What Jesus Did

[Jesus continued his parable about the Kingdom of Heaven being like workers hired at different times during the day:]
[After the workers who worked all day complained about not being paid more than those hired near the end of the day, the landowner continued his reply to them:] "'Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?'"

—Matthew 20:14-15...

 

[Jesus continued his parable about the Kingdom of Heaven being like workers hired at different times during the day:]
[After the workers who worked all day complained about not being paid more than those hired near the end of the day, the landowner] "answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage?"

—Matthew 20:13 NLT

Key Thought​

Sometimes, I fear, we forget who God is. We forget he is the vineyard owner, and the...

 

[Jesus continued his parable about the Kingdom of Heaven being like workers hired at different times during the day:] "When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more [than the workers hired late in the day]. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.'"

—Matthew 20:10-12...

 

[Jesus continued his parable about the Kingdom of Heaven being like workers hired at different times during the day:] "That evening [the landowner] told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage."

—Matthew 20:8-9 NLT

Key Thought​

Wow! Imagine getting a full day's wage for working just the last part of the day! The workers hired near the end of the day...

 

[Jesus said,] "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.

"At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o'clock he did the same...

 

Then Peter said to [Jesus], "We've given up everything to follow you. What will we get?"
Jesus replied, "I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life...

 

The disciples were astounded [when Jesus said it's very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom]. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."


—Matthew 19:25-26 NLT

Key Thought​

In a world where financial blessing was equated with God's blessing, it was hard for the disciples to imagine who could be saved if the "rich" were not saved. Jesus reminded the...

 

[After the rich young man left rather than sell his possessions and follow Jesus,] Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I'll say it again — it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"

—Matthew 19:23-24 NLT

Key Thought​

The radical nature of Jesus' words is indicated by two attempts through the years to soften them. Some later...

 

Jesus told [the young man who said he had kept the commands of the law], "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.


—Matthew 19:21-22 NLT

Key Thought​

It's the statement "for he had many possessions" that is most important here. Jesus moved past commands to the heart issue for...

 

"Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied [to the man who asked what good deed must be done to have eternal life]. "There is only One who is good. But to answer your question — if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man asked.

And Jesus replied: "'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"I've obeyed all these...