable the first laborers agreed to work for a stipulated sum, and they received the amount specified, nothing more. Those later hired believed the master’s promise, ‘Whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.’ They showed their confidence in him by asking no question in regard to wages. They trusted to his justice and equity. They were rewarded, not according to the amount of their labor, but according to the generosity of his purpose…. “Thus it is with the sinner who, knowing his unworthiness, has entered the Master’s vineyard at the eleventh hour. His time of service seems so short, he feels that he is undeserving of reward; but he is filled with joy that God has accepted him at all. He works with a humble, trusting spirit, thankful for the privilege of being a co-worker with Christ. This spirit God delights to honor.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 397.
MIXED FEELINGS
3.What did the first day laborers think of this, and what did they say? What divine counsel applied at the time of Jesus and is also applicable today?
Matthew 20:10-12. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11And when they had re- ceived it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12Say- ing, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Philippians 2:14. Do all things with- out murmurings and disputings.
“The first laborers of the parable represent those who, because of their ser- vices, claim preference above others. They take up their work in a self-grat- ulatory spirit, and do not bring into it self-denial and sacrifice. They may have professed to serve God all their lives; they may have been foremost in enduring hardship, privation, and trial, and they therefore think them- selves entitled to a large reward. They think more of the reward than of the privilege of being servants of Christ. In their view their labors and sacrifices entitle them to receive honor above others, and because this claim is not recognized, they are offended. Did they bring into their work a loving, trust- ing spirit, they would continue to be first; but their querulous, complaining disposition is un-Christlike, and proves them to be untrustworthy. It reveals their desire for self-advancement, their distrust of God, and their jealous, grudging spirit toward their brethren. The Lord’s goodness and liberality is to them only an occasion of murmuring. Thus they show that there is no connection between their souls and God. They do not know the joy of co- operation with the Master Worker.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 399.
4.What did the householder recognize that those who were hired first did not see? Unlike the former, how did the latter react to what they received?
Matthew 20:9. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Romans 11:5, 6. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
“Not the amount of labor performed or its visible results but the spirit in which the work is done makes it of value with God. Those who came into the vineyard at the eleventh hour were thankful for an opportunity to work. Their hearts were full of gratitude to the one who had accepted them; and when at the close of the day the householder paid them for a full day’s work, they were greatly surprised. They knew they had not earned such wages. And the kindness expressed in the countenance of their employer filled them with joy. They never forgot the goodness of the householder or the generous compensation they had received.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 397.
DIVINE PRINCIPLES VS. HUMAN TENDENCIES
5.In missionary outreach, what does God desire from His people? What did the parable teach concerning the principle of love that God exercises?
Matthew 19:16, 17; 20:15. And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the command- ments…. 20:15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Romans 4:2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
“All boasting of merit in ourselves is out of place. ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.’ Jeremiah 9:23, 24. The reward is not of works, lest any man should boast; but it is all of grace.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 401.
6.Why were all of the laborers called to work in the Lord’s vineyard? At the end of time, how will the Lord reward both the sowers and the reapers?
John 4:36. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Mark 10:29-31; 20:16. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31But many that are first shall be last; and the last first…. 20:16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
“The Jews had been first called into the Lord’s vineyard, and because of this they were proud and self-righteous. Their long years of service they regarded as entitling them to receive a larger reward than others. Nothing was more exasperating to them than an intimation that the Gentiles were to be admitted to equal privileges with themselves in the things of God.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 400.
7.What woman turned from the traditions of Judaism to the principles of true Christianity by asking Jesus for crumbs from Heaven? Why did the householder in the parable go out at different times and in different places to gather the harvest?
Matthew 15:25-27. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Luke 13:29, 30. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
“Jesus longed to unfold the deep mysteries of the truth which had been hid for ages, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews, and ‘partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.’ Ephesians 3:6. This truth the disciples were slow to learn, and the divine Teacher gave them les- son upon lesson. In rewarding the faith of the centurion at Capernaum, and preaching the gospel to the inhabitants of Sychar, He had already given evidence that He did not share the intolerance of the Jews. But the Samaritans had some knowledge of God; and the centurion had shown kindness to Israel. Now Jesus brought the disciples in contact with a hea- then, whom they regarded as having no reason above any of her people, to expect favor from Him. He would give an example of how such a one should be treated. The disciples had thought that He dispensed too freely the gifts of His grace. He would show that His love was not to be circum- scribed to race or nation.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 402.
For additional study
“Christ warned the disciples who had been first called to follow Him, lest the same evil should be cherished among them. He saw that the weakness, the curse of the church, would be a spirit of self-righteous- ness. Men would think they could do something toward earning a place in the kingdom of heaven. They would imagine that when they had made certain advancement, the Lord would come in to help them. Thus there would be an abundance of self and little of Jesus. Many who had made a little advancement would be puffed up and think them- selves superior to others. They would be eager for flattery, jealous if not thought most important. Against this danger Christ seeks to guard His disciples.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 400.