Series: Parables
Title: Last First, First Last
Text: Matthew 19: 30-20:16
Date: January 24, 2014; January 26
Place: FFF; SGBC, New Jersey
The
Lord Jesus told the rich, young, ruler to sell all that he had, give it to the
poor, come and follow Christ and he would have treasure in heaven. He went away
sorrowful for he had much riches.
Then,
speaking on behalf of all the apostles,
Matthew 19: 27: Then answered Peter and said
unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have
therefore?
In this
gospel age, the apostles were the first called, out of the whole church.
Matthew 19: 28: And Jesus said unto them, Verily
I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the
Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
When
the Son of man was regenerated and arose from the dead he sat down “in the throne of his glory.” The apostles, like all believers, were
made by Christ kings unto God and each
of the twelve [Paul replacing Judas]
sat upon a throne, as gospel preachers. They
judged the twelve tribes of Israel by the gospel they preached to them. Remember
the Lord told the Pharisee’s John 12:48: He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not
my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same
shall judge him in the last day. Another
evidence he is speaking of this present gospel age is because he is speaking of
this present gospel age in what the Lord says next. To check Peter and the
apostles from feeling to haughty about themselves Christ everyone shall receive
this reward.
Matthew 19: 29: And every one that hath
forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or
children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold,
Mark
10:29 adds, “now in this time.” Luke 18:30 adds “in this present time.” He is speaking of this present gospel
age. So the thrones of the apostles are
not literal thrones any more than the hundredfold is a literal number. The
meaning is: the privilege of serving with Christ in his kingdom as he calls out
his sheep IS the reward itself, compared to a throne, a reward which outnumbers—a
hundredfold—what any man leaves behind.
Matthew 19: 29:…AND---In addition to that reward of serving Christ in this life,
the Lord says that Peter and the apostles, as well as all other believers, will
have a reward in the world to come. Matthew
19: 29: and shall inherit everlasting life.
Application: Brethren, there can be no greater reward than the
privilege of serving with Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, as well as
inheriting everlasting life in his presence forever! Christ says that everyone, that Christ shall
call, from the first to those called long after them, will be partakers together
of the same common reward of his grace. Then to check us from engendering a
mercenary spirit our Savior adds this statement:
Matthew 19:
30: But many that are first shall
be last; and the last shall be first.
Proposition:
Christ shall give to each one he has called the same reward: justice—as we
serve the Lord in this present time and when we inherit everlasting life with
him. But many who consider themselves to
be first [mercenaries] shall be last in hell; while all [notice he does not say
many here] all those who consider themselves last [true believers] shall be
first in heaven.
Title: Last
First, First Last
In
chapter 20: 1-10, the Lord gives a parable—an earthly story—to illustrate this.
His parable will be our text.
I.
THERE
IS A HOUSEHOLDER WHO HAS A VINEYARD—Matthew 20: 1: For the kingdom of heaven is
like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the
morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
The
kingdom of heaven—the church of God—is represented as a vineyard. God the Father AND Christ our Savior, are
one, the Householder. Both are one in this work of salvation. Notice the
vineyard belongs to the Householder—“his
vineyard.” God’s church is of his
planting, his watering, his fencing; The fruits of it are to his honor and
praise all according to the riches of his grace. The laborers represent two kinds of
professors who labor in the cause of Christ.
II. THE HOUSEHOLDER CALLS LABORERS INTO HIS
VINEYARD—V1: [the Householder] went out early in the morning to hire labourers
into his vineyard.
Went Out Early
The
Householder “went out early.” Before
the foundation of the world God the Father chose who he would be gracious unto—who
he would call to serve in his kingdom by grace.
He chose Jeremiah then he called him.
Jeremiah 1: 5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;
and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained
thee a prophet unto the nations.
He chose Paul then he called him.
Galatians 1:15: But when it pleased God, who separated me
from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
The First Called
But our
Savior will tell us later that not all who are called are chosen. The “called
but not chosen” are represented in these who are called first—1: he went out early 2: And when he had
agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. These
first laborers bargained for their wage.
It was early in the day. These went to work for the highest bidder.
These represent
professing believers who are in fact hirelings, mercenaries, who appear to
serve the cause of Christ but who, in fact, are not sent of Christ in grace,
but who labor for filthy lucre, for selfish gain, who seek wages for their
labor.
The Last Called
Now
notice, those called last—v3: And he
went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4: And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I
will give you. And they went their way. 5: Again he went out about the sixth
and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6: And about the eleventh hour he went out,
and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the
day idle? 7: They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto
them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall
ye receive.
These
represent true believers—chosen and called. Each of these were “standing idle in the marketplace.” All
Christ’s true servants are found idle—dead in our trespasses and sins. Until a sinner is truly called by
Christ himself, into the service of our Lord Jesus, a sinner’s entire life
amounts to “standing all the day idle;”
All
unregenerate sinners combined—no matter how benevolent—contribute nothing to
the purpose for which this world was created. Whosoever is not the servant of
Christ Jesus is contributing nothing toward glorifying God our Savior in his
kingdom through faith. There is only one
activity upon earth which is really activity—serving the kingdom of God in the
cause of Christ. Every other effort of
human strength is—in its source and its aim—only busy idleness. It is to be
under the prince of the power of the air in his prison house of slavery.
Notice
the Householder said to these, “Why
stand ye here all the day idle?” Every
true believer—true servant of Christ—before he is called by Christ—is made to
know we are servants of sin—we stood idle in Satan’s marketplace all our days.
Notice,—v7:
They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us—Every true believer is made
to confess our sins to the Lord.
Jeremiah 3: 12: Go and proclaim these words toward the
north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not
cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I
will not keep anger forever. 13: Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou
hast transgressed against the LORD thy God.
Notice—v4
And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is
right I will give you. And they went their way. When a sinner is made to
know his sin by Christ and called by Christ by free and sovereign grace he goes
forth serving Christ in faith, trusting Christ will provide what is right—just.
Now, sinners
are either: servants of sin or servants of righteousness—no middle ground.
Romans 8: 8: They that are in the flesh cannot please
God.
Romans 6: 17: But God be thanked, that ye were the
servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which
was delivered you. 18: Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness.
A Reward of Love and Grace
Be sure to get this: Christ
told the apostles that in this gospel age their reward would be that they would
be kings carrying forth the riches of his gospel whereby he would judge the
world. And everyone who follows Christ
shall receive a hundredfold in this life as we serve Christ.
Sinners saved by grace have the reward of simply
being privileged to serve our Master. These who were idle went forth delighted
to be employed in the business of such a gracious householder.
2 Corinthians 5: 14: For the love of Christ constraineth
us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Illustration: Take marriage:
if you said to your fiance I will marry you but only if you tell me what reward
I will receive for doing so? That would be insulting. Take
motherhood—Mothers do you speak of compensation, of pay, when that child in
loving affection wraps their arms around your neck or do you speak of rewards
when you are up all night carrying for your sick child. Is not the object of
your love all the reward you seek? To speak of some other reward would profane
that love and belittle the reward you have in that child himself. Take a
1st responder—they run into a firey house and save some helpless
victim. Is that not reward enough! Would it not pollute your service to demand a
reward from the one you served?
Service which serves in love for the object
it serves is its own reward. And service to
Christ—especially after we have been forgiven so great a debt by Christ
himself—forgets self as much as any of these lesser services I just mentioned.
Now reverse those illustrations: what if the bride said to the husband, who provides all
for her, “what is my reward?” Would we say that to Christ our Husband? What if the child, provided for by the mother,
said, “what is my reward?” Would we say that to our heavenly Father? What if the victim pulled from the fire
demanded a reward from the 1st responder? Would we demand such of
Christ who pulled us from the fires of hell?
Our
reward brethren is to be: chosen of God our Father in divine election, to be
redeemed by Christ who loved us even when we were enemies and enmity against
him, to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit even when we were dead in sins. To be the least of all saints, the chief of
sinners, yet called into the service of so benevolent a Master as Christ our
Lord is the reward.
We do not need a certain wage declared to us
as the first laborers did. Believers
labor in faith, in hope and confident trust. We make no bargains with Christ; we
look for nothing but what Christ of His free abundance is pleased to give us.
Spiritual Rewards
Believer this hundredfold he gives us is not
the health and wealth prosperity that hirelings crave and preach about.
In this lifetime, Christ gives us, not what
we could dare to ask or think, not what we deserve for our sins, but “what is
right;” according to his righteousness.
He gives us what is right because he emptied himself, shedding his blood
for each child he calls, justice demands it is right that he give us full,
abundant pardon from all our sins.
We are given joy in the Holy Ghost: peace of conscience
that we are righteous in Christ and he remembers our sins no more. We are given
the sense of God’s love; we are given contentment in Christ knowing he shall
provide all we need and that he is our strength above all material things.
Philippians 4: 11: Not that I speak in respect of want:
for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content….13 I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.
The man who forsakes his possessions and friends and
family for Christ’s sake, finds that Christ provides “a hundred,” more fathers
and mothers, brothers and sisters. We have the reward of being thought worthy
to suffer for Christ and the cause of his gospel. We have the great reward to watch Christ call
his lost sheep into his marvelous light.
The reward of grace is infinite, it is Christ Himself, Who hath said, “I am thine exceeding great reward.” Losing
all for Christ is the greatest gain there is! And what have you really given
up?
Philippians 3:8: Yea doubtless, and I count all things
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom
I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ,
In
addition, our Master provides us with all things necessary for the labor he has
called us unto. And what a good provider he is.
Illustration: Wanting
to work for Mr. Frannk White because he was the best to work for, he provided
the best equipment. So it is with the believer toward Christ our Master.
All our gifts and abilities needed to serve
God are the gifts of his free grace – (Eph. 4:7).
Ephesians 4: 7: But unto every one of us is given grace
according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
·
Every ability and talent he gives
·
Even every opportunity—have you ever wanted
to serve more but did not know what to do? Then a door opened!
·
The time given to serve is his gift—some are
called in the 3rd hour, 6th, 9th, 11th.
Ephesians 5: 15:
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16: Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil.
Illustration:
George Whitfield asked an old minister once, “Are you not wearying for heavenly
rest?” The old minister answered, “No, certainly not.” Whitefield surprised
asked, “Why not?” The old servant said, “If
you sent your servant into the field to do a certain work for you and you provided
everything for him and promised to give him rest and refreshment in the
evening, what would you say if you found him idle and discontent in the middle
of the day, saying, ‘I wish it were evening’? Would you not bid him be up and
finish his work, and then go home and enjoy the promised rest? So it is that God
requires of us that, instead of looking for Saturday night, we do our day’s
work in the day.”
This is
our privilege—our reward—to reign with Christ as kings, spreading forth his
gospel far and wide. He has provided everything. Our service to him is “reasonable service.” (Rom 12: 1)
Luke 17:10: So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all
those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we
have done that which was our duty to do.
III. YET, CHRIST PROMISES THERE IS A REWARD
WHICH AWAITS US AT THE END OF THIS GOSPEL DAY—V8: So when even was come, the
lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them
their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Broken and Contrite Hearted Believers
Every true
believer considers ourselves the last of the last, least of the least—and we shall
be the first called to inherit eternal life with Christ himself!
1 Thessalonians 4: 16: For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17: Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
All Shall Receive What is Righteous
All who
labor—both the false hireling and the true believer—shall receive what is just—v9: And when they came that were hired
about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10: But when the
first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they
likewise received every man a penny. The equality of the penny represents
the equality of God’s justice. The reward given to all from God is not
ARBITRARY, but in accordance with the strictest justice.
The Last First
The last first—v9: When they came that
were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. These did not work a full
day—yet they received a full day’s wages.
Can you imagine the joy of these who trusted the Householder, who served
him feeling as though they were rewarded simply to be called, then to be given
a full day’s wages though they did not work a full day? These did
not murmur.
True believers say, “why would our Lord reward us based
on what we left behind?—his irresistible grace is the only reason we left
anything and followed him. Why would he
reward us on the length of time we served?—he set the time. Why would our Lord reward us based on our
ability?—he gave the ability. Why would
he reward us based on how we ministered to his saints—it was he that ministered
to his saints using us earthen vessels. “The power is of God not of us.”
Application: Believer, we shall inherit
eternal life because it is our just due—not because of our labor—but because of
the accomplished redemption of Christ our Householder, because everything we
have he gave it. Washed in his blood he is pleased with our feeble labor, which
is not worth mentioning.
The First Last
The first last—V10: But when the first came, they supposed that they should have
received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11: And when they
had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12: Saying,
These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us,
which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Now it
is plain. These thought themselves first. They had little interest in the work.
It was no reward to them to have been
able to do twelve times as much as the last hired. These had the hireling’s
spirit. They had been longing for the shadow. They had been keeping count of
all they did all day long, counting their wages all day long. The mercenary never has enough.
The mercenary complained that he had to serve
so long, in the heat of the day, and he envied these who served less time. But
the true follower of Christ, called first will from the bottom of his heart,
pity his fellow laborer who only got to serve Christ one hour. It will be impossible for a believer whose
delight it was to serve the Master, to envy another who was called later in his
life.
IV.
LASTLY, LET’S HEAR THE MASTER SPEAK—V13: But he answered one of them, and said, Friend,
I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
What is Right for the First?
The mercenary—those serving for rewards who
think themselves first—will receive from God exactly what they wanted because
it is their just due. In this life they have their reward.
Matthew 6:2: Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not
sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the
streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward….5: And when
thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be
seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They
have their reward….16: Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of
a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto
men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They
have their reward.
And in the life to come—v14: Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last,
even as unto thee. The mercenary will take what is his—justice—and go his
way into everlasting destruction.
What is Right for the Last?
Also, God will give the same—justice—to those
who are last—v14:…I will give unto this
last, even as unto thee. Christ will say to every true blood-bought
believer, v14: Take that thine is, and go
thy way. Yet justice demands the broken and contrite heart, resting in
Christ, must receive everlasting life.
Illustration: My
dear sister in Christ, Sue Whitehead—leukemia, body decayed, suffered a stroke
and entered glory Friday morning. When
she closed her eyes in this body of death and opened them perfectly conformed
to Christ’s image she beheld Christ in all his glory, open his everlasting arms
to her, and say, “Come, take that thine
is.” I do not think for a minute she said, “But I supposed I would have
more than Christ!” Neither shall any true sinner—who knows what he is by
nature! And my sister Sue has at least one son that Christ has saved. She arrived first; her son will be arriving
in glory later. I expect she was delighted
to hear Christ say, “I will give unto
this last, even as unto thee.”
Is It Not Lawful?
Besides
all this—v15: Is it not lawful for me to
do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? The
Judge of all the earth shall do right for the righteous and for the wicked. God shall reward his saints according to the
merits of Christ Jesus, which has been freely given unto us by his grace,
because it is just.
Romans 8: 17: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God,
and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be
also glorified together. 18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in
us.
And he shall reward the mercenary with hell for it is
just. v16: So the last shall be first,
and the first last:
The Only Difference is Grace
And the one thing that makes the believer to
differ from those who perish forever in hell is God’s grace—v16:…for many be called, but few chosen.
Application: Now if you are Peter and the apostles—who were truly
called first by the Lord—at the beginning of this story you would have put
yourself in the place of these called first. But when you realized the mercenary
spirit of these first laborers then you realize the foolishness of asking, “what
shall we have therefore?” Then in your
heart you see yourself as the least!
Right where we need to always be! For the first shall be last and the last
first. Amen!