Discover the startling notion of grace in Jesus’ parable of the vineyard workers

Tuesday, November 6, 2012


IDEA: God deals with us in grace.

PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that you cannot at the same time have both merit and grace.

Listen to this parable Jesus told about some farm workers who were in a wage dispute. As you listen, think about two questions:

Was everyone in the story treated justly?

Were any of the workers treated with grace and generosity?

Read Matthew 20:1-16.

I. Were all the workers treated fairly? What do you mean by that?

Were all the workers treated with grace and generosity?

Is there a difference between receiving wages and getting a reward?

Were the workers rewarded according to their merit?

Were they rewarded for the quality of their work?

Were they rewarded for the quantity of their work?

Were most of the workers paid on the basis of a contract?

II. Take this into the context:

Did the wealthy young man who came to Jesus understand the difference between merit and grace?

If you sign a contract or make an agreement, then what is the basis on which you get paid?

How does a contract work?

Did Peter understand the difference between merit and grace?

When Jesus promised Peter that he and the others would have a marvelous reward, was that based on their performance?

III. Do we understand that our dealings with God must always be based on His grace? What difference does that make?

“Wages” are the wrong way to think when we consider God’s dealings with us – Romans 6:23.

The focus of this story is not on the rate of pay but on the generosity of the owner.