The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-08-09
The
Sunday School
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS. FOR AUGUST IA.
Subject: Tho Laborers in the Vines
yard, Matt. 2O:1-16--Com-
init Verses 6, 4.

GOLDEN TEXT Many that are
first shall be last, and the last shall be
first Matt. 1890.
TIME.-March, A. D. 80.
PLACE.-Perea.
EXPOSITION.-T. The Call to Ser
vice, III. Peters question Matt
1920 led Jesus to utter the parable
of the lesson. There is the most init
mate connection between the question
and the parable as the central truth
of the parable is that those get most
who are not trying to drive bargain
with the Lord as to what reward they
shall receive for their sacrifice and
service The parable is preceded and
closed with the same statement,
MANY shall be last that are first and
first that are last ". 16; CT. Matt.
19:3O). Many that are last become
first because they work without stip-
ulating the reward, while many that
are first become last because they
work long, but work for pay Tvs. r.
14). The great historical fulfillment
of the general principle is found in
the Jews and Gentiles (Matt. 8:11,
IL; Lu. 13:2S-30; Rom. 9:30-33).
There is likely to be another fulfill
ment in our day in America and Eng
land and the heather nations: we to-
day are first in privilege, but they are
likely to become first because of our
neglect of privilege. The household
er in this parable represents God (cf.
1927; 21:33, 43). The vineyard
represents the kingdom (cf. lisa. ST;
Matt. 21:33). Those first called into
the vineyard represent those who
early in life are called to service.
Jesus had in mind the Immediate
company of disciples (ch. 1920.
The penny represents the reward for
service. It's real value is about seven
teen cents and was fair days wages
in those times The truth taught is
that no one works for God without
adequate pay (Eph. 6:S; Heb. 6:10).
Before we can work for God in His
vineyard the call must come from God
Himself. No ore started to wo-k be-
fore called e.. sno. 1870 The
call was ca-s TO service: Peters own
cali had been a call to service NIX.
1:17). The housenolde~ did not make
as definite bargain with those called
at the third hour, nor did they re-
quire it, as with those called at the
first hour. Theirs was higher type
of service Those called at the first
hour may have done larger amount
of service, but not of so high quail
ity. Character of service counts more
with God than quantity of service.
Those that did the higher service got
a larger reward in proportion to the
amount of service rendered. If man
works for the reward he will get just
what he works for; If he works in
simple trust, leaving the question OF
amount of reward to God, he will get
exceedingly abundantlY above all he
asks or thinks. The householder
promised those called at the third
hour that he would give them what
soever is right" he did that ana
much more. In Abraham we have an
example of one called at late hour
Gen. 1894; Josh. 24:3, 40. Even at
the eleventh hour, when there was
only one hour of the working day left,
he found men still idle. God puts to
every idler the same question He puts
to them (v. 81. Every one the house
holder found outside the vineyard
was an idler; there is no real work
except in Gods vineyard
III. The Rewards of Service, SIG.
The reckoning was made at the close
of the working day (cf. Tim. 4:S) i.
the Judgment seat OF Christ to re-
ceive the deeds done in the body e.
Cor. 5:10). Christ is represented by
the steward of the parable (Heb. $40;
Jno. 5:27; Rev. 2:7, 10, II, 2S). A
whole days pay was given for those
who began at the eleventh hour. They
received more than they had a right
to expect because they had trusted
grace instead of demanding justice
Those who expect the largest reward
are those who get the least reward.
The parable does not teach that those
who bear the burden and heat of the
day will get no more than those who
work only one cool evening hour (cf.
2 Tim. 2:12; 2 Cor. 4:1D, but it does
teach that one hours service in the
spirit of humble trust that leaves the
reward as a matter of grace to God
will be at least as abundantly reward
ed as twelve hours legal service that
tries to drive a close bargain with
God and seeks a reward as matter
of debt Those who worked the
twelve hours received their pay with
grumbling, but they had no right to
murmur; they were paid every penny
they agreed for. He dealt with the
eleventh hour men in grace; he paid
the first all that was their due. He
had a right to do with his own what
he would and they had no right to be
envious because he was gracious. God
will give to every man at least his
Just due, He deals in grace with
those who trust His grace. Those
who murmur at the distribution of
rewards are Eurmur.ng against God.
All mur7,uring in the last analysis If
against Him lex. 16:8). lfurmuring
against God Is one o. the most helm
Gus of all sizs. There are four points
in the householders answer to the
murmurers: First, II have paid you
all | promised; second, II have a
right to do as l will with My own; :
third, II will do with those who trust
MY grace more than l agreed; "
fourth, your complaint only reveals
your own selfish envy and not any in
Justice on MY part" God has right
to do what He will with His own, and
no man has any ground of complaint
against Him (cf. Elk 1919; Jer. 81:
5; Rom. 9:15-21; Eph. IT'D. When
men murmur at Gods dealings, the
difficulty is not with Him, but with
their own vision God is under no OBJ
legation to explain why He does as
He pleases, He always pleases to do
riphf