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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 119 : Many called but few chosen

Text: Matthew 20:1-16
14 July 2024

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 14 JULY 2024
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 20

Topic: “Many called but few chosen” Matthew 20:1-16

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard.
2 Now when he had agreed with the labourers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing [a]idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’
7 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.’
8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the labourers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.
11 And when they had received it, they [c]complained against the landowner,
12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Matthew 20:1-16

ANOTHER KINGDOM PARABLE

1. The first series of Kingdom Parables Matthew 13

2. This was an Additional Kingdom Parable Matthew 20:1-16

THE STORY-LINE

1. The kingdom of heaven

a) Likened to a landowner who needs workers
b) He hired the first set of labourers
c) There was some “collective bargaining”
d) One denarius would be paid to the workers at the end of the day

2. The landowner went out several times to look for more workers

a) At the 3rd hour (9.00am)
b) At the 6th hour (12.00 noon)
c) At the 9th hour (3.00pm)
d) At the 11th hour (5.00pm)

3. The offer of the landowner

“You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.”

Matthew 20:4, 7

4. At the end of the day

a) The workers were paid
b) From the last to the first
i) Those who worked at the 11th hour
ii) 9th hour
iii) 6th hour
iv) 3rd hour
All were given 1 denarius
c) Those who worked from the 1st hour
i) They were also paid 1 denarius
ii) They were upset that they were not paid more
d) The answer from the landowner
13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
Matthew 20:13-15
i) No wrong had been done by the landowner
ii) They had already bargained and agreed on the amount to be pad
iii) The landowner has every right to do as he pleased
iv) Is your eye evil because I am good?

IMPORTANT LESSONS

1. We need to note the manner in which we serve

2. We need to address wrong attitudes and approaches

3. Proverbial observations

“So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Matthew 20:16

a) The first may end up last
b) The last may end up first
c) Many called
d) Few chosen