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PASTOR WOOD’S Sermon notes

Today’s Message Notes: September 20, 2020
Title: “Grace Instead of Wages”
Text: Matthew 20:1-16

Introduction: Tripping over our sense of Fairness.

I. “What’s in it for us?”
A. This is why the Grace of God in Jesus Christ is a threat.
B. We prefer wages over grace.
1. The Rich Young Ruler in Matthew 19 asked, “What good must I do to inherit eternal life?”
2. Jesus’ answer was simple, “Go sell everything and then come follow me.”
3. The man went away very sad because he was rich.
4. In verse 27 Peter asks, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
C. “Jesus, what’s in it for us by following you?”
D. And truthfully do we dedicate as much as we think to the Lord?
1. Subtle but telling choices.
2. An economy of the mind–Pay as little as possible while expecting huge payoffs.
3. Concept of fulfillment often leaves us in a state of discontentment.
E. This was the disciples too.
1. Who’s the greatest comes up again in later verses of this chapter.
2. Another Matthean contrast in chp. 20 Jesus is saying in Heaven’s economy of grace special privileges are not earned nor deserved but given.

II. Seeing the work at the vineyard from the standpoint of the owner.
A. An illustration of generosity.
B. The parable of the Workers in the Vineyard could easily be labeled the Generous Owner of the Vineyard.
1. Jesus is the owner of all Lands.
2. He goes to the Day laborers and hires them—Word became flesh.
3. Vineyard metaphor for Israel.
4. He hires generously more than needed. He keeps going back to hire more.
5. He is “generous.”—”good”.
C. We should also note that the owner is the owner.
1. He gets to decide.
2. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
3. Our salvation is not based on earning anything but solely based on God giving it to us as a gift.
D. Notice too that the owner is patient amidst complaints of unfairness.
1. Those who worked the longest got paid last.
2. When they received the same wage they complained of unfairness. And they were right.
3. Not mistreated or even short-changed.
4. The economy of their minds cannot imagine being equal when they have worked harder and longer.
5. “You have made them equal to us.”
6. “We have worked longer and in the heat of the day.
7. Addressing disciples complains.
a. The Centurion (Matt 8)
b. the Canaanite woman of Matthew 15
c. the child of Matthew 18
d. difference in disciples.
8. Living for Jesus longer is a blessing not unfair work.
E. (Do you have an “evil eye” (ophthalmos poneros?)
1. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy (ophthalmos poneros; so, if you have the “evil eye”), your whole body will be full of darkness” (cf. 6:22-23).
2. How many times…(God is patient with the sinner.)

III. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. Its’ not fair. But that’s the good news.
A. We depend on the economy of grace.
B. Where grace is the priority of the kingdom of heaven wages is the priority of this world and our sinful nature.
C. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. Hard work should pay off. Even Jesus says the worker deserves his wages.
D. A wage mentality however makes an idol of self-importance.
E. On the other hand, Heaven has an economy based on grace alone.
1. Grace always reveals God’s character instead of human effort.
2. It always points us to the cross instead to ourselves.

Conclusion: Grace still gives… Jesus is eager to give grace instead of the wages we deserve.

Taking it Home:
1. How has God blessed you this week?
2. Where have you grumbled this week over a sense of unfairness in your life?
3. Have you been practicing a wage mindset or a grace mindset during the Corona Pandemic?
4. Have you done anything for the advancement of God’s kingdom this week? What were the blessings?
5. Is there something or someone in your “path” that you can express the love of Jesus and grace to? How might you do that? Are you ready to sacrifice something for their sake to make it possible?
To Go Deeper Consider Reading:
Hebrews 11:31; Joshua 2: 1-24; 6: 17, 20-25)

PRINTABLE PDF: SERMONSept20

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