“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.” Matthew 20:1 NLT
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
The Kingdom of Heaven is not a commercial venture. You cannot buy your way into heaven. Nor can you earn your way through hard work, helping the poor, caring for others, going to church, or any other charitable means you may employ. It is only by God’s grace that we have access to heaven as we believe in His Son Jesus for Salvation. Entrance into the kingdom is by God’s grace alone at the moment He bestows it upon us whether in our childhood or in old age while on our death bed.
Jesus tells His disciples a ‘Parable of the Vineyard Workers’ in a response to a question Peter asked Him. Peter’s concern was he and the other disciples sacrificed their livelihood in following Jesus. The sentiment was they should be ranked on a higher scale in the kingdom than others who have not given up as much. Jesus sets them all straight by explaining God’s grace on each individual in relation to the kingdom of heaven.
The parable begins with the landowner going out to hire workers in his vineyard. This most likely occurred during harvest season as landowners would hire day workers gathered in the market place looking for work. Workers were hired at the start of the day for an agreed amount of pay. Throughout the day the landowner would return to the market place right up until the last hour and find others who needed work and send them into the vineyard. At the end of the end the workers got paid, and each received the same amount, a full day’s wages. Those who worked all day were upset either that they did not received more or that the others were treated the same by the gracious landowner.
Jesus is saying all those in the kingdom have accepted Him as Savior and have the same amount of grace applied to them. Those who have been Christians all their lives and have done great service for Christ will be in the kingdom along with those who have done little due to little time to serve Him since their conversion. God’s grace is applied equally to all.
For those of us who have been Christians a long time are we using the time God has given us to serve Him? Those of you who have recently come to know the Lord, are you being faithful in the opportunity given to you to serve Him? And are we all praying for those who have not yet accepted Christ as Savior? We are all workers in God’s vineyard of grace, may we be faithful in the work He has given us.
Read the Parable of the Vineyard Workers: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20%3A1-16&version=NLT
Word for the Soul 