Matthew 20 Devotional & Commentary: The last shall be first and the first shall be last0
Posted In Devotions,Syndicated
Devotional Sharing, Submitted by Pastor Jonathan Lee, Gracepoint Davis
Matthew 20:1-16
Reflect on the description of the hired men as “standing in the marketplace doing nothing.” In what ways does this characterize life apart from the meaningful labors of the kingdom of heaven?
Just picturing the men “standing in the marketplace doing nothing” makes me wonder what they were thinking: “Would I get to work today? Will I be able to bring home some food for my family? Or will it be another day with nothing much to show for. I just feel like I’m fishing all day and night and catching nothing every day… I wonder if there would be a merciful landowner who will look upon me with favor today…” Spending all day with nothing much to show for at the end of it all…how discouraged and purposeless they must have felt. But sadly, there are so many who, at the end of that long day of ‘life’, have nothing much to show for at the end, with nothing that really impacted people for eternity.
Why is it inappropriate for those who were hired first to “grumble against the landowner?” What does their grumbling reveal about their view of their work in the vineyard?
They were able to gain employment for the day when their day could have just passed by “doing nothing”. The generous landowner was merciful in hiring them in the first place. And they received all that they had hoped for. How could they grumble when they got what they were hoping for? It’s because they thought the work they did deserved payback. They forgot that it’s all about the gracious and generous landowner who had mercy on them. How quickly we forget! We forget who we are and Who God is. God is Holy. We are sin-full. But while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). We should remember the sweet tears of joy when we first confessed our sins and received Christ’s forgiveness! But we so often forsake our first love and forget the height from which we have fallen (Rev. 2:4-5). This affects how we view all that we do for God each and every day.
What is my reaction to the fact that there is no extra “reward” for serving God longer? What is my attitude towards God’s generosity and grace towards others?
Actually, I’m sorry for differing with the premise of the question, but I feel I am getting “extra reward” for serving God longer! For starters, I get to experience God’s faithfulness all the more each day. With every additional year of hard meaningful Kingdom work, I get to experience His grace being sufficient for me. And there is greater reward in having fewer regrets in life, regrets that I would have had if I had wasted my life selfishly. Furthermore, there’s greater reward in deeper fellowship of co-laboring with others in ministry over the long haul. There’s extra reward in many respects!
I am reminded of the truth of the old praise song which I will end with, “The Longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He Grows”:
Since I started for the Kingdom,
Since my life He controls,
Since I gave my heart to Jesus,
The longer I serve Him,
The sweeter He grows.
Chorus:
The longer serve Him, the sweeter He grows,
The more that I love Him, more love He bestows;
Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows,
The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.
Ev’ry need He is supplying,
Plenteous grace He bestows;
Ev’ry day my way gets brighter,
The longer I serve Him,
The sweeter He grows.
Devotional Sharing, Submitted by Lem Maghamil, Gracepoint Davis
Who is the Greatest? (20: 18-34)
Was Blind…
Today I was reflecting on James and John and their request of Jesus (through their mother) to be the greatest of the disciples. Their request came after Jesus just described his coming suffering, death, and resurrection (20:18-19). Jesus is pouring his heart out to his beloved followers and right after that moment, James and John ask to be seated on the right and on the left of Jesus in His kingdom. They had their mother come and kneel before Jesus and make the request on their behalf, because culturally older women were respected. The disciples were not happy at all with what the two brothers did (20:24), would you?
The first thing that came to my mind was what’s wrong with these guys? Why are they so power hungry? Can’t they see how they have not only made fools of themselves but also dishonored Jesus? Then as my old 4th grade teacher, Sister Lucian who was an old Italian nun from the Bronx used to say; “When you point your finger at someone, there are three pointing right back at you!”
The desire to be great blinds people. I do things that are inappropriate, hurtful, and I make a fool of myself. Growing up, I always had a chip on my shoulder. I wanted to be great. Like James and John, I wanted people to look up to me and to say that I was great. I was blind to my foolish pride and I made life very complex. For example, when I would enter into a group of friends or a party I would turn on my GPS (Greatness Positioning System). How do I stack up to the people in this room? Why is he looking at me that way? How can I become greater than the people here? I measured greatness by the applause of people, popularity, success, etc. and I am sure James and John were struggling with the same issues. However I was blind to the fact that as I tried to become greater in the eyes of the world and my friends I alienated myself from people and became a hollow person. I wouldn’t even want to spend time with myself and there are so many regrets of things I said and did that hurt so many people. I often asked myself; “Why did you just do that or say that?” I had no answer.
He touched me…
When I met Christ I remember thinking that Jesus knows me so well. I heard the messages each week on sin and pride and my need for a Savior. The gospel answered all of my questions and was turning my world upside down at the same time. Furthermore, the lives of the brothers and sisters at our church challenged me. They were college professionals with great potential and intelligence and they could become great people in this world. Why aren’t they living great lives? But I realized that by observing their lives, I had to conclude they were living truly GREAT lives. The brothers and sisters that ministered to me passionately lived out their faith, they took God’s word seriously, they were humble people, lived simply, were sacrificial, and their power came from their deep conviction and strength of character not bravado and manufactured charisma. Perhaps my view of greatness had been wrong all along.
Now I see…
In vv.25-26 Jesus contrasts the worldly view of greatness as lording and exercising authority over people versus Jesus’ view of greatness as being a servant to others. This is so contrary to the world, and I mentioned before, the teaching of Jesus turned my world upside down. Jesus says that to be great as His follower means that I need to be a servant leader. I have to serve His people faithfully because it’s my worship and commitment to Him and it is one concrete way I can follow Christ. In fact Jesus says in v.28 that He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life for many.
In my years of being a Christian, I have put this teaching to the test. As I serve God’s people, I realize that I share God’s heart all the more; I am aware of the needs of people; I am closer to friends and family; and I am transformed in my character. I don’t alienate myself from people because of competition and envy but I draw people closer to experience the community of Jesus Christ. In the past twelve years of serving Jesus, I look back and can say confidently that I am living the GREATEST life – one that I could never have imagined. Jesus flipped my world upside down. The complex view of greatness I once lived by has been substituted by a very simple formula. Greatness = Serving God + Serving People.
It’s fitting that this chapter ends with two blind men crying out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus asks what they want and their response was Lord we want our sight. Jesus had compassion on them and they immediately received their sight and followed Him. It’s so simple. Jesus saw me in my blind pride groping around in a complex miserable life trying to achieve greatness. With compassion, He reached out and touched me with the Gospel and the lives of brothers and sisters who took God’s word seriously and lived out biblical lives of greatness. Now I see, and I have the amazing privilege to follow Jesus and serve His people and to experience a truly great life.
Devotional Sharing, Submitted by Pastor Timothy Rhee, Gracepoint Davis
Text: Matthew 20:29-34
Consider the fact that if these men had just waited for a “better time” or “the next opportunity,” they would have remained unhealed and blind. What is my attitude toward spiritual opportunities? I need to have a greater appreciation of the reality that there are often narrow windows of opportunity when it comes to spiritual opportunities. It’s so easy to use the excuse of “tomorrow” to delay obeying God in some area or meeting someone else’s need. Based on this text, I need to have a lot greater urgency and appreciation that there might not ever be a better time than the present moment for me to obey God in a certain area, to make a significant decision, to love/serve this person in my life in front of me, etc. And if I miss this particular opportunity, such an opportunity may never come again or not come around for a long time.
What is so right about the blind men’s desperate shout? The blind men had the right perspective in that they properly saw their need for God’s mercy. They knew that they were not entitled to receive healing from Jesus and knew that all they could do was to ask for mercy from Jesus. Not only did they see their need for mercy from God but they also properly grasped how desperate their need was. Out of their desperation, they persisted in crying out to Jesus for help despite the crowd’s rebuke.
What can I learn from the blind men’s refusal to be quiet in the face of being rebuked by a crowd of people, and the fact that “they shouted all the louder?” From these two men, I can learn how important it is for me to have personal convictions. These blind men refused to be intimidated in the face of the rebuking crowd. If they were people-pleasers, they would have listened to the crowd’s rebuke and never received their healing. But instead they had personal conviction on who Jesus was and how Jesus was their only hope.
Today I may not face a crowd literally rebuking me, but frequently when I try to obey Jesus, I too can expect a “crowd” of people to oppose me. The “crowd” may be family, friends, or society at large whose values may be in opposition to that of Christ’s values. During those times, I need to have the same determined personal convictions as these blind men.
Compare and contrast the crowd’s response and Jesus’ response to the two blind men’s cry for mercy. What is my attitude towards others’ blindness? The crowd was annoyed by the two blind men and wanted them to be quiet. In contrast, Jesus had compassion on their blindness and wanted to heal them. I find that my attitude varies towards others’ blindness. If it’s an area that I know that I struggle with, then I tend to be more sympathetic. However if it’s an area that I don’t think I have a problem with, then I tend to be more like this crowd. I can get impatient with the person rather than exercising compassion like Jesus towards their blindness. Oh how I need to become more compassionate and patient like Jesus! Practically this doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t say anything about the other person’s blindness. Ironically not saying anything may mean that I am being just like the crowd. I may not speak up because I am annoyed and not care enough to do the tough task of bringing it up. However I need to be willing to lovingly bring it up, even if it’s risky for me to do so. I cannot miraculously heal that person’s blindness but I can at least, out of love and compassion, be part of their healing process by bringing it to their attention and praying for them.
Matthew 20:1-16
“[…]In the context of Matthew’s gospel there is another function of the parable. That is to answer Peter’s question in Matthew 19:27. Peter had first made a claim and then asked his question. The claim was, ‘We have left everything and followed you.’ The question was essentially, ‘What reward are we going to get for our special loyalty and love?’ Peter’s assumption is that he and the other disciples deserved a greater reward because of the greatness of their commitment to Christ. Jesus’ reply makes it clear that God does not judge based on what is deserved, but on the basis of grace.”[1]
- Reflect on the description of the hired men as “standing in the marketplace doing nothing.” In what ways does this characterize life apart from the meaningful labors of the kingdom of heaven?
- Why is it inappropriate for those who were hired first to “grumble against the landowner?” What does their grumbling reveal about their view of their work in the vineyard?
- What is my reaction to the fact that there is no extra “reward” for serving God longer? What is my attitude towards God’s generosity and grace towards others?
Matthew 20:17-28
“This passage shows us that the disciples had misunderstood both the preceding passion predictions and Jesus’ teaching concerning the kingdom’s nature. Hearing Jesus’ promise of a special place for the Twelve (19:28), James and John wanted to establish a special place among the Twelve. While each of us is special to the Lord, we must not fail to recognize, as the sons of Zebedee did, that all other disciples are special to him as well. To accomplish their petition they enlisted their mother; Jewish tradition accorded aged women a special place of respect that younger women did not hold (compare Judg 5:7; 2 Sam 14:2; 20:16-22; Tit 2:4). Further, women could get away with asking requests men dare not ask, both in Jewish (Lk 18:2-5; 2 Sam 14:1-21; 20:16-22; 1 Kings 1:11-16; 2:17; Bailey 1980:134) and broader Greco-Roman culture (Dixon 1988:179).”[2]
- Reflect on the inappropriateness of James and John’s request (made through their mother) coming after Jesus’ detailed predictions of his suffering and crucifixion. What does this show about what happens to my heart when I seek personal gain and ascendancy?
- In what ways am I like John and James?
- Jesus answers James and John by having them focus on drinking the “cup I am going to drink,” and informs them that matters of relative position is in the hands of God. How does this message apply to me?
Additional Questions:
Matthew 20:8-12
“[…] the principle in the world is that he who works the longest receives the most pay. That is just. But in the kingdom of God the principles of merit and ability may be set aside so that grace can prevail”[3]
“It is essential to the story in a time when laborers were customarily paid at the end of each day (cf. Lev 19:13). The foreman is told to pay each man (lit.) ‘the wage’–the standard day-laborer’s wage. Who gets paid first is crucial: it is only because the last hired receive a day’s wage (v. 9) that those first hired expect to get more than they bargained for (v. 10). They ‘grumble against’ (v. 11) the owner because he has been generous to others and merely just to them.” [4]
- What is revealed about human notions of fairness from the workers who grumbled against the landowner?
- Is there some way that I’m asking God for fairness instead of mercy?
- In terms of this parable, to which group of workers do I belong?
Matthew 20:13-15
“[…]In the context of Matthew’s gospel there is another function of the parable. That is to answer Peter’s question in Matthew 19:27.Peter had first made a claim and then asked his question. The claim was, “We have left everything and followed you.” The question was essentially, “What reward are we going to get for our special loyalty and love?” Peter’s assumption is that he and the other disciples deserved a greater reward because of the greatness of their commitment to Christ. Jesus’ reply makes it clear that God does not judge based on what is deserved, but on the basis of grace.”[5]
- Meditate on how God and others have extended me undeserved generosity and grace.
Matthew 20:22-23
“It is often ignorance that seeks leadership, power, and glory: the brothers do not know what they are asking. To ask to reign with Jesus is to ask to suffer with him… To ask for worldly wealth and much honor is often to ask for anxiety, temptation, disappointment, and envy; and in the spiritual arena to ask for great usefulness and reward is often to ask for great suffering (cf. 2Cor 11:23-33; Col 1:24; Rev 1:9). ‘We know not what we ask, when we ask for the glory of wearing the crown, and ask not for grace to bear the cross in our way to it.’”[6]
- In what ways is it true of people today that they seek what they seek because they “don’t know what [they] are asking”?
Matthew 20:25-28
- According to Jesus, a “great” person “must be your servant…must be your slave.” What are the characteristics of a servant and a slave?
- How did Jesus exemplify this in his life and death?
- What is my view of greatness?
- What are the concrete ways I can serve others?
Matthew 20:29-34
“The blind men called Jesus ‘Son of David’ because the Jews knew that the Messiah would be a descendent of David (see Isaiah 9:6, 7; 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5, 6). These blind beggars could see that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, while the religious leaders who witnessed Jesus’ miracles were blind to his identity, refusing to open their eyes to the truth. Seeing with your eyes doesn’t guarantee seeing with your heart.”[7]
- Consider the fact that if these men had just waited for a “better time” or “the next opportunity,” they would have remained unhealed and blind. What is my attitude toward spiritual opportunities?
- What is so right about the blind men’s desperate shout?
- What can I learn from the blind men’s refusal to be quiet in the face of being rebuked by a crowd of people, and the fact that “they shouted all the louder?”
- Compare and contrast the crowd’s response and Jesus’ response to the two blind men’s cry for mercy. What is my attitude towards others’ blindness?
[1] Roger Han, “Biblical and Theological Resources for Growing Christians”, Christian Resource Institute, http://www.cresourcei.org/biblestudy/bbmatt15.html.
[2] Intervarsity Press. Matthew. IVP New Testament Commentaries. http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.20.3
[3] Frank E. Gaebelein, Gen. Ed. Expositor’s Bible Commentary CD (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).
[4] Frank E. Gaebelein, Gen. Ed. Expositor’s Bible Commentary CD (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).
[5] Roger Han, “Biblical and Theological Resources for Growing Christians”, Christian Resource Institute, http://www.cresourcei.org/biblestudy/bbmatt15.html.
[6] Frank E. Gaebelein, Gen. Ed. Expositors Bible Commentary CD, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992) notes for Matthew 20
[7] Life Application Bible, study notes (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 1695.