A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. PARABLE
A. PARTICIPATION IN KINGDOM EQUALITY
Matthew 20:1-7 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for $120 a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about 9:00 a.m. he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is just I’ll give you.’ So they went. Going out again about noon and at 3:00 p.m., he did the same. And about 5:00 p.m. he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
B. OBJECTION TO KINGDOM EQUALITY
Matthew 20:8-12 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired at 5:00 p.m. came, each of them received $120. Now when those hired at dawn came, they assumed they’d receive more, but each of them also received $120. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden all day and in the scorching heat.’
C. JUSTIFICATION OF KINGDOM EQUALITY
Matthew 20:13-16 But he replied to one of them, ‘The, friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for $120? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you; aren’t I allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’”
II. PRINCIPLES
A. EQUALITY IN SALVATION
Matthew 20:16 Thus the last will be first, and the first last. Many are called; few chosen.”
We can learn about entering the Kingdom (heaven) thru salvation that
1. GOD SOVEREIGNLY INITIATES SALVATION
2. GOD SOVEREIGNLY SETS THE TERMS
3. GOD SOVEREIGNLY CONTINUES TO CALL
4. GOD SOVEREIGNLY REDEEMS ALL WHO COME
5. GOD SOVEREIGNLY SHOWS COMPASSION
6. GOD SOVEREIGNLY CALLED MEN TO SERVE
7. GOD SOVEREIGNLY KEEPS HIS PROMISE
8. GOD SOVEREIGNLY GIVES MORE THAN HE PROMISED
9. GOD SOVEREIGNLY DESIRES GRATITUDE
10. GOD SOVEREIGNLY HAS GRACE TRIUMPH
B. REWARDS FOR SERVICE