By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph. D.
Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Mobile
GRACE
Matthew 20:1–16
Grace — God’s riches at Christ’s expense. That’s a simple acronym to remember. Another thing to remember is that grace and mercy are two sides of the same coin in God’s redemptive plan.
Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward followers of Jesus. God gives us what we do not deserve. By contrast, God’s mercy is withholding what we actually deserve — His wrath. Our focus in this study is grace.
Workers Hired (1–7)
Jesus provides another parable of the Kingdom. This one is about a man hiring day laborers to work his vineyard. Several times throughout the day — early in the morning, 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. — he recruited men in the marketplace to join in the work. For the early workers, he promised his recruits a denarius each. For those hired later in the day, he said, “I’ll give you whatever is right.”
Equally Paid (8–12)
At the end of the day, he paid each laborer what he promised them. My generation — the boomers — started in a job market being paid by the hour. Our parents and some of our older siblings may have been paid by the day.
Most Americans alive today would consider it unjust for someone working a 14-hour day to be paid the same as someone working three hours. Rather than being grateful for the job and being paid what was agreed the same day, complaints would be lodged and lawsuits would be filed. But let’s not get too far off topic.
Some of you readers were led to faith in Jesus by your parents when you were children. Others, like me, surrendered to Jesus as college students. Still others began to follow Jesus in your middle years. A few of you have begun trusting Jesus in the twilight years of your life. How many of us deserve His forgiveness? None. What does God owe us? Nothing. Why would He save any of us? He chose to save us because He is gracious and compassionate.
Whether you follow Jesus for 80 years or eight minutes, the saving grace of God is still the only reason we will spend eternity with Him. Jesus was crucified, was buried and was raised from the dead. Jesus paid it all.
Grace Exemplified (13–16)
Was the man obligated to hire the men? No. Was he obligated to pay the men who worked all day a higher wage than they agreed to? No. Was he obligated to pay any less to men he hired later? No. Why not? It was his vineyard, his jobs, his money and his work.
Why did he hire the men? He chose to give them a sense of worth to labor as Adam did in the garden, as God’s covenant people did six days each week. Why did he pay a denarius to each of the men who only worked a portion of the day? He chose to give every man a day’s wage whether he worked the entire day or a portion of it.
God knows every thought you have ever entertained. God hears every word you speak whether it is whispered inaudibly or broadcast widely. God knows every attitude you have ever held, and He knows every act you have ever committed. “But God, who is rich in mercy … made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses” (Eph. 2:4–5). That is amazing grace!
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
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