Thou didst; and wilt thou go and agree with the world? And what makes this still more striking, is the certainty that the kingdom, bright as it is, is by no means the thing nearest to Jesus. The Roman penny was, in our money, of the value of a sevenpence half-penny, a day's wages for a day's work, and the wages sufficient for a day's maintenance. The first of these lessons is, "Many first shall be last, and last first." Now if you go back to the last verse of the previous chapter, you'll find this same statement. He was not called. They supposed that they would receive more: The men who worked for the landowner all day saw the men who worked for only an hour come away from the pay table, and they supposed, If the landowner is paying these guys a full days pay for one hours work, then we will get far more., i. [6.] Then the pitiable condition of the disciples at the foot of the hill, where Satan reigned in fallen ruined man, is tested by the fact, that notwithstanding all the glory of Jesus, Son of God and Son of man, the disciples rendered it evident that they knew not how to bring His grace into action for others; yet was it precisely their place and proper function here below. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you . 1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. Matthew, Mark and John all give lists of the women who were at the Cross when Jesus was crucified. They used their waiting time in considering their own superiority to the latecomers. (Spurgeon). What can be conceived so perfectly to illustrate the great design of the gospel of Matthew? When God settles all the accounts, then things are going to be valued by his standards and not the world's standards. They worked while the others were idle. We are put to our choice; for hired we must be (Joshua 24:15); Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. The Son of Man will be betrayed: Jesus again told the disciples what awaited Him in Jerusalem, but no reaction from the disciples is noted. Though he vainly thought, that if those few were but two, they were himself and his son. 8 So 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. 2 And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard. To represent to us the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 20:1; Matthew 20:1), that is, the way and method of the gospel dispensation. The circumstances of this serve to adorn the parable; but the general scope is plain, that the last shall be first. That which was the first in order chose the four citizens who were judged the most proper to serve in the war; and the six tribunes who commanded the first legion chose one of these four, whom they liked best. Jesus was there to call, not righteous men, but sinners. It is not an accident that Jesus was scourged. And so they began to cry out to Jesus. The reason I consider to be plain; and the same principle applies to various other parts of our gospel where we have two cases mentioned, where in the other gospels we have only one. a. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Thus the point that meets us in the conclusion of the chapter is, that while every character, every measure of giving up for His name's sake, will meet with the most worthy recompence and result, man can as little judge of this as he can accomplish salvation. "If you really want to be great in the kingdom of God, learn to be the servant of all. 1. The first thing to be remarked is, that the leper was an early incident in the manifestation of the healing power of our Lord. Instead of repining that we have no more, let us take what we have, and be thankful. He promised to pay all the later workers fairly. Take what is yours and go your way. i. Matthew 20. That they might possibly be outstripped by their successors in profession, and, though they were before others in profession, might be found inferior to them in knowledge, grace, and holiness. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father." And she said unto him, Grant that these my two boys may sit, the one your right hand, and the other on your left, in your kingdom ( Matthew 20:20-21 ). But I see no sufficient reason to refuse the impression that John found it hard to reconcile his continued imprisonment with a present Messiah; nor do I discern a sound judgment of the case, or a profound knowledge of the heart, in those who thus raise doubts as to John's sincerity, any more than they appear to me to exalt the character of this honoured man of God, by supposing him to play a part which really belonged to others. What is mine, is mine to do with as I please." 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Reversal! "The Spirit lifted me [Ezekiel] up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God. So the last will be first, and the first last, Betrayed they will condemn Him to death deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. There are two great lessons here. Far different this was from the errand on which He was intent; but He was there for faith. I injure no one, and have a right to do what I will with my own. Thus explained, this parable has no reference to the call of the Gentiles, nor to the call of aged sinners, nor to the call of sinners out of the church at all. The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, but it should be different among the people of God. Verse 4 seems quite adverse to the idea that great multitudes were witnesses of the cure; for why "tell no man," if so many knew it already? WATCH TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CHALLENGE WAS Hey, Im Tia and my aim is to travel the world with my camera and of course my wonderful partner is coming along and enjoying the ride with me ! Secondly, In all the dispensations of his grace, God gives or withholds the means of grace, and the Spirit of grace, as he pleases. The Gospels James was the first of the apostolic band to die a martyr ( Acts 12:2). The last shall be first, and the first last. He knew what they needed and what they wanted, but God still wants us to tell Him our needs as a constant expression of our trust and reliance on Him. The first is the defence of the disciples, grounded on analogies taken from that which had the sanction of God of old, as well as on His own glory now. Does not this suit you, poor sinner you who never did serve him, you who could not, as you are, minister to him? It ought to have been John's place to have proclaimed the glory of Jesus; but all things in this world are the reverse of what they ought to be, and of what will be when Jesus takes the throne, coming in power and glory. So it was here; and our Lord turns to eternal account, in His own goodness, the shortcoming of John the Baptist, the greatest of women-born. And there were also with Him other little ships. In view of the context, the 12 disciples correspond to the workers hired at the beginning of the day, the beginning of Jesus public ministry. [1.] They never did make front page or even back page. They measured Jesus by their own impotence. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Prophets In gentleness, in sympathy, and in love, with never an impatient word, he seeks to lead them to the truth. To underscore this, Jesus will give a parable (20:1-16) that amplifies the principle: 'many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first'," (20:16; 16:25). In Matthew 14:1-36 facts are narrated which manifest the great change of dispensation that the Lord, in setting forth the parables we have just noticed, had been preparing them for. c. Early in the morning: This is literally at dawn, usually reckoned to be about 6:00 in the morning. This question is accordingly put to the proof in the ninth chapter. But that they might not be carried away by ambition or vain confidence in themselves, it was necessary also to remind them that others, who would long afterwards be called, would be partakers of the same glory, because God is not limited to any person, but calls freely whomsoever He pleases, and bestows on those who are called whatever rewards He thinks fit. We can count on God dealing with us justly, graciously, and generously whether we serve God all our lives or only a short time having become His disciples later in life. 22 But Jesus answered by saying to . Beyond the curtain of suffering lay the revelation of glory; beyond the Cross was the Crown; beyond the defeat was triumph; and beyond death was life. There is no question of to whom the ransom was paid. A man who wanted to work came there first thing in the morning, carrying his tools, and waited until someone hired him. But still, it was His carrying on the great process of shewing out more and more the total rejection of His rejectors. He tells him that those he envied should fare as well as he did; "I will give unto this last, even as unto thee; I am resolved I will." When they heard that Jesus was passing by: They knew this might be their last time to meet Jesus. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." That act forfeited their further right to it. [1.] Now do you think that God the Father would allow His Son to suffer unnecessarily? The first is, as it has been said, "All service ranks the same with God." Having left Nazareth, as we saw, He takes up His abode in Capernaum, which was henceforth "His own city." Proud member The question fairly arises, Why it is that the Holy Ghost has been pleased so remarkably to leave time out of the question in this chapter, as well as in the next? It doesn't mean someone who is to be looked up to, and someone who is to be catered to, and someone who is to be bowed to, and all of this kind of stuff, and do special favors because he is the minister. He has His rejection before His eyes, as well as the presumptuous unbelief of this sordid, and self-confident, would-be follower. Reviewing, then, these closing incidents of the chapter (ver. It is the end of the account of Jesus itinerant ministry, and its setting as they went out of Jericho points forward to the next town on the road, Jerusalem. (France). We have, first, the sower sowing the word. He would not even claim the right to choose how His servants were rewarded, but yield that to His Father. Out in the world there was the Roman governor with his retinue and the eastern potentate with his slaves. II. Our job as disciples is to keep searching and including the lost, the last, and the least in the Kingdom and not just those who can bring us some benefit. It was the custom in Palestine for a Rabbi to teach as he walked along the road; and no doubt those around Jesus could not hear what Jesus was saying for this clamorous uproar. It adds to the reason for this interpretation, that Christ was conversing about the rewards that should be given to his followers, and not about the numbers that should be called, or about the doctrine of election. Only tradition will not do this work, nor will human thoughts or feelings. Now these last have worked but one hour, and that too in the cool of the day; and yet thou hast made them equal with us. Note, The unchangeableness of God's purposes in dispensing his gifts should silence our murmurings. Nor is this all. They that come from the east and west, and so come in late, that are picked up out of the highways and the hedges, shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, at the same feast, Matthew 7:11; Matthew 7:11.