The Nature of Gods Favor Matthew 20 The

The Nature of God’s Favor Matthew 20

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the workers on one denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine in the morning, he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 4 To those men he said, ‘You also go to my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right. ’ So off they went. 5 About noon and at three, he went out again and did the same thing. 6 Then about five he went and found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing? ’ 7 “‘Because no one hired us, ’ they said to him. “‘You also go to my vineyard, ’ he told them.

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay, starting with the last and ending with the first. ’ 9 “When those who were hired about five came, they each received one denarius. 10 So when the first ones came, they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each.

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 11 When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner: 12 ‘These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!’ 13 “He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? 14 Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my business? Are you jealous because I’m generous? ’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first last. ” -Matthew 20: 1 -16

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 Questions • Does loyal service to God guarantee greater rewards? • Does my generosity transcend the human idea of fairness? • What is ‘in it’ for me if I choose to make Jesus Lord and follow Him?

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 Questions • Is God’s grace fair? Is His justice fair? • Are the day laborers loveless and unmerciful? Why or why not? • Are we more ‘under law’ in our thinking and actions or more ‘under grace’? • Am I promised prosperity if I serve God greatly?

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 God’s sovereignty means He has the right to do with His resources as He desires. …including with you!

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 Why does everyone have to be paid the same? Are you entitled to be paid equally? One is due their fair wages for work done.

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 “Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who reaped your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. ” –James 5: 4

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 “Woe for the one who builds his palace through unrighteousness, his upper rooms through injustice, who makes his fellow man serve without pay and will not give him his wages, ” -Jeremiah 22: 13

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 “Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven. ” – Colossians 4: 1

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 “For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, the worker is worthy of his wages. ” 1 Timothy 5: 18

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 14 “Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether one of your brothers or one of the foreigners residing within a town in your land. 15 You are to pay him his wages each day before the sun sets, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be held guilty. –Deut. 24: 14 -15

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 Are we jealous of God’s grace and generosity? Jealousy = what one has/receives we want

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 The Lost Brother -Luke 15: 11 -32 -

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him. ’

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 What was the older brother’s attitude? How did he feel? • Injustice Is this how we feel towards God? • Bitter • Resentment • He felt in bondage to serve and obey his father

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 Are we jealous of God’s grace and generosity? …That we should receive such favor at the Cross?

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 Are we jealous of the grace and generosity of Jesus at the Cross? …that His act of favor is for everyone.

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 The Pharisees and scribes complaint and accusation against Jesus was that, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. ” -Luke 15: 2 • They had no appreciation for the Father’s love • They had no sympathy for the sinner • They resented that Jesus would welcome all people to His banquet table! (Luke 14: 15 -24)

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 The Pharisees and scribes complaint and accusation against Jesus was that, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. ” -Luke 15: 2 • They resented that the Prodigal Son was totally forgiven and they in fact were acting like and being like the older brother! • They resented the 11 th hour labor being paid the same as the all-day laborer. • They were the self-righteous!

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 Truth: How we respond in situations, circumstances and conditions reveals our hearts. Situations, circumstances and conditions often reveal sin in our heart that we did not know was/is there.

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 Truth: How we respond in situations, circumstances and conditions reveals our hearts. What sin do I need to deal with in my heart?

The Nature of God’s Favor – Matthew 20 Are we jealous of God’s grace and generosity?