SERIES: Matthew MESSAGE: Matthew 20 SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Matthew 20

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Ashlee Bryan
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SERIES: Matthew MESSAGE: Matthew 20 SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Matthew 20 MESSAGE SUMMARY As followers of Christ, what awaits us in eternity?

1 SERIES: Matthew MESSAGE: Matthew 20 SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Matthew 20 MESSAGE SUMMARY As followers of Christ, what awaits us in eternity? In this study, we consider not only our eternal home but also our eternal reward. Saved by grace through faith, we must see beyond the circumstances and status of this world, and look toward our future glory. DETAILED NOTES I. Parable of the laborers A. Parables 1. One third of Jesus teachings are in story form 2. Common way for rabbis to teach a lesson: storytelling a years ago a longer attention span b. Like ancient television 3. Παραβολή; parabole-place something alongside something else a. Earthly story with a heavenly lesson b. Natural thing next to a supernatural thing c. Comparison 4. Matthew 13: Kingdom parables B. This parable illustrates a principle from Matthew Chapter and verse notations added later; don't always make sense 2. "But many who are first will be last, and the last first" (Matthew 19:30) 3. Context a. Rich young ruler wanted to know what to do to enter the kingdom b. Walked away sorrowfully; not willing to leave his god: wealth c. Peter: left everything, what do we get? d. 12 thrones to judge 12 tribes in the Millennium 4. Every Christ follower ends up in heaven a. A free gift b. Nothing we can do to earn it c. Based on Christ's merit 5. Saved to do good works a. We receive rewards according to our works (see 1 Corinthians 3) b. Gifts according to our faithfulness 6. "For" attaches the parable to the principle C. Setting Page 1

2 1. Harvest time hour work day: 6 am - 6 pm 3. Laborers mulled around workplace, looking for a job D. Landowner came to hire them 1. 6 am negotiates wage in advance a. A penny; denarius; b. Typical day's wage c. Today, $5-$15 hour d. Say $ am: so eager to work, don't negotiate a price 3. Noon, 3 pm hired more workers 4. 5 pm one hour to work E. Payments 1. Begins with those hired last 2. Tests the hearts of those hired first a. What is their reaction to grace? b. All received $100 c. "Friend" landowner is gentle to them 3. God's generosity represented by man: unlike any other 4. Workers a. Contract: all day for a fixed price b. Hourly: Gave the same wage; big tipper 5. Nature of their compliant: generosity of the landowner a. Given what we deserve: death b. Ask God for what He thinks is right i. He knows what is right ii. iii. He promises to provide for us "Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches-- feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:7-9) F. "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen." (v. 16) 1. God is good, gracious 2. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good!" G. God will reward us 1. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10) a. Βήματος; bématos: an elevated place b. βῆμα; bema; raised platform i. Every Greek town had a bema seat a.) Orations made b.) Decisions handed down ii. See Acts 18:12 Page 2

3 iii. Greek Olympics a.) Where rewards given b.) Crown of laurels c. All stand to receive rewards based on what we do d. "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24) 2. Believers do not stand in the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20) a. Unbelievers only b. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1) c. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (John 5:24) 3. Saved by grace through faith 4. Rewards given and held back based on service a. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) b. Will receive a set of rewards c. "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." (Revelation 22:12) d. Position in the Millennial Kingdom depends on faithfulness here e. Heaven is paramount, but it is not all f. Use time to add to your account in glory g. Treasures in heaven (Message: "Gold, Silver, or Bronze?") h. Gracious surprises i. "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Matthew 6:1) II. Going up to Jerusalem 1. Up a. Topographically, not geographically i. NE to SW ii. Dead Sea 1290 feet below sea level iii. Jesus in Perea, slightly higher than Dead Sea iv. Jerusalem feet above sea level v. Sharp incline b. Spiritually a. God's holy place b. Moving up in the world c. : Aliyahעלייה; ascending, moving up in the world 2. Going to Jerusalem to die a. Third time Jesus tells them of His death b. He spells it out for them i. They didn't want to deal with it Page 3

4 ii. Marginalize it iii. Didn't understand c. First mention of death by crucifixion d. Planned event i. Jesus not a naïve visionary ii. Jesus not a revolutionary staging a coup iii. Not a surprise iv. "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8) v. Simeon's prophecy to Mary: "A sword will pierce through your own soul also" (Luke 2:35) III. James' and John's ambition A. Asked to sit on the right and left of Jesus in the kingdom 1. Two gospels tall us they sought this 2. Luke tells us they got their mother to ask the question B. "Drink the cup" 1. Experience fully 2. Speaking of His death 3. James and John agree: zeal without knowledge 4. They will a. James the first apostle martyred b. John exiled to Patmos c. Both suffered, drank fully, for Christ C. Salome; their mother 1. Stands at the foot of the cross 2. Sees Jesus in the midst of two other crosses, not thrones D. You can't wear the crown until you bear the cross 1. Satan wants it all:"i will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God" (Isaiah 14:13) 2. Wanted a higher position 3. Things haven't changed much: people seek status IV. Blind men healed A. Two blind men 1. Looks like a discrepancy a. Mark and Luke mention one blind man b. Bartimaeus (see Mark 10:46) 2. Not a discrepancy; a perspective change a. Two blind men b. The prominent one: Bartimaeus c. Matthew i. Wrote from Jewish perspective ii. Testimony of two witnesses B. Blind 1. Couldn't work 2. Relied on families 3. Reduced to begging 4. Jericho Page 4

5 a. Plant grew with balsam to treat blindness b. Drew lots of blind people C. Saw better than most 1. Spiritual sight a. Knew Jesus was the Son of David: Messianic Title b. Saw more than others 2. How did they know who Jesus was? a. Reports at the gate of the city: His reputation b. Jews in the synagogue c. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind," (Luke 4:18) D. "What do you want?" 1. Jesus knows the need 2. Wants the man to articulate what he needs 3. Specific requests bring specific answers that lead to specific praise E. Received sight and followed Him 1. To Jerusalem 2. Crowds 3. Hosanna! 4. Cleansing of the temple 5. Crucifixion 6. Resurrection 7. First thing they saw: Jesus a. Fanny Crosby wrote 8000 songs b. Blinded at a young age c. "If I had but one request, it would be that I would have been born blind. Because then the first face that would ever gladden my sight would be that of my Savior." Fanny Crosby 8. Before they saw physically, they saw spiritually F. To have all the assets of this world, but to be spiritually blind is the worst 1. "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17) 2. Are your spiritual eyes open? Hebrew terms: : Aliyahעלייה; ascending, moving up in the world Greek terms: Παραβολή; parabole-place something alongside something else; Βήματος; bématos: an elevated place; βῆμα; bema; raised platform Page 5

6 Publications referenced: From the Edge of Eternity: "Gold, Silver, or Bronze?" Figures referenced: Fanny Crosby Cross references: Proverbs 30:7-9; Isaiah 14:13; Matthew 6:1; Matthew 19:30; Mark 10:46; Luke 2:35; Luke 4:18; John 5:24; Acts 18:12; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 3; 1 Corinthians 9:24; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 2:10; Revelation 3:17; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20; Revelation 22:12 Topic: Christian Living Keywords: rewards, judgment, judgment seat, bema seat, blind, works Page 6

Main point: The goodness of God cannot be measured by the world s standards.

Main point: The goodness of God cannot be measured by the world s standards. The Workers February 5, 2017 Matthew 20:1-16 We come this morning to the parable of the workers in the vineyard. I have found this to be a fascinating parable. It is a parable that is quite easily understood.