Laborers in the Vineyard

Laborers in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1–16
Opening: When the Vineyard Owner Keeps His Word
Jesus tells of a householder who goes to the marketplace at daybreak, again at the third, sixth, ninth, and even the eleventh hour, hiring workers for his vineyard. At evening he pays a denarius to each, beginning with the last and ending with the first. Those who bore “the burden and heat of the day” expected more and murmured when the latecomers received the same wage. The owner replied, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?… Is your eye evil because I am good?” This kingdom picture places the King’s goodness, His right to keep His promise, and our call to humble service side by side.

Setting the Scene: A Question About Reward
The parable sits inside a conversation that began with the rich young ruler and continued with Peter’s question: “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” (Matthew 19:27). Jesus assured the Twelve of reward and then framed the issue with a proverb of reversal—“many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:30; 20:16). The vineyard story teaches hearts that serve God to measure by His promise, rejoice in His goodness, and drop the habit of comparison.

The Day’s Work and the Day’s Wage
A denarius was an ordinary day’s wage. The owner offered it to the early crew and they agreed. To those hired later he said, “Whatever is right I will give you.” At sundown every worker received a full day’s pay. The owner’s payments followed a clear pattern: he honored the agreement with the first group and he acted generously toward the late arrivals. The lesson is plain: the King deals faithfully with those who enter His vineyard at any hour, and gratitude belongs on the lips of every servant.

Lessons for the Kingdom Worker
First, the King calls at different hours. Some respond early in life; others come near the close of day. Each one who enters the vineyard receives full standing among God’s people (cf. Matthew 21:28–32; Acts 10:34–35). Second, the King’s word governs reward. He said, “I will give you,” and He kept it (Matthew 20:4, 13). Salvation rests on His promise and authority (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9). Third, comparison corrodes. Grumbling began the moment eyes shifted from the owner’s pledge to a neighbor’s envelope. Scripture warns against measuring ourselves by ourselves (2 Corinthians 10:12) and calls us to prefer one another in honor (Romans 12:10). Fourth, humility fits servants. After we have done all commanded, we say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do” (Luke 17:7–10).

“Is Your Eye Evil Because I Am Good?”
The owner’s question diagnoses envy. An “evil eye” begrudges another’s good. The elder brother in Luke 15 illustrates the same spirit: he stood outside the celebration and refused to enter because mercy had been shown to a late-coming brother. The kingdom trains a different sightline. We rejoice when a sinner turns, when a distant worker finally enters the field, when a struggling soul is restored (Luke 15:7, 10). Gratitude displaces rivalry. The goodness of the King becomes the song of the workers.

Serving Without Bargaining
Those hired first negotiated terms; those hired later trusted the owner’s character—“whatever is right.” The disciple’s path honors both truth and trust: we obey the King’s revealed will (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9), and we entrust outcomes to His wisdom. Bargaining calculations fade when a heart delights in the privilege of laboring in the Master’s field (1 Corinthians 15:58). The reward at the end of the day is secure because His promise is secure (2 Timothy 1:12).

Applications for Congregational Life
Congregations feel this parable at potlucks, work days, evangelism efforts, and leadership decisions. A few helps:
• Welcome the eleventh-hour worker with full-hearted joy. A new Christian does not stand in a second-tier line (Acts 2:41–47).
• Keep envy from the team. Applaud another’s assignment, gift, or fruit. God arranges the body as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:18).
• Serve for the King’s smile, not for a scoreboard (Colossians 3:23–24).
• Hold fast to the pattern of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13). The King’s promise and the King’s pattern belong together—hearing and doing (Matthew 7:24–27).

Entering the Vineyard
The call still goes out: “You also go into the vineyard” (Matthew 20:7). Entrance follows the Lord’s appointed response to the gospel—believe in Jesus as the Christ, repent of sins, confess His name, and be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Peter 3:21). Then take your place among the workers and labor steadfastly until evening.

Conclusion: The Last and the First, Together at Sundown
At sunset every worker stood with pay in hand, and the vineyard still belonged to the good man who kept his word. The King is good. He calls, He assigns, He rewards. Let gratitude steady your steps, let trust quiet your heart, and let love for fellow workers grow strong. When eyes rest on the King’s promise, murmuring loses its voice.

Sermon Outline

• Context and Key Statement
  • Rich young ruler; Peter’s question about reward (Matthew 19:16–27)
  • Reversal proverb: first/last (Matthew 19:30; 20:16)
• Parable Summary (Matthew 20:1–16)
  • Owner’s repeated hiring through the day
  • Evening payment: same wage for all
  • Complaint of the first group; owner’s reply and question
• Core Truths
  • The King calls at different hours (Matthew 20:1–7; Matthew 21:28–32)
  • The King’s promise governs reward (Matthew 20:4, 13; Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9)
  • Comparison breeds envy; gratitude cures it (Matthew 20:11–15; Romans 12:10; 2 Corinthians 10:12)
  • Servant humility (Luke 17:7–10)
• “Is Your Eye Evil Because I Am Good?”
  • Nature of the “evil eye” (envy)
  • Parallel with elder brother (Luke 15:25–32)
  • Kingdom joy over latecomers (Luke 15:7, 10)
• Serving Without Bargaining
  • Trust in the Owner’s character—“whatever is right” (Matthew 20:4, 7)
  • Obedience and trust together (Matthew 7:24–27; 2 Timothy 1:12)
  • Labor that is steadfast and hopeful (1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 3:23–24)
• Congregational Applications
  • Receive new workers fully (Acts 2:41–47)
  • Guard unity; celebrate diverse roles (1 Corinthians 12:18–27)
  • Measure by the King’s pattern, not comparisons (2 Timothy 1:13)
• Entering and Remaining in the Vineyard
  • Gospel response: belief, repentance, confession, baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Peter 3:21)
  • Continue in the work until evening (Galatians 6:9)
• Conclusion
  • Gratitude for the King’s goodness
  • Resolve to labor without murmuring, rejoicing at every new hire

Call to Action
Answer the call to the vineyard. If you have delayed, come now through obedient faith—believe, repent, confess, and be baptized into Christ. If you have grown weary or resentful, lay comparison aside. Pray for a thankful heart, welcome every new worker, and return to steady labor under the King’s promise.

Scripture Reference List

• Matthew 20:1–16 — Parable text: hiring, paying, owner’s goodness, first/last
• Matthew 19:27–30 — Context of reward and reversal proverb
• Matthew 7:21 — Doing the Father’s will and entrance into the kingdom
• Hebrews 5:9 — Eternal salvation connected to obedience
• Luke 17:7–10 — Servant humility after duty is done
• Romans 12:10 — Preferring one another in honor; envy displaced by honor
• 2 Corinthians 10:12 — Warning against measuring ourselves by ourselves
• Luke 15:7, 10, 25–32 — Heaven’s joy and the elder brother’s envy
• 1 Corinthians 15:58 — Steadfast labor in the Lord is not in vain
• Colossians 3:23–24 — Work heartily as for the Lord, expect reward from Him
• 1 Corinthians 12:18–27 — One body, many members, arranged by God
• 2 Timothy 1:12–13 — Confidence in the Lord; hold fast the pattern of sound words
• Galatians 6:9 — Do not grow weary in well-doing
• Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Peter 3:21 — The appointed response to the gospel: belief, repentance, confession, baptism for remission and new life
• Acts 2:41–47 — New disciples fully received; joy and unity in the work

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO