_THE HEAVENLY HOUSEHOLDER_ ‘An householder … went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.’ Matthew 20:1 Consider the details of this parable: I. LABOURERS REQUIRED.—The Lord requires _ labour_, not idleness, on the part of those whom He sends into His vineyard: for (_a_) He... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE REFORM OF THE IDLER_ ‘Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us.’ Matthew 20 part Matthew 20:6 This parable is one of the most difficult in the New Testament, because, at first sight, there seems to have been a serious miscarriage of justice. But the... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE REFORM OF THE IDLER_ ‘Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us.’ Matthew 20 part Matthew 20:6 This parable is one of the most difficult in the New Testament, because, at first sight, there seems to have been a serious miscarriage of justice. But the... [ Continue Reading ]
_AT EVENTIDE_ ‘When even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers and give them their hire.’ Matthew 20:8 The householder goes out early in the morning, and then, when eventide is come, he, the owner of the vast and beautiful vineyard, calls the labourers. I.... [ Continue Reading ]
_CALLED AND CHOSEN_ ‘So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen.’ Matthew 20:16 St. Peter tells us there are many things in the Bible hard to be understood. This is one of them. It is necessary to read the whole discourse in the midst of which it comes. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_A MOTHER’S PRAYER_ ‘Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on the left, in Thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CUP IN SERVICE_ Are ye able to drink of the cup …? They say unto Him, We are able.’ Matthew 20:22 It is a grand answer. Both these disciples are accepted. There is no promise given of crown or rule, but they shall be with Him in His sufferings. I. THE PROMISE FULFILLED.—Both had the cup. W... [ Continue Reading ]
_A PATTERN OF MINISTRY_ ‘The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.’ Matthew 20:28 It is true not only of the first beginnings of our Lord’s reign on earth, when He was the despised and rejected of men, but all through. I. TO WHOM DID HE MINISTER?—To all men, and to the who... [ Continue Reading ]
_OPENED EYES_ ‘Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto Him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.’ Matthew 20:32 An ordinary day; an ordinary Eastern scene; a great multitude; a central Figure, and at the fringe of the crowd, sitting by the... [ Continue Reading ]