June 4, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Matthew? Here’s today’s reading:
Matthew 20 (NIV)
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.……Continue Reading
We have such a “get what you deserve” mentality. Whether it be what we think WE deserve or what we think OTHERS deserve. Grace does not work like that. God’s grace is giving us what we don’t actually deserve because we are sinners and all we really deserve is death. God rewards and blesses man according to His will and pleasure, not according to what we deserve. We need to remember that not only in our expectations of what we receive from God but also in what we see in other’s lives as well….what people receive from God and how they appear to be blessed by Him it is NOT for us to speak to. None of us wish to drink from the cup Jesus was given and yet He did that for each of us so anything and everything else we receive is pure love, mercy and grace!
”Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”“
Matthew 20:15-16 NKJV
And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”“
Matthew 20:27-28 NKJV
Jesus comes to give His life as a ransom. God is changing up who and how one enters the kingdom (although it was always by faith). This is not a merit system or measured by works. This is mercy and grace.
Matthew 20
““So the last will be first, and the first will be last.””
Matthew 20:16 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.20.16.NIV
This is the opposite of the way our culture works. Such a lesson here on how to live the Christian life!
Amen, Suzanne!
Matthew 20
Again Jesus gives example of payment of the workers in the field that those who went last and worked less got the same as the workers who were 1st and worked more hrs.
Jesus explains when they go to Jerusalem how he will be condemned to death and turned over to the Gentiles to be berated and flogged. The 3rd day will rise again. He explains whoever wants to become great among you should be a servant and whoever wants to be 1st must be your slave. Jesus came to serve and to give ransom for many! And on His way, knowing all this, heals 2 blind men who were shouting so loud that Jesus asks what do you want me to do for you? We want our sight. Even though Jesus knew his destiny he had compassion for them and healed them. Unbelievable.
Matthew 20
Matthew 20
Jesus predicts His death and resurrection again to His disciples. He says that He will be betrayed by the chief Pharisees and scribes and be condemned to death. That He will be delivered to Gentiles that will mock, scourge, and crucify Him. And then rise the third day. Such detail that He is giving His disciples so they will be ready for it. To have faith and trust in Him. But instead of letting this sink in; they are still thinking about who is the greatest among them and who will sit on the two sides of Jesus in Heaven. Although in this moment it is the mother of James and John and also them. But the others were probably thinking it. How slow to learn for just a short while ago the 12 were discussing who was the greatest of them. You have to think how tiring this must have been for Jesus to keep hearing how they were arguing among themselves. Especially after telling them that He was going to die. Maybe they just didn`t believe it or didn`t want to think about it. After all many of them thought that He was going to set His Kingdom right there and now as KING. They didn`t realize that He came this time as Savour { the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.} but latter in the Second Coming as KING of Kings and LORD of lords. Jesus gives His answer by saying: { Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.} With all this going on and knowing that He was going to die; He still shows compassion and heals two blind men. So they follow Him. It makes me think how often we are involved with our own problems and not thinking of showing compassion to someone else that may need it. We may not even be aware but we need to let the Lord reveal these things to us. God bless.
What a good description about how grace works is found in this first parable. The salvation we receive from God is by His goodness, whether we are saved for 70 years and then we die and receive our salvation or someone believes on their death bed, neither one deserves salvation more and both should be grateful for the salvation they have received. And although that salvation is free to us, it cost Jesus dearly and you wonder how hard it was for Jesus to share exactly what was going to happen to Him in the near future. And the disciples just don’t get it. They care about when Jesus will come in glory and want to share in the glory. But they just don’t understand He must suffer first and serve all humankind by doing so. May we model the mindset of service that Jesus demonstrates here. And even as He approaches Jerusalem where His end draws near, He takes time to heal 2 blind men. He not only saves us from hell, but also saves us from our blindness..helping us see the deception for what it is and follow in the path of righteousness.
Matthew 20
Vineyard owner parable expresses vividly the free gift of heaven in everlasting life to any who belive in Jesus no matter when they believe in Jesus.
Amazing that Jesus is on the cusp of his most difficult time on earth, still was merciful and compassionate, even on the cross.
What the example Jesus has set for us.
No matter our circumstance, we need to keep our hearts soft, thinking more about others than ourselves.
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. First, we must tell God what we want him to do. Then we believe that he loves us and has compassion on us and has the power to heal. And we follow him without hesitation. Ask him, believe him, follow him.
Matthew 20