The Last Hour

Today we will be looking at Matthew 20:1-15, I call the parable of the hours. Christ mentions four different time periods in the parable. The goal of the parable I believe is to show that Christ needs laborers for his vineyard. His vineyard would be the world. The objective of the work is to reap a harvest.

We see in the parable the owner of the vineyard goes looking for laborers in the 3rd hour which is 9 a.m. This could represent our city. He then goes looking for laborers in the 6th hour which is noon. This could be those who go to Samaria. He then went out the 9th hour which is 3 p.m. This could represent the Gentiles or the nations. He goes out again at the 11th hour which is 5 p.m. This represents the last days or the end times.

Darkness is coming. It is time to work overtime. (John 9:4) Each time the owner went out he saw people standing around doing nothing. This disturbed him because he had much work to do. Christ wants laborers not idlers. Christ changed their focus from idler to laborer. A few laborers in not enough. (Luke 10:2) Christ is hiring laborers for his work until the very end of the day.

Because we are in the eleventh hour, we need to work together. (Nehemiah 3) We need to remember we have a common enemy. Nehemiah experienced resistance. (Nehemiah 4) We can work together because we have a common story. (John 3:16) We have a common cause as well.

To accomplish God's work in the last days, it will take sacrifice. Yet, there are those who will try to keep us from the sacrifice needed. Peter with Jesus is a good example. (Mark 8:31-37) Another example is pharaoh with the people of Egypt. Pharaoh said don't go to far to sacrifice.

We see that the owner of the vineyard went out early to find workers. This shows us the urgency of the work. This shows that the owner was passionate about his work. We in the same way need to recognize the urgency of furthering the work of Christ's kingdom. We need to be passionate about this. Whatever we must do, we must do it with all our might as unto the Lord.

Finally, we see that each worker got the same wage. It doesn't matter when you began working in the vineyard. It doesn't matter how long you have been working in the vineyard. God will reward each worker as he sees fit. This is no concern of ours.