Turn back to Matthew. I can tell there's nothing lukewarm about
this congregation. The hot ones are on the left.
The cold ones are on the right. Just by looking at the fans,
I noticed the fans on the left side were working and the ones
on the right side are off. I titled this message, The Kingdom
of Heaven is a Kingdom of Grace or Conspicuous Grace, whichever
is shorter and easier to write. In chapter 20, we find the parable
of the kingdom of heaven. And really, chapter 20 here,
the first 16 verses, is just a continuation of chapter 19. You see, Peter asks in verse
27, It says, Then answered Peter
and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all and followed
thee. What shall we have? Therefore,
what reward or rewards are we going to have? And in verse 30,
really the chapter 20 kind of answers verse 30 when the Lord
said, Many that are first shall be last and the last shall be
first. And then the next 16 verses answers
that question or that statement. Now we have here in chapter 20,
verse 1, he says, For the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man
that is a householder, which went out early in the morning
to hire laborers into his vineyard. We have the kingdom of heaven. We have a vineyard, and that
vineyard is the church. And this kingdom of heaven is
the church, has to do with the church. And it is a spiritual
kingdom, and it is a kingdom of grace. It's a kingdom of grace,
and we will see this as we go through these verses. And in
this kingdom, grace rules. It is ruled by the principles
of grace. And it is a very real kingdom. It's as real as what
we see. We can't see the spiritual kingdom,
but it's real. The Lord said that the kingdom
of heaven cometh not with observation, because it's not made up of material,
physical things of this earth. And another place he said the
kingdom of heaven is within you. And then we have a householder,
and this householder is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the mediator. He's the only mediator between
God and men, and into his hands this kingdom has been given.
All things have been given to him. He says that. All things
have been given into my hands to rule and to reign and to govern.
The kingdom of heaven has been given into his hands to rule
over and to take care of. Could it be in better hands?
Oh, I tell you what, we look at our elected officials and
it doesn't matter which party it is. It's worrisome. It's worrisome. It doesn't matter which party.
It can be worrisome. But the kingdom of heaven. as well as everything else, the
universe, natural men, all flesh, he said, has been given to his
hands. Could not be in better hands. Could not be. And it's
been put into his hands. And you'll notice here, who went
out? Who went out and got whom? The
householder. The householder went out. The
One in whose hand everything's been given, He's the One that
went out. God sent His Son. This is the
first thing I thought of. God sent His Son to this world
to save sinners. He went out. He came into this
world. He came into this world, and by His obedience, and by
His death, and by His resurrection, and by His grace, sinners are
saved. You'll notice everyone here whom
he sends into the vineyard, every last one of them are idlers.
Not worth a hoot. Idlers. He came to fetch sinners
by His grace. They were not looking for Him.
They were standing in the marketplace. And they were not looking for
him. They did not ask him. They were not knocking on his
door and saying, would you give us a job? Would you hire us? Would you let us go into your
vineyard? They were not looking for him.
He came looking for them. If you were going to look for
laborers, would you go find idlers? No. Would you find somebody that
doesn't want to work? No, you went headhunters. When
they start looking for someone to fill a position, They don't
go to the unemployment line. They call places where the person
is working and has got a reputation and he's got a track record.
And that's who they go after. They don't go after idle people.
They don't do it. But our Lord does. He goes after
sinners. Those whom He brings into His
vineyard, they are a worthless bunch of sinners. And He brings
them into His kingdom and puts them to work. Laborers. Gives
them abilities and gifts just like He has us. Talents. And He takes someone like me
and puts them in a pulpit. Someone like you and puts you where you
are. Serving in His kingdom. That's what He does. He came
to fetch sinners. And it says He went out early
in the morning. Got up before daylight. And He went out. to get these
laborers from creation. The householder went forth. After Adam fell, he started gathering
in laborers into his vineyard. He didn't let a thousand years
go by. No, it was immediately after the fall. He reveals the
seed of the woman. Reveals the gospel and slays
a lamb and covers Adam and Eve. Immediately, he starts bringing
laborers into his vineyard, into his church. Immediately. Now,
don't think and don't get hung up on this penny. It's just a
penny. Now, it was a good wage at that
time. But don't get hung up and think
that there's some kind of merit here. There's not. There's a
message here. It's not a merit. There's a message. And the message is this. The
message is it's all of grace and He's the Sovereign in the
Kingdom. That's the message. I can sit down now. That's the
message. It's all of grace and Christ, the Householder, is the
Sovereign in the Kingdom and He'll give as He will to whom
He will. He'll do with you, me, as He
will. He'll give you talents. He'll
give me talent as He will. And that's his business. They
said, what about John? Remember when the disciples wanted
to know what he was going to do about John? And basically
what our Lord said, that's none of your business. Your business. What I do with John, you go do
what I give you to do. So he goes out early and he starts
to get laborers into his vineyard. It was grace that chose the workers. Everyone here who believes the
gospel, you're here by the grace of God. You believe by the grace
of God. By His grace. It was grace that
gave them a penny. They didn't deserve a penny.
They didn't deserve it. Idlers. He could have left them alone
and just let them starve. Just let Him stay out there in
the marketplace idle and starve to death. He could have left
us alone to perish. We weren't worth anything to
Him. We add nothing to Him. He adds
to us. We add nothing to Him. And here's
the subject, verses 2 through 7. Every kingdom has subjects
or would be a kingdom. And the subjects here are idle
subjects. Just idle. The only thing said
about them is they're idle. They're just doing nothing. Doing
nothing good with their time. Doing nothing good with the life
they have been given. Now listen, until God saves a
sinner, that sinner is worthless. Now you say, why? They do a lot
of good. I'm telling you, in the kingdom
of God, they're worthless. Until God saved me, my life was
worthless. That's the truth. Without Christ,
I'm worthless. Is that right? Without Him, we're
worthless? In glory they sing, worthy is
who? The Lamb. They don't say worthy is Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob. They don't say that. Worthy is
the Lamb. That's what they say and that's
what they sing. And our Lord comes and He gathers
these worthless workers, these idle workers, and He turns them
into productive workers. He says over in Romans chapter
6, you were the servants of sin. Every last one of us were servants
of sin and self. But you are now the servants
of righteousness. You're servants of God. Now you
have a real meaning to your life. Do you not, you know that. You
know after you've been brought to faith in Christ. You know
there's real meaning to this. As Paul said, for me to live
is Christ. I have someone to live for. There's
real meaning to it. He gives us meaning in living. He puts the meaning in it. They are sinners saved by grace,
translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom
of God's dear Son. And here's the agreement, a penny
a day. He said, I'll give you a penny a day. He did that right
from the beginning. That made me think of the covenant
of grace right from the beginning. There's a covenant of grace.
There's agreement between the father and the son. And you know what?
We are heirs of that. We are heirs of that. But listen,
after he makes this agreement with a penny a day in the beginning,
right at the very break of day, he goes out and gets some laborers.
And he says, I'll give you a penny a day. And then the rest of them,
he says, each time he went out, he said, I'll give you whatever's
right. He doesn't say, I'll give you a half a day's wages now
because I hired you at noon, or I hired you three hours into
the day, or the one that was hired the last hour of the day.
You're going to get just a little bit. No. He says, whatever's
right. Whatever is right, He says, I'll
give you. Whatever He gives us is right. Whatever He gives us is right.
And whatever He gives us by grace is more than we deserve. Every
last one of us has far more than we deserve. Those people that came in the
beginning, they were upset. They were upset. That revealed
a lot about them. But there's a lot of sin left
in us. I know there's a lot of sin left
in us. Then we see further demonstrations of His grace. He called other
idlers at different times of the day. And you know what this
represents? It represents God saving sinners
in different stages of life. Some He can save in their childhood.
You'd be surprised. I'm not going to put an age on
when God can save a child, you know, what age, an age limit.
I tell you what, he can take a child and reveal the gospel
to her and she'll understand it far more than you studying
the scriptures all your life. And if he never reveals it to
you, that child can understand it. Because salvation has come
by revelation and he can give a young person an understanding
that a scholar can't grab. I watch on these history channels,
and the things that these history teachers, they're always saying,
you know, theology, history, they're in theology. I thought,
what are you doing in that class? I mean, you're teaching a class
that you don't even know what you're talking about. Just listen to those scholars
as they talk, and talk about the Scriptures. They just, they don't even know
what they're talking about. But you can take a man or a woman
or a child that's illiterate. God revealed the Gospel. And
they can understand that just as clear as day. He can do that. Oh, He said, let those little
children come to Me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven. So He calls others. Then He calls
some in their twenties. I was around the age of 23, 24
when I heard the Gospel. go to a certain day or time,
but I know a certain period of time when I heard the gospel. And there are some in their 40s.
And there are some in their 60s. Some right up to the 70s, 80s,
right up to the end. Right up to the end. And He calls
them by grace. And you know what? He gives them
everything the first one. The first one, maybe a young
one. That last one it was called who
spent his or her life in nothing but sin and debauchery. You know what? They got the same. Got the same. But I think it also could represent
different ages in church history. I thought about this last night.
The Jews first. You know how they went through
the ceremonies and the types and the pictures? And these others
said, we have borne the burden and heat of the day. Well, who
got upset when the Gentiles were let in? It was the Jews. They got upset that you and I
were treated as what? Equals. You know, that's what
they're all upset about. You're treating them as equal.
And we've kept these ceremonies, these types, we've gone through
all this. And you're treating them as equal. That's what grace
does. That's what grace does. Treats
us as equals. And I think it represents that
too. And then we have there in verse 8. We have the call. You see, he
went out. The householder, the Lord Jesus
Christ, he went out. And he brought laborers into
his vineyard at different times, at different ages, at different
stages. And then, so when evening was come, when it's the end of
the day, when the end of it all is over, the Lord, the Lord of
the vineyard, saith unto his steward, Call the laborers and
give them their hire. Give them what I promised them.
That's what he's saying. Give them what I promised them.
I made a covenant with them. I made an agreement with them.
Give them what I promised. Beginning. You see, now here
comes conspicuous grace. Beginning from the last. He purposely does this so that
we will know that it's all of grace and that grace is sovereign. The dispensing of it is sovereign.
beginning from the last unto the first." It's an effectual call. He says,
call them, and they all come. And they all came. And they all
came, listen, expecting. Expecting to receive what He
promised. Is that not what you and I expect?
We expect in Christ to receive what God promised. He that comes
to me, I wouldn't know why I was cast out. I expect that. That's
not arrogance. That's just trusting God. That's
taking God at His word. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. That's not arrogance to trust.
That's trusting. That's expecting. We ought to
expect God to give us exactly what He said He would. That's
faith. That's honoring God. Giving Him
the honor. Notice the householder's kindness
here. The last received a penny. They received the same. They
were made equal with those whom he called first. I'm sure they
did not expect to be paid the same as those who worked all
day long. I'm sure that one that came at
the eleventh hour didn't expect such generosity at that particular
time. I'm sure he didn't. They didn't. Grace gives us more than we deserve. Far more than we deserve. And
there's no such thing as seniority in the Kingdom of Heaven. There
is no such thing. There's a king, the Lord Jesus
Christ, and he's sovereign, and he gives as he will to whom he
will for the good of his body, his church, and for his glory. And he dispenses things as he
will, according to his own purpose and grace. As Scripture says,
which was given us in Christ before the world began. It was
all determined and given and settled even before the world
began. To call a man, think about this,
to call a man in the last hour, I mean, what can a man do at
the last hour? How much work can you get done?
Usually it takes a man, I've seen this in years, it usually
takes them 15 minutes to change their shoes before they can get
to work. It'll be 15, 20 minutes before
they can get out of the locker room and get to work. I mean, if they've never been
in the field before, men come in the shop, it takes them a
while just to find out where things are in the shop. And he
brought these in the last hour. The last hour. Most people would
wait until the next day. You know, we can get through
the rest of this. We can get through this last hour. We'll
just start again tomorrow. No, that's not what grace does. That's not grace. Grace brings
men in at the last hour, the last stage of life, and gives
them everything the first one got. I bet you when that thief
woke up in paradise, all this and Christ too. You think he
expected that? He got the same thing the Apostle
Paul got. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. He got the same thing. But here's
the complaint. Oh, human nature, it never dies
till it dies. Those who worked all day, in
verse 10, supposed that they would receive more. You know,
when they saw him give, when they saw the last receive a penny,
he was given a penny, you know, they were like, And we're going
to get two pennies. Our wage is going to be double. They supposed, you know, we've
got a supposition here. You know, that usually gets you
in trouble. Like the Lord, when He was just 12 years old, they
supposed Him to have been in the company. Suppositions usually
get you in trouble. They supposed that they would
receive more money for bearing the burden and heat of the day.
And instead of being happy, instead of rejoicing for the
last, they were jealous. Jealous. Oh, I bet you they could
cuss, they were so upset. I've seen this in the workplace.
Because I think, you know, it's the human nature coming out.
And it's still in us. But you can't hardly hire a man
in at the same wage. You can't do it. You've got to
bring him in lower. to keep everybody in the shop from being torn to
pieces. You just have to do that. Or if you do bring him in the
same way, he's sure better performed because everybody in there is
going to pick him to death. That's human nature. But the kingdom
of God is not driven and not ruled by human nature. It's by
the grace of God. Aren't you glad? Look at the
comfort we sit in. Do you know that our ancestors
were in caves and rocks and dens? Did they deserve more? Well,
I would say they would, but grace says no. Grace says no, they're
all equal. Grace says we all get the same.
That's what it says. So instead of being happy, they
became angry. Instead of rejoicing in the goodness
of the Lord, instead of rejoicing in the goodness of the owner
of the vineyard. They became angry at him for
being gracious, for being so kind. You know the
story. This is a good example. The prodigal
son. He left home, wasted all his
inheritance. All that was given to him. Went
down there and lived in a pig pen. Went down there and just
righteous living. Just righteous living. Ended
up in the pig pen. And the good son, so he thought. The faithful one. The one who
stayed home. He said, I didn't leave. I stayed
right here. I have been faithful. I have
been with you. And you gave me no calf. You had no party for me. Instead
of rejoicing that his brother was brought home, he was upset. Instead of the
Jews rejoicing that their brothers, the Gentiles, we're all brothers
and sisters by nature. We all go back to Adam. Instead
of rejoicing that we have been brought in out of darkness, they
got upset. They got upset. And the Lord says here in verse
13, But he answered one of them and said, Friend, my soul. He
calls this complainer a friend. Friend, I do thee no wrong. Did
I do you wrong? Did I do thee wrong? Didst thou
not agree with me for a penny? Did we not covenant over a penny?
But did I not give it to you? Did I not give it to you? Did
he not give what he said he would give? Then where's the wrong? Did He not come after you and
hire you and put you in the vineyard? Yes. Then where's the wrong? Did He not give them everything
that they agreed on? Did He not do that? Yes. Then
go your way and shut up. That's what He says in verse
14. Take that thine is and go thy way. That's what He's saying.
Go your way and shut up complaining. You've got everything I have
promised you. You've got everything that we covenanted over. Go your
way. Then he exercises here and reveals
his sovereign right to do as he will with his own. Here in verse 14. Verse 16, He
said, Take that thine is, go thy way, I'll give unto this
last, even as unto thee. I'm not going to change. I don't
care if you are mad. You can get mad as you want. You can
go pout, sit in a corner, do what you want. It's not going
to change. Grace doesn't change because
of us. If it did, my soul would be worse
than the weather. He said, I'll give unto this
last, even unto thee. Is it not lawful, is it not right
for me to do what I will with my own? Even we do that. Even the one he's talking to
will do that. Men try to deny God the very
things they fight for. We have fought and died in this
country. Our young men and women have
fought and died for our freedom of choice. And then turn around
and deny God Almighty that choice. whose son died. Is it not lawful for me to do
what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil? Because I'm
good." He said, what I've done is good. I've done a good work
here. I have given. I have blessed. I have made rich. All of you. And you want more? You want more? You take what I give you and
go on and be happy. Shut up complaining, murmuring. God's not going to change His
purpose and grace because of our sinfulness. He's not going
to do that. Can I not do what I will with
my own? Who dare? Who dare question the
good man of the house for doing what he will with his own. Has
not the potter power over the clay to make of one lump a vessel
of mercy and one of wrath? Does he not have that right?
Does he not have that right? But you'll notice there in verse
16, So the last shall be first, and the first last. For many
called, but few chose it. You'll notice there he doesn't
change the order. He's going to demonstrate his sovereignty.
He's not going to cow down or give in to these murmurs and
complainers because they don't like it. No. He says the last is going to
be first and the first is the last. That's the way it is. That's
the way it's going to stay. And you're going to be happy
with what I've given you. I've not done you no wrong. Is your eye
evil because I'm good? Here's the message. And I'll
close. Here's the message. The kingdom of heaven is ruled
by grace. That's why he's saying to Peter,
remember he's talking to Peter here, he's giving this parable
to Peter and to the disciples there who were asking this. The kingdom of heaven, it's ruled
by grace. God gives by grace, not by debt. No, I don't owe you more because
of a longer life in the ministry. Can I do the one who was a brainer,
died at 29 years of age? Equal. The whole thing here is
upset because they're equal. Everybody in glory is equal,
except Christ. He's high above us all. There are no rewards, plural,
in the kingdom of heaven. There's only one reward in the
kingdom of heaven, and that's Christ. Abraham, I am your exceeding
great reward. I am. Is not being there enough? Is not being there enough? Heir
of all things through Christ, is that not enough? Having Him,
is He not enough? If not, you've got a real problem.
And then Christ is sovereign in the kingdom of heaven. He
gives as he will. You know, we all have different
talents, gifts. He gives those things as he will. Some sing. I couldn't sing like
that. You would leave. You would leave. Some are gifted to preach. Some
have the gift to pray publicly. Some have the gift to give. God's
given them a heart and they give. Some have the gift to give. He
sovereignly does that. And He's the wisest one to do
it. He's the wisest one to do it. We do it by showing favor. We're just human nature now. We do it out of favoritism. He
does it. He does it for the good of his body. Whatever we have
and wherever we are, whatever we are doing is best for you
and best for the body and best for his glory. Is that all right? It's all right. And then the householder is good.
Never doubt his goodness. Never doubt the goodness of the
householder. And remember who called whom. I was found of them
that sought me not. I was made known unto them that
asked not after me, standing idle in the marketplace. They
didn't even have a clue as to who I am. I went and got them. And He always gives. He always
gives what's right. What's right. He never gives
wrong. He wrongs no one. Let us be thankful,
first of all, that He called us, put us in His vineyard. Oh, let us be thankful for that.
And then when He blesses someone else, even if they haven't been
around a while, and He greatly blessed them, rejoice. Rejoice.