Savage Street Church of Christ

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07_11_2018_Matt20_DonRuhl

Matthew 20

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • July 11, In the year of our Lord, 2018

1. Matthew 20.1–16 | Can You Do What You Wish with Your Own Things?

   1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers 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 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 laborers 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 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.”
   

   1. How many times did the landowner go and hire workers?
      1. What times of the day did he hire them?
      2. Why were the last paid first?
   2. Why did the first workers expect more pay?
      1. If others had not been hired, would the first workers have complained about the amount they received?
      2. Why would they not have complained?
         1. See what comparing ourselves with others does to us?
         2. 2Co 10.12
   3. How did the landowner justify himself?
      1. Is it lawful to do what we wish with our own things?
      2. What did the landowner reveal was the problem of the first workers?
   4. Who does the landowner represent?
      1. Who do the first workers represent?
      2. Who do the last workers represent?
   5. With what two teachings did Jesus conclude?
2. Matthew 20.17–19 | Jesus Foretold His Suffering and His Resurrection

   17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
   

   1. Verse 17 makes it sound as though Jesus separated the 12 from others.
   2. Jesus spoke plainly, but why did the disciples miss it when the time came?
      1. How many times do we read Scripture before we get it?
      2. Do not be too hard on these men, for we have just shown that we would not do any better.
   3. Why did Jesus tell them these things before they happened?
3. Matthew 20.20–23 | Are You Willing to Suffer for What You Want?

   20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
   

   1. What kind of kingdom do you think the mother of Zebedee’s sons expected?
   2. What do you think of the question of Jesus in verse 21?
      1. What would you say if the Lord asked you for what you wish?
      2. Does He not say this with prayer?
   3. What did she think of her sons?
   4. Even as Jesus told her and her sons that they did not know what they asked, is it possible that we often do not know for what we ask?
      1. Could this explain why we sometimes do not get that for which we prayed?
      2. Could this explain why our prayers get modified?
   5. Why did Jesus ask them whether they were ready to drink and to be baptized the same as He?
      1. They must not have understood that a cross precedes a crown.
      2. Why do we have to suffer first?
         1. He promised that they would drink the same as He and experience His baptism.
         2. However, what did He say was not His to give?
4. Matthew 20.24–28 | Do You Want to Be Great?

   24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
   

   1. The sons of Zebedee and their mother sought the highest possible position in the kingdom.
      1. No wonder the others did not like the request.
      2. What did James and John think later about their request?
   2. Is the kingdom of heaven about having authority?
      1. If not, constitutes the kingdom?
      2. It is not seeking to be served, but seeking to serve.
         1. Someone said the difference between the people who go to heaven and the people who go to hell is this:
         2. Everyone in both places has a long spoon or fork tied to their arm for the entire length of the arm.
            1. That prevents bending the elbow and serving yourself.
            2. The people in hell are frustrated as they keep on trying to feed themselves.
            3. The people in heaven have enjoyment because they feed the person across from them and that person feeds the first person.
   3. Do you see yourself as a slave or servant in the church?
   4. What example did Jesus set for us?
5. Matthew 20.29–34 | Seeing Mercy from the Lord

   29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
   

   1. What would you do if Jesus, the Son of David, passed by and you had a physical problem?
   2. Why did the multitude tell the two men to be quiet?
   3. Jesus again asked someone what they wanted.
      1. How did Jesus show compassion on them?