The Last Will Be First and the First

The Last Will Be First and the First Will Be Last PARADOX Series [4] Matthew 20: 1 -16

PARADOX: JESUS’ COUNTER-INTUITIVE TEACHINGS Paradox is truth standing on its head and waving its legs to get our attention. G. K. Chesterton • Paradox #1: “To find your life, you must lose it. ” • Paradox #2: “The way up is down. ” • Paradox #3: “To meet your needs, don’t seek them first. ” • Paradox #4: “The last will be first and the first will be last. ”

THE PARABLE OF WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD • [CONTEXT]: Why is Jesus telling this parable? Ø This parable was told as Jesus responded to Peter’s question about the reward. Ø Jesus encouraged his disciples concerning their loss for Christ’s sake; but warned them about their attitude. • [AUDIENCE]: Who is Jesus telling this parable to? Ø Jesus told this parable to his followers (contextually for the twelve disciples)—i. e. , those who are already in God’s kingdom. Ø This parable is not about general public—so, it must be applied as the way of salvation.

THE PARABLE OF WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD • [MEANING]: Who’s who in this parable? Ø God and Jesus himself is the master of house. Ø The workers are the believers who are called to service for God’s glory (contextually the Jews and the Gentiles). • [LESSON]: What is the “punch-line/point” of this parable? Ø That every believer in Christ will finish the same in God’s kingdom—i. e. , our ultimate reward in salvation will be not according to the length or significance of service, but according to faithfulness to the opportunity given to us.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN: “THE LAST WILL BE FIRST AND THE FIRST LAST”? 1) It does NOT mean: “So the last will be first, and the first last. ” (v. 16) Ø That the social order now will be reversed in heaven—the poor/powerless vs. the rich/powerful. Ø That salvation is by works—or by service to God. Ø That our obedience/suffering for the gospel is meaningless [i. e. , it doesn’t mean that all believers will share the same degree of glory on the judgment Day (see 1 Cor. 3: 8)]. Ø That we can wait until the LAST MINUTE of our lives to serve God and live faithfully to God. Ø That our “works of faith” (service to God) doesn’t matter to God (i. e. , NOT “works of the law”).

Our real idea of God may lie buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an intelligent and vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is. Only after an ordeal of painful self-probing are we likely to discover what we actually believe about God. A. W. Tozer

WHAT DOES IT MEAN: “THE LAST WILL BE FIRST AND THE FIRST LAST”? 2) It means: “So the last will be first, and the first last. ” (v. 16) Ø That God is sovereignly generous and full of grace. Ø That God’s standard is NOT our standard. Ø That salvation as our ultimate reward in heaven will be ultimately by God’s sovereign grace that equalize everyone in Christ (no one can merit). Ø That God decides how much mercy he will show to each person—what we don’t deserve. Ø That there will be only the “OUTRAGEOUS GRACE AND MERCY” of God given generously to everyone.

WHAT IMPLICATIONS DOES THIS PARADOXICAL TRUTH HAVE IN OUR LIVES? 1) In our relationship with God: our service must be a “loveresponse” to God without any pride or complaint. 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. " 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9: 14 -15) Ø We are to see God not from the human standard, telling God that what’s fair and just. Ø If we acknowledge God’s sovereignty in his showing mercy and grace, we will be humble and grateful. Ø Therefore, our obedience or service to God must be not because we earn anything from God but to express our love and gratitude to God.

WHAT IMPLICATIONS DOES THIS PARADOXICAL TRUTH HAVE IN OUR LIVES? 2) In our Christian community: our motivation for serving must come from gratitude not comparison. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2: 3 -4). Ø A great temptation is to compare ourselves in our service to God with other’s—this only leads us to focus on self. Ø Rather, we must focus on God’s outrageous love and mercy for us. Ø Therefore, we are to serve one another humbly, deferring to one another in honor because of God’s mercy and grace.

WHAT IMPLICATIONS DOES THIS PARADOXICAL TRUTH HAVE IN OUR LIVES? 3) In our daily lives: we are faithfully serve Christ who called us to service for his cause. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops (2 Timothy 2: 3 -6). Ø In mercy, God calls us to God’s kingdom and service—we must respond with fervency and urgency. Ø The key is to be faithful in what God has called us to in our current and future service for the kingdom. Ø Therefore, we are to focus on pleasing Christ faithfully, taking our eyes off from ourselves.

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1. What wrong thought or attitude do I need to change about God or salvation? 2. What right thought or attitude do I need to practice in order to embrace this paradox? 3. What first step do I need to take in applying this way of Jesus?