matthew 20:16 adventure challenge

It tells us of their ambition. In this he had laboured, as he said, from his youth up: "What lack I yet?" At least we can draw the following applications from it. In the chapter that follows we have a companion picture, carrying on, no doubt, the lord's presentation to Israel, but from a different point of view; for inMatthew 9:1-38; Matthew 9:1-38 it is not merely the people tried, but more especially the religious leaders, till all closes in blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. It was clearly a question of connection with the apostle of the circumcision ( i.e., Peter's wife's mother). This signifies the jealousy which the Jews were provoked to by the admission of the Gentiles into the kingdom of heaven. 1. The people whose hearts are yielded to him will be recognized as his children no matter their rank or riches by worldly standards. Sorrow would come full soon when He, the Bridegroom of His people, should be taken away; and then should they fast. The payment shall not be wholly deferred till the morning of the resurrection; but then, in the evening of the world, will be the general account, when every one shall receive according to the things done in the body. Thus, and after the tenderest sort, there is that which evidences the Messiah on earth present to heal His people who appeal to Him; and the Jew, above all counting upon His bodily presence demanding it, I may say, according to the warrant of prophecy, finds in Jesus not merely the man, but the God of Israel. And he said, "If a person eats or drinks in an unworthy manner, he is eating and drinking damnation to his own soul"( 1 Corinthians 11:26 ). Matthew 20:16 - KING JAMES BIBLE ONLINE Wisdom Literature GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, (Hebrew/Greek Search by English Definition), * 'Number Delimiters' only apply to 'Paragraph Order', Search verses, phrases, and topics (e.g. So the last shall be first, and the first last As he had asserted in ( Matthew 19:30 ) and which is clearly illustrated by this parable, as it may be applied to Jews or Gentiles, or to nominal and real Christians: for many be called; externally, under the ministration of the Gospel, as the Jews in general were, by Christ and his apostles; but, few chosen; in Christ from all eternity, both to grace and glory; and in consequence, and as an evidence of it, but few among the Jews; as also in the Gentile world, comparatively speaking: and even but a few of those that are outwardly called, are inwardly and effectually called by the powerful grace of God, out of darkness into marvellous light, into the grace and liberty of the Gospel, into communion with Christ, and to the obtaining his kingdom and glory, according to the eternal purpose of God. They said to His disciples, "Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?" Copyright 1996 - 2023 All rights reserved. The key to it is this, that Matthew was led by the Holy Ghost to keep in view adequate testimony to the Jewish people; it was the tender goodness of God that would meet them in a manner that was suitable under the law. So, then, we learn that the mother of James and John was named Salome, and that she was the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus. of Scripture. 97. Even when they were bluntly told that there lay ahead a bitter cup, it never struck them to turn back; they were determined to drink it. What shall be their wages? Of course, the facts of the cross were necessary to give it an evident and literal fulfilment; but we have it first apparent in His life, and it is blessed to see it thus accomplished, as it were, in what passed with Himself; fully realized in His own spirit, and the results exposed before the external facts gave the fullest expression to Jewish unbelief. "They that are first shall be last, and they that are last shall be first"( Matthew 19:30 ). Some of the people of our own day who fancy that their sweet and pious attitude in some way entitles them to God's favor should take note of this. None are hired at the twelfth hour; when life is done, opportunity is done; but "while there is life, there is hope." They knew that they were the chosen people, nor would they ever willingly forget that choice. The reason for the change is this--Matthew was writing twenty-five years later than Mark; by that time a kind of halo of sanctity had become attached to the disciples. 1. Help us purchase electrical generators for churches. "This [fellow]," etc. Matthew 20:16 - Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse The first came to an agreement with the master; they had a contract; they said, "We work, if you give us so much pay." There is room also for the most thorough self-abnegation. It's God's to give, however, to whomever He pleases. Minor Prophets (i) These two blind men were waiting, and when their chance came they seized it with both hands. There are people who think that, because they have been members of a Church for a long time, the Church practically belongs to them and they can dictate its policy. Taken together, the entire picture is one of great suffering. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. vii. The plucking of the corn, and the healing of the withered hand, had taken place long before. Perhaps, Christ here gives an intimation to Peter, not to boast too much, as he seemed to do, of his having left all to follow Christ; as if, because he and the rest of them had borne the burthen and heat of the day thus, they must have a heaven by themselves. The second lesson is even greater--all God gives is of grace. Thus the fresh revelations of grace in no way detract from that which God had of old established in nature; but, contrariwise, only impart a new and greater force in asserting the real value and wisdom of God's way even in these least things. Jesus openly acknowledged the suffering and agony that awaited Him. Their state had long been that of a man whom the unclean spirit had left, after a former dwelling in him. "The ransom could not have been paid to God; it was therefore paid to the Evil One, who was holding us fast until the ransom should be given to him, even the life of Jesus." The discontent arose not because of any injustice in the landowner, but because of jealousy in the all-day workers (Matthew 20:9-15). The Roman penny was, in our money, of the value of a sevenpence half-penny, a day's wages for a day's work, and the wages sufficient for a day's maintenance. Many words are not now required for that which is happily familiar to most here. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. It appears to me, that the nature or aim of Mark's gospel demands this. He believed that they could and would drink the cup, and that in the end they would still be found at his side. a. As we have seen, the pay was 4 pence a day; and, if they were unemployed for one day, the children would go hungry at home, for no man ever saved much out of 4 pence a day. They shall enter heaven, as was promised. For him the cup was martyrdom. It does not say, that " then there came a leper," or " immediately there came a leper." He evinces, that at the very time when Peter forgot the vision and the Father's voice, virtually reducing Him to mere man, He was God manifest in the flesh. Then inside the house we have not only the Lord explaining the parable, the history from first to last of the tares and wheat, the mingling of evil with the good which grace had sown, but more than that, we have the kingdom viewed according to divine thoughts and purposes. No doubt the first verse says, that "when He was come down from the mount, great multitudes followed Him;" but then the second verse gives no intimation that the subject which follows is to be taken as chronologically subsequent. Friend, I am doing you no wrong. He welcomed his bed-fellow. The unparalleled grace of the Saviour must form and fashion the saints henceforth. "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof" He had only to say in a word, and his servant should be healed. ; Continuity with Matthew 19 See Matthew 19:27-29. Then comes the boast of Peter, though for others as well as himself. And thus He, whose glory was so forgotten by His disciples Jesus, Himself thinks of that very disciple, and says, "For me and thee.". "Can the children of the bride-chamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?" So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first. And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. And they went. THE FALSE AND THE TRUE AMBITION ( Matthew 20:20-28 ), 20:20-28 At that time the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him with her sons, kneeling before him, and asking something from him. But the Son of God, blending the infinite majesty of his Deity with the perfect capacity to suffer as a man, offered an atonement of such inestimable value that he has absolutely paid the entire debt for his people. (Spurgeon), iv. Oh, for grace so to bow and bless God, even when our little travail seems in vain! He goes to raise the dead, and the woman with the issue of blood touches Him by the way. The indulgence of the selfish, murmuring temper might hinder their election even to that work. The Gentiles came in at the eleventh hour, but it was because the gospel had not been before preached to them. In some cases the last called will be among the first in rank of blessing. First, Carnal worldlings agree with God for their penny in this world; they choose their portion in this life (Psalms 17:14); in these things they are willing to have their reward (Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:5), their consolation (Luke 6:24), their good things (Luke 16:25); and with these they shall be put off, shall be cut off from spiritual and eternal blessings; and herein God does them no wrong; they have what they chose, the penny they agreed for; so shall their doom be, themselves have decided it; it is conclusive against them. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. What special mercy and tenderness, not only in the end, but also in the way the Lord deals with Israel! Wisdom Literature Where love is, there is God.' Let them recognize the power that banished the leprosy, and the grace withal that touched the leper. The point of the parable was that God will graciously do more for some of those who work for Him than His justice demands. A man is not a Christian if his first concern is pay. Even at such a time that was not the end of his words, for he finished with the confident assertion of the Resurrection. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard . Though he vainly thought, that if those few were but two, they were himself and his son. The landowner rebuked them for their jealousy and resentment of the landowners generosity towards others. Origen has no doubt that the ransom was paid to the devil. On the other side of the picture, behold the Lord leading on a soul to draw on divine grace in the most glorious manner. The parable itself displays a reversal of expectations "the last will be first and the first will be last"; this is not only the summary of the parable (20:16), but a critical aspect of New Testament theology. A new tribe presented other four soldiers, and the second legion chose first. Out in the world there was the Roman governor with his retinue and the eastern potentate with his slaves. [3.] The Father and the Son have their appropriate part, even as we know from elsewhere the Spirit sent down from heaven in due time was to have His. Thirdly, The gospel call is given to those that stand idle in the market-place. But when he came to the first, they supposed that they should have received more; but they likewise received every man a penny. The crowd commanded them to stop their shouting; they were making a nuisance of themselves. Jesus knew what was going on in their minds; and he spoke to them words which are the very basis of the Christian life. "As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a dumb man possessed with a devil. It shows us his trust in men. Here is demonstrated the new glory and the new greatness of suffering love and sacrificial service. They glorified God. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. But, as I have stated, the choice and ordination of the twelve apostles had really taken place before the sermon on the mount, though not mentioned in Matthew, but in Mark and Luke. In the end of the chapter is set forth parabolically the unlimited forgiveness that suits the kingdom; here, I cannot but think, looking onward in strict fulness to the future, but with distinct application to the moral need of the disciples then and always. i. Read full chapter. Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister [or servant]; And whosoever will be the chief among you, let him be the bondslave ( Matthew 20:23-27 ): Jesus here is teaching the servanthood of the ministry and the path to greatness. Many people are in the ministry for what they can receive (either materially or emotionally) from their people instead of for what they can give. So now we have, in the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, another fact containing a principle of great value, that His grace towards the Gentile does not in the least degree blunt His heart to the claims of relationship after the flesh. To labour in his vineyard. That they had reason to fear, lest they themselves should be found hypocrites at last; for many are called but few chosen. Matthew 20 Commentary - John Gill's Exposition of the Bible iii. Jesus was there to call, not righteous men, but sinners. vi. A verification email has been sent to the address you provided. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Again he went out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, [noon and three in the afternoon], he did likewise. Now if you go back to the last verse of the previous chapter, you'll find this same statement. In it there is the comfort of God. The money was paid by the overseer, but he was standing by enjoying the scene. (Bruce). He therefore, 1. It was with this declaration that the parable began and ended. These men were hired labourers; they were the lowest class of workers, and life for them was always desperately precarious. The truth of this is apparent, if we compare the gospel of Mark. He was to be condemned to death; there we see the suffering of injustice, which is very hard to bear. All of this takes the simple picture Jesus gave too far. Thus the end is as the beginning, and even far, far worse. All our service is already due to God; it belongs to Him. When those who had worked all day found that the landowner paid the same amount to the late-comers as he paid to them, they complained. They could probably tell the direction in the flow, the crowd, which direction He was, but they began to cry out to Jesus. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. And they said unto him, Because no man has hired us. He is first of all betrayed by Judas to the chief priests, because Judas made a bargain with the priests to turn Jesus over to them. Grace should be especially manifested in our service; it is of grace, not works. . That which was the first in order chose the four citizens who were judged the most proper to serve in the war; and the six tribunes who commanded the first legion chose one of these four, whom they liked best. [2.] For less than $5/mo. i. Observe that it is at this point the chapter begins with vindicating the sanctity of marriage. Commentary on Matthew 20:1-16 - Working Preacher This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. These blind men received their sight from Jesus, and then they gave to him their grateful loyalty. 2. They wanted Jesus with a royal command to ensure for them a princely life. Before he goes to Church let him visit the hospital. The devil, by his temptations, is hiring labourers into his field, to feed swine. Then a beggar asked for his shirt and got it. (Ken Chumbley, The Gospel of Matthew, commentary, p.#351). c. And they immediately followed Him: This was a great result. Neither did He need to wait for His exaltation as man; for He was ever God, and God's Son, who therefore, if one may so say, waits for nothing, for no day of glory. The devil was tricked by God. The Gospels The offence taken (Matthew 20:11; Matthew 20:12); They murmured at the good man of the house; not that there is, or can be, any discontent or murmuring in heaven, for that is both guilt and grief, and in heaven there is neither; but there may be, and often are, discontent and murmuring concerning heaven and heavenly things, while they are in prospect and promise in this world. It was very different with the hired day-labourers. [4.] His wounds are those which he receives in the house of his friend. (Spurgeon). Luke, too, tells how Jesus took the disciples to himself alone that he might try to compel them to understand what lay ahead ( Luke 18:31-34). Henceforth, too, He forbids the disciples to proclaim Him as the Messiah. For they needed someone to help Him bear the cross. [5.] b. 1. Had there been a single thing good in Israel, their choicest guides would have stood that test. Observe, They did not come for their pay till they were called; we must with patience wait God's time for our rest and recompence; go by our master's clock. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, Why have you been standing here idle all day? They said to him, Because no one hired us. He said to them, You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.. Even so the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.". Here is the Christian revolution; here is the complete reversal of all the world's standards. Many a man, who, as the world counts it, is a poor man, will be great in the Kingdom, because he never thought in terms of reward but worked for the thrill of working and for the joy of serving. Matthew 20:16 ESV - So the last will be first, and the - Bible Gateway Verse Matthew 20:16. In the reception of the little children this is plain; it is not so generally seen in what follows. They should think of them in terms of grace, any reward being an act of Gods grace. No doubt it is a tie of nature for this life only. When that great saint Toyohiko Kagawa first came into contact with Christianity, he felt its fascination, until one day the cry burst from him: "O God, make me like Christ." 16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.(A), 17Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. Out of the market-place, where, till they are hired into God's service, they stand idle (Matthew 20:3; Matthew 20:3), all the day idle (Matthew 20:6; Matthew 20:6). It is equally clear that the seven worse spirits mean the complete energy of the devil in the maintenance of Antichrist against the true Christ: and this, strange to say, along with idols.