‘STORIES JESUS TOLD’

(2.) THE PARABLE OF WORKERS IN A VINEYARD   -   MATTHEW 20.1-16

-    A story about the scandal of God’s grace.

INTRODUCTION:  This story of Jesus explores the meaning of ‘grace’ – God’s grace to us.

What exactly is ‘grace’? What’s involved? Is it ‘fair’? We are faced up with the ‘wonderful scandal’ of the way a gracious God deals with us.  God’s grace both thrills and scandalises.

BACKGROUND TO THE PARABLE: 

• Normal working day: 6.00 am – 6.00pm (1st hour to 12th )
• 1 denarius:  reckoned a fair wage for a fair day’s work. Also, the cost of living for a day.
• Subsistence living: many had to live each day on what they earned that day. No work, no food!

I. GRACE EXHIBITED - the nature and meaning of ‘grace’

     THE MEANING OF ‘GRACE’ -   What the landowner did:

* Talk about the landowner’s behaviour. 

- What did he do? Was it normal behaviour?

- How does it bring out the meaning of ‘grace’?

- How would you define ‘grace’?  What is its ‘essence’?

- In what way does it aptly illustrate God’s dealings with us? (See Ephes.2)

     THE MOTIVE FOR GRACE -  Why the landowner did it:

* What impression do you get about why the landowner acted as he did?

- what considerations do you think he has in mind?

     THE MARVEL OF GRACE – What reaction the landowner got to what he did:

* How do you think the workers hired later in the day felt to be paid a whole denarius?

II.    GRACE RESENTED - the ‘offence’ and ‘scandal’ of ‘grace’

       THE LANDOWNER’S SUPPOSED FAULT -    ( Is grace ‘fair’?)

 * Did the landowner treat his workers ‘equally’?  Was he wrong?

  - Does God treat everyone ‘equally’?

* Did the landowner treat his workers ‘fairly’?

- Which group of workers were indignant at his behaviour?  Why?

- Were they justified? How does the landowner respond to their complaint?

(In answering consider: What did he promise them? What were they willing to work for? What did he pay them?)

* How does God’s grace extended to undeserving people sometimes outrage people?

 (See Luke 15.28-30)   Why is it so hard to accept?

Give some illustrations of instances where people are scandalised by it?

* Are we, ourselves, ever ‘scandalised’ by the grace of God toward us, feeling something(s) we have done is/are beyond forgiveness?

         THE LANDOWNER’S TOTAL FREEDOM:   -   (Isn’t God ‘free’?)

* Do you understand the point the landowner makes about his ‘freedom’?

(- his freedom to be generous?)

- Isn’t God similarly ‘free’ to be generous and gracious?

 - should we be scandalised or delighted at God’s grace?

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM GOD FOR YOURSELF – JUSTICE OR GRACE??

HOW DO YOU THINK A GRACIOUS GOD WANTS US TO ACT TOWARDS OTHERS?