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welcome to everyone we have to brief announcements before we begin our worship this morning the first is that there are some concrete work being done on that side of the building so please when you exit today exit through the entrance gate so that's blocked and blocked off hopefully that will be corrected and not too distant future and then secondly there is a hymn sing tonight following the evening worship service we just move right up to the fellowship hall it's a time to sing and to praise God in song well for our cult worship this morning I want to encourage you to turn in your Bibles to psalm 97 for our call to worship Psalm 90 psalm 97 beginning in verse 1 the Lord reigns let the earth rejoice let the multitude of Isles be glad clouds and darkness surround him righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne a fire goes before him and burns up his enemies round about his lightnings light the world the earth sees and trembles the mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the lord of the whole earth the heavens declare his righteousness and all the people see his glory but all be put to shame who serve carved images who boast of idols worshipped him all you gods zion hears and is glad and the daughters of judah rejoice because of your judgment so lord for you Lord are most high above all the earth you are exalted far above all gods you who love the Lord hate evil he preserves the souls of his Saints he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart rejoice in the Lord you righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name amen well please turn in your Trinity Salter your read psalm book and turned Psalm 24 Psalm 24 will sing this to a familiar tune will stand together you you let us pray are great and are glorious God we come to you on this beautiful day and we acknowledge your handiwork in the creation we acknowledge your glory in Providence and we acknowledge your glory and power and the redemption of your people we come to worship You Father through the priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ by the power of your Holy Spirit and we pray that our great triune God would be exalted and glorified and worshiped in this place we would ask to that end that you would send forth your holy spirit that Christ would dwell in the midst of this lamp stand that father you would be enthroned upon the praises of your people hear that in all things God would be all in all we ask Lord that you would help us to approach you in an acceptable manner we know that the Word of God defines that for us and we pray that you would fill our hearts with reverence and with joy as we approach such a great and a glorious God we thank you for so great a salvation we thank you for sovereign grace we thank you for redemption through the blood of the Lord Jesus and we thank you for the irresistible power of the Holy Spirit we're certainly God you called us out of darkness into marvelous light was not us who found our way out is not us who through our deeds or our merit deserve to come out but it was solely in alone by your gracious hand and we give you praise for that and as Peter says when you call us from that darkness into marvelous light it is to proclaim your Excellencies and today God may we marvel at your Excellencies for certainly in the Lord's house on the lord's day the lord ought to be the focus in the center of our affection and we would pray to this end we ask that you would cleanse us from all sin and unrighteousness as we ponder your holiness as we look to the scriptures as we see what it declares so clearly concerning you we like why see our own sinfulness and our own waywardness as your people we have not obeyed your law as we ought our conduct has not been worthy of your holy gospel and for this we confess our sins and our transgressions and iniquities we plead a fresh the blood of the Lord Jesus we thank you that the blood of Jesus Christ your son does cleanse us from all said and we pray that that would take place even now that you would cause us to fear you in response and to rejoice in you in response and we would ask that any of any who have come here this morning that have not come to Christ have not believed the gospel we pray that today would be the day of salvation we pray that your spirit would be at work through the word we pray that you'd bring conviction for sin and show sinners the remedy that is the Lord Jesus Christ alone and we pray that today men and women and boys and girls would look and live that they would know the joy of being found in Jesus Christ not having their own righteousness which is from the law but that righteousness which is given freely by you received through faith alone God we know that you are good we know that you are just we know that you're a sovereign God and we pray that you would have mercy upon sinners here we pray for other churches here in chilliwack we thank you and bless you that we're not alone we thank you and bless you that other men are preaching the gospel this morning and we pray that you would bless that word cause it to run swiftly and be glorified we pray for the entirety of this nation that you would revive your people that you would revive your churches and that we would think your thoughts after you that we would have a high view of Holy Scripture that we would hear through the Word of God the voice of Jehovah himself that voice that is able to shatter the Cedars of Lebanon give us ears to hear it hearts to respond to that word for your glory sake and we pray for those God who are dead in their trespasses and sins it is not moralism it is not self help that they stand in need of it is the good news of Christ and him crucified so we pray that as that gospel is preached the spirit would be at work that you would awaken those who are dead in their trespasses and sins and grant them grace to close with our Lord Jesus Christ we would pray our Father that you would look with favor upon those in our midst who have physical trials and ongoing challenges and difficulties we just commit them to you into the word of your grace we acknowledge that you are the Great Physician we acknowledge that you always work all things out for the good of your people to those who are the called according to your purpose and we pray that you would remind our dear brethren of these of these truths that you would encourage their hearts and though the outer man de Cade's we pray that inner man would be renewed day by day for all of us God we come here with spiritual trials and struggles and difficulties and we trust in your gracious care over your church that you would fill us with those things that we stand in need of give us ears to hear and hearts to respond to the Word of God and may you indeed lead us in those blessed pastures of truth and rest we ask God that you look with favor upon the suffering Saints throughout the world we thank you for the liberties that we do enjoy in this country we pray that you would protect them by your grace and power we pray for those who are suffering in other parts of this world we ask God in heaven that you would look with favor upon your church she would bless protection and strength and perseverance in the midst of trial and suffering we pray that your people would know your nearness and your kindness as they're good and they would rejoice even to count themselves worthy to suffer shame for the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ plus Asia Bibby and bless Saeed Abedini bless those God we have brought before you so many so many times and in many occasions we know that you have not forgotten about them and we pray that they would get a speedy release and be able to return home the family we pray for this nation with reference to those sins of abortion and sodomy and euthanasia God we know these are things evil thing that men call good and this is an abomination before a holy and a righteous God we pray that in your wrath you would remember mercy and we pray that man would govern men who have principles and men who have equity men who are committed to justice and righteousness God we know the King's heart is in the hand of the Lord and you direct it wherever you please we pray God if it is your will you put a man or man in place that would rule in righteousness we would ask that you'd have mercy upon this nation we would ask that you would bless the preaching of the gospel in this nation and we would ask that you would turn a multitude from their useless idols to the true and the living god lord continue with us now and help us as we worship and may it be in spirit and in truth and maybe may it be to the praise and glory of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well please turn with me in your Trinity hymnal to number 309 hymn number 309 again we'll stand as we sing together you please turn with me in your Bibles to Revelation chapter 34 our scripture reading this morning we continue through the New Testament in our morning worship we find ourselves in Revelation 3 revelation chapters 2 and 3 are the seven or the letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor and one of the patterns that we see consistently in these letters is that when Jesus addresses the Angel of the church most likely a reference to the pastor or the elder within the context of the church Jesus gives self-identification he describes himself specifically and these descriptions come up later in the book of Revelation typically he identifies things to commend them on he identifies things to condemn them on promises gives a promise to those who overcome and it gives an encouragement to them to be faithful now this particular letter in the first place sardis there is no commendation there is nothing that Jesus highlights in terms of commendation on their behalf let's just begin reading in chapter 3 at verse 1 and 2 the Angel of the church in Sardis write these things says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars I know your works that you have a name that you are alive but you are dead be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found your works perfect before God remember therefore how you have received and heard hold fast and repent therefore if you will not watch I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you you have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy he who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from the book of life but I will confess his name before my father and before his angels he who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches and to the Angel of the church in Philadelphia write these things says he who is holy he who is true he who has the key of David he who opens and no one shots and shots and no one opens I know your works see I have K I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it for you have a little strength have kept my word and have not denied my name indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not but lie indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you because you have kept my command to persevere I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth behold I am coming quickly hold fast what you have that no one may take your crown he overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of my god and he shall go out no more I will write on him the name of my god in the name of the city of my god the New Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven from my god and I will write on him my new name he who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches and to the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write these things says the all men the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot I could wish you were cold or hot so then because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will vomit you out of my mouth because you say I am rich I've become wealthy and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched miserable poor blind and naked I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire that you may be rich and white garments that you may be clothed that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed and anoint your eyes the eye salve that you may see as many as i love i rebuke and chasten therefore be zealous and repent behold I stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into him and dine with him and he with me to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne he who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches amen so that first letter to Sardis there is no commendation nothing good spoken by Christ to that church in the second letter there's no condemnation in other words to the church there in Philadelphia they are simply encouraged and commended by our Lord and again with Laodicea there is no commendation either so two churches out of the three in this particular chapter are told by Jesus that they need to repent and one of the things that truly amazes me in specifically the letter to the Laodiceans is how Jesus underscores this call to repentance notice after he highlights in verse 17 their arrogance in their pride they say I am rich have become wealthy and have need of nothing Jesus says you do not know that your wretched miserable poor blind and naked we need to understand the self deceptiveness of sin we can fall under a delusion and think that everything is okay that everything is just so that we're doing the right things that we're honoring God whether it be individually or corporately in the life of the church we may think that we have followed the word of god most high and jesus comes to say to them but you do not know that you are wretched miserable poor blind and naked he then counsels them to set things in order he then counsels them to get things right and look at how he underscores this in verse 19 as many as I love i rebuke chasin therefore be zealous and repent the Church in Laodicea by all accounts is certainly not in a healthy state the Church in Laodicea is in a very bad state and yet Christ comes because he loves Christ rebukes and Jason's not because he's a vicious meanie but because he wants repentance from his church and from his people when we are found out in our sin this is a great mercy when we are found out in our transgression this is the blessing of God if God left us to ourselves we would happily sin ourselves right into the pit of hell but God sends restraint as we saw on Wednesday night the Lord specifically used Abigail to stay the hand of David from lashing out in vengeance against a ball God uses his word to convict us of our sin and to show us our transgression we mustn't ever forget proverbs 28 whoever covers his transgression shall not prosper but whoever confesses it and for sakes it shall find mercy it's in that vein that Christ comes to the Church in Laodicea don't cover it don't be deluded don't try to operate according to this illusion that everything is okay but rather repent it is always the case as God's people and as God's churches that we need to repent we ought not to be surprised about that we ought not to say who me you mean I actually have to change things yes all of us do we need to be conformed onto the image of the Lord Jesus Christ we're not there there's a whole lot of work to be done and the spirit hopefully uses his word and the spirit hopefully uses the things of God to bring these things to bear upon our hearts so that by His grace and for his glory we will repent and as I said every letter ends with a promise to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his thrown it's one of the emphasis in the book of Revelation we need to persevere of course by the grace of God who preserves us by his almighty power but those who make that confession of faith those who profess saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ need to pursue those things that are pleasing in his sight and I went under I would highlight the fact that each of these endings this to him who overcomes helps us with 20 18 when we get to 20 18 will see that the cowards are cast into the lake of fire I wonder if that concerns people because we're all a bit cowardly in some regard or other some are afraid of spiders some are afraid of snakes some are afraid of dark places that's not who Jesus is going to cast in the lake of fire the cowards are those who made a profession but didn't overcome the cowards are those that make a profession but because of peer pressure or because of governmental coercion or be it whatever it is they do not overcome their the Cowardly that find themselves in the lake of fire with all those other abominable classes of persons that's the emphasis or one of the emphasis in the book of Revelation we need by the grace of God to persevere will let us pray our Father we thank you for the word and we thank you for its sufficiency in our lives and for the the Church of Jesus Christ we thank you and we pray that you give us ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches by the Word of God and help us God to take these things to heart help us to press on help us to persevere by your grace and for your glory and we ask these things through Christ Jesus our Lord amen well for our final him before the preaching will sing number 390 390 we will use a common or a familiar tune so please stand and we'll sing together you please turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 20 we return to our exposition of Matthew's Gospel matthew twenty will look at verses 1 to 16 this morning the parable of the gracious land owner I'll begin reading in chapter 28 verse 14 the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard now when he had agreed with the laborers for Denarius a day he sent them into his vineyard and he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace and said to them you also go into the vineyard and whatever is right I will give you so they went again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour and did likewise and about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and said to them why have you been standing here all idle all day they said to him because no one hired us he said to them you also go into the vineyard and whatever is right you will receive so when evening at gaam the owner of the vineyard said to his Stewart call the labourers and give them their wages beginning with the last to the first and when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour they each received a Denarius when the first came they suppose that they would receive more and they likewise received each a Denarius and when they had received it they complained against the landowner saying these last men have worked only one hour and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden he excuse me and the heat of the day but he answered one of them and said friend I am doing you no wrong did you not agree with me for a Denarius take what is yours and go your way I wish to give to this last man the same as to you is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things or is your eye evil because I am good so the last will be first and the first last for many are called but few chosen a man will let us pray blessed father we pray for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit now again we ask for the forgiveness of sins we pray that you would cleanse us and help us to receive with thankful hearts the Word of God Almighty may we have a proper understanding of justice and grace and goodness and sovereignty and all the things that the Bible says concerning you help us Lord God to be humble before you and help us to reckon or realize that the kingdom of God is administered by a great and glorious King we ask now that you would guide our thoughts and instruct our hearts and grant us help and strength to glorify you and all that we do with the knowledge of your word and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well just to refresh ourselves concerning the movement that we find in the Gospel of Matthew if you go back for just a moment to chapter 16 what we find there is that Jesus has concluded his Galilean ministry that's the northern part of Israel and now they are going to head south into Judah with the specific intention that the Lord Jesus be offered up in sacrifice in Jerusalem notice in 1621 from that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised the third day turned over to 19 one where we see them actually come into the land of Judah now it came to pass when Jesus had finished these sayings that he departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan and great multitudes followed him and He healed them there so the shadow of the cross is certainly looming large over this entire narrative over this entire half of the gospel record in fact after the section that i read an hour hearing up to verse 16 verses 17 to 19 is another formal announcement by our Lord Jesus concerning his coming death at at in Jerusalem well in this particular section this parable it connects us back to what has preceded remember the account of the rich young ruler he comes to Jesus what good thing must I do that I might inherit eternal life Jesus then points him to the law the man says all these things I have kept from my youth what thing do I lack and then Jesus says I want you to go and sell everything you have and I want you to follow me I think what Jesus is doing there is using the law to expose to this young man his own sin he sort of was like those laodiceans they thought they were wealthy they thought they could see they thought that everything was just so and yet Jesus says you don't know that you're blind that your wretched that you're miserable well the same thing with this rich young ruler he thought he was doing quite well so Jesus says go sell go give and then follow me what Jesus is showing the young man is that his obedience to the law was not as fast idiots as he himself thought and this man went away sorrowful so among the disciples they start to wonder about the the difficulty of rich man entering into heaven remember back in those days and probably much to the same degree in our day we associate a rich person with the favor of God in other words if someone has a lot of stuff he has a lot of possessions he has a lot of money then he must have a lot of the favor of God well that's the way it was there and Jesus tells them it's difficult it's impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven and the disciples essentially throw up their hands and say who then can be saved and Jesus says with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible and on the heels of that Peter then says notice in verse 27 of chapter 19 see we have left all and followed you therefore what shall we have so jesus said to them assuredly I say to you that in the regeneration when the Son of man it's on the throne of his glory you who have followed me will also sit on 12 Thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands from my namesake shall receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life notice verse 30 but many who are first will be last in the last first now notice 2016 so the last will be first and the first last so Jesus tells this parable in chapter 20 verses 1 to 15 to underscore this reality of nineteen thirty many who are first will be last and the last first so that's the function the way that it starts in verse 1 of chapter 20 it says for this ought to be understood as an explanation for the statement of verse 30 and I want to look at this parable i call it of the gracious landowner because that's the focal point i call it that because that's the focus that our lord jesus is setting forth to us want to look at three things in the first place the subject of the parable secondly the teaching of the parable and then thirdly the summary of the parable but note in the first place the subject would argue that it not only connects with what precedes as we have seen 1930 and 2016 are just about the same but it also probably has something to do with what follows you see Jesus highlights this reality in 20 12 16 he then announces his coming crucifixion at the hands of godless man in verses 17 to 19 and as they're cha travelling the sons of zebedee now come to him in 20 22 28 and there's somewhat jockeying for position this is probably the natural tendency or a default position in all of our hearts we want position and it's not wrong to want heaven by any stretch of the imagination if you don't want heaven you're out of your mind and you ought to lay down your rebellion and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ but this desire to have a special place a privileged place I know my brother and I have often mused on the blessing reality of the psalmist when he says I would rather I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my god than dwell in the tents of wickedness I would rather sweep the streets that are paved with gold and and just be content there but there is this in a principle perhaps it's our pride perhaps it's our arrogance perhaps it's the fact that we actually think that God of heaven and earth owes us something besides hell and punishment and damnation that we want this special privilege and I think that's the point of 21 to 16 it is to help us all see that what we think in terms of where we ought to be isn't necessarily the right way we ought to think I think that what we have in 12 16 looks backward and it looks forward it serves as a basis upon which our Lord Jesus will hopefully humble us under his mighty hand so that we will not be proud and contentious and arrogant and think that we have more coming to us than we believe now notice the subject verse 14 the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner we've seen many of these sorts of parables in chapter 13 the kingdom parables notice the kingdom of heaven is like it's not exactly the same there's a correspondence here there's an analogy here we're not to take 20 12 16 and somehow conclude that we are saved by our works in fact it is just the opposite 21 to 16 highlight for us the grace of God and not our works or what we deserve so there's a similarity or an analogy the Lord Jesus is a wise master teacher and he takes these parables and he throws them alongside of us and he teaches us things that we can sort of sink our teeth into he gives us these word pictures and in this one I think it's masterful in the sense that if you are honest you will respond on just like the man who believe they got shorted in this particular parable because I mean it isn't fair is it that those who have worked all day get the same wage as someone who's only done an hour's worth I think Jesus is reeling us in I think Jesus wants us in a particular position so that the glory of God's sovereign grace is what shines and not what we think we deserve you see what is absolutely crucial in our study of the Bible is not to come out on the other end with a higher esteem of ourselves a study of the Bible ought to yield this observation that God is glorious that grace is truly amazing that this word of Father Son and Holy Spirit is something to be praised and adored he is to be worshiped and glorified and these things ought to Humble us it ought to put us in the ground it ought to make us a lowly and a contrite people it ought to make us a people who tremble at the word of God and not to bring arrogance to pass now notice as well what group is Jesus talking about if you read the commentators there's a lot of sort of suppositions some say that Jesus is dealing with Jews and Gentiles the Jews who were the first to be called and the Gentiles who were the last to be called that's not in the context some say it's talking about the leaders of the twelve themselves very specifically Peter and the other apostles they'll have a rude awakening if they saw mouthy they're going to be better off than those persons called in the eleventh hour some suppose it's referencing different ages of those who come into the kingdom some of the commentators make a plug for the older convert I want to make a plug for the older convert as well if you're older and you haven't believed the gospel you should believe the gospel Jesus virgin said there is no fool more foolish than a gray headed fool laid down your rebellion and flee to the Savior and know the joy of being found in him some say it applies to death bed conversions you know those who are converted in the eleventh hour of life now none of those are absolutely dealt with in the context I think if any of them it's probably the leadership that the context leans more toward for the reasons I gave you before what precedes and what follows but it applies in all those situations doesn't it it applies in all those situations because it highlights to us the grace of God in the Jew Gentile distinction yes to the Jews first and also to the Greeks those same breaks or gentiles enter into that same heaven by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone it applies to age groups those who are converted at 15 or 20 and live their lives for 50 60 70 years and they seek to be faithful they will enter into heaven and that man who on his deathbed by God's grace lays hold of Jesus is going to enter into heaven it's truly amazing isn't it it's truly glorious grace that's the focus that we need to appreciate in this situation now let's look at the teaching of the parable it's too broad sections here first the hiring of the workers versus 127 and then reckoning with the workers in verses 8 to 15 so they're hired and then they're paid they are collected and then they are given their recompense now note in the first place with reference to the hiring we see that the kingdom is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard this smacks of God he is the one that we are to understand as the landowner and it would only be God who functions that way we would not function the way that this landowner does we would say to the 11th hour worker you didn't do much work we're only going to give you a fraction of a Denarius it is God's abundant grace that is conspicuous here the prophets referred often to God in Israel with reference to this vineyard imagery it's going to come up again in chapter 21 when G Jesus teaches two more parables on this particular subject now notice in the early morning hire some workers and the reckoning is based on the Roman calendar or the Roman way to reckon the day the early morning six o'clock third hour nine o'clock sixth and ninth hour twelve o'clock in and twelve o'clock in three o'clock respectively and then the eleventh hour is five o'clock so that was the work day in the Roman reckoning and that's how this proceed so he first of all goes to these early morning man and he hires that notice specifically what it says in verse 2 now when he had agreed with the laborers for a Denarius a day he sent them into his vineyard the Denarius was a common wage for one day's service it was the common wage is neither my zoli it's neither generous it is what it was that's the common paid for a day laborer he goes on again in verse 3 about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace and he said to them you also go into the vineyard and what is right i will give you you know what that does what is right i will give you if you had never read this before it would increase the tension of the bearable there's a curiosity hopefully building upon our hearts and we come to parables like these having heard them preached having read them ourselves and coming to them as sort of old hat but it's a story that Jesus towels designed to highlight the generosity and the graciousness of his father in heaven we ought to feel that tension bill he says whatever is right i will pay you what is right if it's right to pay a man who starts at 6am a Denarius what's it right to pay a man who works at 9am it's probably less than a Denarius isn't it I mean come on brethren appreciate the passage Jesus as i said is setting for something to us to show us this principle that god's grace is not a commercial transaction God's grace is not parceled out to man based on their merit or their desserts we have to understand this fundamental principles set forth in the entirety of God's Word the only thing we deserve the only thing we have merited from God is hell damnation judgment punishment and wrath that's what we deserve have you felt that in your own heart have you embraced that reality have you come to grips with the fact that you're really not as good as you think you are the standard of goodness is caught the standard of righteousness is you shall have no other gods before him you say well pastor Butler I don't worship sticks I don't worship stones I don't bow to idols I submit that every time you look into a mirror there is a rival God in your life that is what we're drawn to isn't it ourselves a love of self my worth my value my hopes my dreams narcissism isn't just a problem out there narcissism is a problem in here for all of us the Lord God Almighty says we are to honor him in all that we do and all that we think and all that we say the Lord God Almighty says we will love our neighbors as ourselves if we slap our head and say what does that mean command it's five to ten highlight what that looks like we have fallen miserably short brethren we have sinned against a gracious God we deserve hell and wrath and punishment and damnation and judgment and every vile thing that we can imagine it's grace taught our hearts to fear it's grace that has secured a place in heaven what's fair in this passage notice what goes on vs. 4 i'm sorry in verse 5 again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did likewise some say this just isn't realistic this just isn't realistic well again it is a parable it's like the kingdom of heaven it's not the exact correspondence but some say well why wouldn't the man plan better in other words he knew what was necessary in his vineyard he knew how many men would be needed to collect the grapes and to bring these things to harvest he knew all of this i think this highlights the compassion of the landowner certainly he knew what he needed in terms of harvest but the landowner goes out in the sixth hour he goes out in the ninth hour he goes out in the 11th hour he is a man full of large heart full of compassion and full of kindness notice what we find in verse 6 and about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and said to them why have you been standing your idle all day they said to him because no one has hired us these are probably not the best and the brightest they had stood there all day not being hired I don't mean to be unkind to these particular men but they're probably not the best and the brightest they probably don't look like the fellows that you want to bring into your harvest field again there's a there's a lie a similarity with experience in this particular passage and notice what the land owner says you also go into the vineyard and whatever is right you will receive again what is right for the eleventh hour the man hired in the early morning receives a Denarius a man hired in the eleventh hour should only get a fraction of that I mean one hour of work right he's not entitled that much they probably weren't expecting much when Jesus says you also go into the vineyard and whatever is right you will receive those eleventh hour guys probably weren't expecting a full Denarius those eleventh hour guys were probably expecting a fraction of a Denarius they just wanted to do something for that particular day now let's look at the reckoning with the workers in verses 8 to 15 they are paid versus 8 to 10 so when evening had gone the owner of the vineyard said to his steward call the labourers and give them their wages beginning with the last of the first this is in accordance with the law Leviticus 19 13 Deuteronomy 24 for 18 and 15 what was requisite upon faithful covenant Israel it was to pay those who work for you don't make people follow you don't make people seek you out don't make people knock on your door to get what is due this is just a common courtesy afforded to us in this life it was stipulated by law the man is a day laborer do not withhold from him his wages the landowner here is a man who operates according to the law the man a landowner here wants to make sure he pays his laborers he is a faithful landowner in this regard now notice he instructs them to begin with the last why do you think that is it's so that the first could see everything that was happening if he had paid the first and they went and spent the money in the marketplace when he gets to the last and he hands them the same thing the first wouldn't be there to complain and we need the first there to complain so that Jesus can underscore the lesson of the parable you have no right to complain it's about the grace of God all mighty see that's where the parable is driving us notice the complaint of the men versus 11 and 12 and when they had received it this is the first and when they are the last rather one day the last had received it they complained against the landowner saying these men these last men have worked only one hour and you made them equal to us who have borne the burn and the heat of the day the men hired first believed that they should be paid more don't you agree you don't have to nod you you cannot that's okay too but but really don't you agree what rises up in your hearts if you didn't know where this parable was going that doesn't seem fair that's not right that doesn't seem politically correct I believe this landowner has committed a micro aggression against me because I deserve so much more it's the new pc word out there micro aggression these are us see yourself in the tax brethren I doubt you're the one among the rest of us who can say well it never Wells up in my heart to be proud or arrogant I never think anything that happens is unfair look at verse 11 when they have received it they complained against the landowner saying these last men have worked only one hour and you've made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day the men hired first believe they should have been paid first the men had also received a Denarius just like those eleventh hour man France says they need to understand that the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven does not operate on the basis of commercial convention God rules by grace not by desert they don't get this they don't see this they don't understand this but again it's not confined to this passage there's probably in all of our hearts something like this we hear about a great notorious sinner that gets converted we almost think well that doesn't seem right because he's so bad have you thought about your own conversion can you imagine there's people out there that when they heard that your heaven bound would say that's not right he's such a bad guy you ever considered the time that you actually enter into the New Jerusalem there's going to be people that are surprised at your entrance never pondered that reality that someone there is going to scratch their heads and say you're here you see it happen even in churches sometimes people come and they they see someone you're here well thanks thanks a lot legitimate response we are God hating rebels by nature that deserve wrath judgment punishment and health these men do not understand in the parable the nature of the kingdom of God and they complained about the landowner they complained about him Spurgeon says at the site of great grace envious hearts grow sour so you know this isn't right we have borne the heat of the day we deserve more our beach should be wetter than those eleventh-hour men you should make our pay packet bigger you should do this because it's right now notice the response by the landowner the first place he highlights his justice it's an amazing thing that embedded in this parable is the doctrine of God in this parable are the attributes of God by which we are supposed to judge this world the kingdom of heaven itself Jesus highlights in the first place the hint I landowners justice he says friend I am doing you no wrong did you not agree for a Denarius you see it would have been in justice for the landowner to give them a fraction of a Denarius wouldn't it have been if they had agreed in the early morning at 6am for Denarius and they come to reckoning time and the landowner has his servant hand over half a Denarius that would be unjust that would be unfair but the Lord God Jesus Christ Himself highlights with the Lord God this is justice this passage made me reflect upon another instance where Israelites complained about what's fair and is it and I want to underscore this with all of us we need to be very careful when we cry out for fairness do you know what fair is do you know what just is fair and just is for God to send us to help be very careful before you start prying out Lord treat me fairly in the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 18 verse 25 God says through the Prophet yet you say the way of Yahweh is not fair here now o house of Israel is it not my way which is fair and your ways which are not fair in other words Ezekiel I want you to encourage Israel they're in no position whatsoever to enter into a dialogue on what is fair may I say that is the case with each and every one of us we are in no position to enter into dialogue with God Almighty and start parlaying about fairness fairness is that God sends us to hell twas grace that taught my heart to fear if you ever read this where people right do they say we deserve or you do this and you will get God's grace well if you do something to get something that's payment grace is exactly opposite isn't it is it an unmerited favor aren't you here because you're washed in the blood and that's not because of you aren't you going to heaven because you're washed in the blood and that's not because of you if God gave you what was fair if God paid you according to strict justice if God dealt with you and those terms you would be an al this is this what moves the psalmist in Psalm 130 out of the depths I have tried to you O Lord oh Lord hear my voice he said if you Lord should mark iniquities o Lord who could stand that's the reality of the problem that's the the gravity of the situation if God should mark in woody's who could stand but he doesn't stop there he says but there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared it's grace brethren brace is offensive to the carnal heart isn't it grace is offensive to the believing heart even we got a lot of ways to go we got a long way to proceed until we understand and appreciate what God does in his gospel so the first response is justice notice in the second place the sovereignty of the landowner verse 14 take what is yours and go your way I wish to give to this last man the same as to you is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things this is sovereignty isn't it oh you guys are reformed are you guys are Calvin as that means you hold the sovereign grace that's the only kind of grace there its sovereign God is no man's debtor datos no one read Paul at the areopagus in acts 17 God didn't create because there was some empty part of God God didn't create because he needed us God didn't create in order to complete himself from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Father Son and spirit dwelling and blessed blissful nests from everlasting to everlasting but God created according to his own pleasure according to his own sovereign purpose and in this instance this is underscore to this man or do these laborers who complain about the landowner this isn't fair this isn't right this isn't cool this isn't good this isn't legit we're going to call our congressmen we're going to call OSHA we're going to call whatever group gets involved in these sorts of things because we don't think it's just and legit that these 11th hour workers take home a Denarius and that we those who have been here since the early morning take home the same in areas he says is it not right for me to do with my own what I wish see we have a problem with God's sovereignty we think he owes us we think you ought to save certain person and not save others God is not beholden to us look at Romans chapter 11 for just a moment to underscore this reality in a passage in a context where the Apostle Paul is underscoring the absolute sovereignty of our God he highlights this reality at the end in chapter 11 verses 33 to 36 oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments in his ways past finding out for who has known the mind of the count of the Lord or who has become his counselor God doesn't call you and me God doesn't ask our opinion God doesn't surround himself with advisors God doesn't need someone to speak to him concerning foreign policy or job growth God doesn't need somebody that he can phone to give an encouragement or a nut on who we ought to save what doesn't seek our counsel God is a sovereign being God is Most High God is most glorious notice in verse 35 or who has first given damp and it shall be repaid to him he's no man's debtor for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever amen it's the point in the parable isn't it he says specifically take what is yours and go your way I wish to give to this last man the same as to you is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things so the Justice of God the sovereignty of God now notice thirdly the goodness of God or is your eye evil because I am good you know what sinners think when they hear about sovereign grace that just doesn't seem right I mean perhaps we think that as well miserable horrible people that genuinely deserve the wrath of God are going to go to heaven and we never think that about ourselves but others to be sure that miserable horrible person is actually going to go to heaven there's a certain level or fundamental part in our hearts well that just doesn't seem right there so bad they deserve al they're so bad they deserve judgment again we need to remind ourselves of what we are before a thrice holy God but the last thing that sinners would ever conclude through a study of sovereignty and predestination is that this highlights or underscores the goodness of God you find this falter error within the professing church sometimes you find those who say something akin to what one was one said about whitfield if that is truly the picture of God then I don't want a worship that God because he's more of a monster than any God with whom I would have to do you see it's offensive to people sovereign grace predestination election according not to what persons do or don't do but according to the free purpose of God the last thing that certain persons ever associate is that this actually underscores His goodness you see if God was not good in this way if sovereignty was not a reality if justice carried the day that all of us would be in help already remember reading that name WP is either pink or or or sprawl i think it was sprawls book on unholiness he said something to this effect that even in the heart of a reformed person even in the heart of someone who has embraced by god's grace the teaching on sovereignty there's just that crevice there's that small Newkirk rani as they used to say about the english muffins there is that nook or cranny it's still somehow thinks that we deserve to go to heaven we still somehow thing yeah I understand election and predestination but you know it was right for God to choose me it's a misunderstanding of sovereignty this underscores the goodness of this man not only is he just not only is he sovereign but he's good if he wants to take of the riches of his bounty and confer that upon eleventh-hour workers who are we to complain if God wants to bring into heaven persons undone by sin living in filth and misery and godlessness and he wants to come and clothe them he wants to come and wash them he wants to come and purify them why would we have a problem with that why would we be standing at the foot of that sycamore tree when Jesus calls Zacchaeus down why would we murmur and grumble and complain why are you going to eat it Zacchaeus his house you've never come to my house the reason why we complain or murmurs because we haven't probably come to grips with the reality of our own sin and the glory of God's sovereignty we operate in a barter system world we do this God gives us that I've been an extra specially good boy this week so God is going to reward me it's a faulty doctrine of God it's a faulty understanding of self we are always debtors to Sovereign Grace we always stand in need of what God gives there's nothing we could do to earn or merit there's nothing we can do ultimately to keep ourselves in this state of grace it is the sustaining power of the Spirit of God at work in us you see how Jesus responds when it comes to a question as simple as paying a particular man who starts whether at 6am or at 5pm it is theology proper it is our understanding of God he is a just God he is a sovereign God he is a good god in other words close your mouths when it opens to rail against him close your mouth when the temptation arises for you to call into question his dealings with his creatures remember we're his creatures does not the Potter have the right to do with the pot what he wishes and we all affirm that if we're Calvin mr. reform we all say yea and amen except when he doesn't deal with this particular part the way we think he should you know many of us probably have a doctrinal Calvinism that hasn't gotten down into those nooks and crannies if we miss the job promotion or we get laid off for we run out of money or we contract some terrible disease or we undergo some hardship or ailment or doctrinal Calvinism flies out the window when practically we say this is an air this isn't right this isn't legit this just doesn't seem the way it ought to be why is it the case that good men suffer for following God Most High why is it the case that all these problems have befallen me what should we do when these things arise we ought to bless God for Romans 8 we ought to praise god for the reality that he causes all things to work for good don't you love that phrase he causes all things to work for good I don't think any of us have any problem with understanding good things work for good you get promoted at work you don't get to answer you don't have problems you don't have issues we understand that God is for us it's the all things comprehensively the bad things the hardships the difficulties the trials you realize a pearl would never develop without the introduction of sand inside the oyster you realize that oysters don't just sit there and spontaneously create pearls it is through the introduction of grits of difficult the attention of hardship the same is the case with the Christian life in the con next of romans 8 28 attacks we all espouse and we all love in our doctrinal moments but not as Matt much in the practical moments when things are rough how does Paul continue what is God's purpose for those who he predestined what is God's purpose for those who need for new it is to be conformed onto the image of his son you know the Sun learned obedience through suffering more than likely many of us are going to learn obedience through suffering I'm sure we'd prefer it at a seminar a conference conferences are good teach me how to deal with my issues I'm not saying that's bad I'm saying that's good attend those things get the doctrine in you get the word of god in you attend church said under preaching but it's in the rub it's in the tension it's in the introduction of the grit that men and women are conformed unto the image of our Lord Jesus we need to guard against this mentality that says but that's not fair that's not right we have forfeited any position of ever calling into question what is right or what is fair as God's creature we never had the right to stand before him and enter into a debate or a dialogue as to what is fair and what is right we haven't become his counselors he is not dependent upon us he doesn't need our advice he doesn't need our encouragement he doesn't need to hear from us there's no divine suggestion box that we fill out drop it in there and then he takes those things surveys them all and then makes a decision based accordingly Jesus is blasting that very idea in the parable before us the goodness and generosity of God are highlighted by this bearable sinners do not enter into heaven because of their good performance whether they start in the early morning or in the 11th hour any Center who enters into heaven is solely and alone by the grace of God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ whether it is an early morning center or an eleventh-hour center the same grace saves them that's the point notice the summary in verse 16 as we close our exposition the last will be first this is opposite to what 23 1930 notice in the nineteen thirty but many who are first will be last here it's the last will be first it's the same teaching but it reflects the teaching of this particular parable the last or the the last will be first those who came at the end of the day will receive those good things that the landlord owner out of his goodness and sovereignty gives to them and then notice well Spurgeon says before I move on precedents and the kingdom of heaven is according to the order of grace we need to see that the first our last they still going to heaven even if there is an assumption here even if there is an arrogance here even if there is a pride here the last or rather the first will be last again sign me up on that train even if I'm last to enter in I want to enter it foolish is the men but I can't go in first I don't want to go okay that's just madness last into heaven is blessing last into heaven is bless it so again I think the contacts favors that it's probably a focus on leadership specifically the 12 as backdrop for what's going to happen in 20 but regardless the notice under scored is a doctrine of election your NIV and esv does not have this there's a bit of a variant it's found in 20 to 14 but at the fount end of sixteen it's Ezra many are called but few chosen the idea of being is that this whole transaction does not depend on man in this contribution this whole transaction does not depend on whether you started in the early morning whether you started in the ninth hour the sixth hour of the eleventh hour the third hour the whole transaction depends upon the generosity and the graciousness of the land owner many are called but few chosen it is the doctrine of sovereign grace that is underscored against virgin says the Lord will take care that in the transaction of His grace his sovereignty as well as his goodness shall be conspicuous you see going back to our earlier illustration when you do wander into heaven and when people slap their redeemed heads and they say wow you're here who gets the glory God right when you walk around a corner in that holy place and you see someone that you knew to be a particular wretch back in the day who gets the glory God you see the whole structure the whole purpose the whole plan is for of him and through him and to him be glory it's about the Lord God Almighty we will be trophies of sovereign grace that will be the display in the New Jerusalem will in conclusion so I've already mentioned the text does speak to those various groups though the context does not indicate which one the Twelve Apostles and later converts we're going to go to the same heaven the Peters it's not beautiful we're going to sit at the same marriage supper of the Lamb that the apostles are see the goodness of God in that the graciousness of God in that the generosity of God in that what about the Jew Gentile distinction yes the gospel comes first of the Jew also to the Greek for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith that just as it is written the just shall live by faith whether you're jus whether you're Gentile it's not ray that distinguishes but grace that distinguishes the different ages of those who come into the kingdom never let it be the case that if you by God's good grace are saved at 10 or 20 you say well that's not fair that old guy got saved he dropped dead and off he went into heaven just doesn't seem right I had to slug it out at and resist temptation and to cut off his ID to gouge out eyes don't say that I can't imagine anyone saying that really reflects the reality of sanctifying grace because those who cut off hands those who pluck out eyes those who make sacrifice for the kingdom count themselves blast it is a good thing to Fort go bad bangs for the glory of god most high don't begrudge the older saint who by God's grace comes into the kingdom well it's not right he didn't have to live through all praise God he's saying you say well I would never do this brethren somebody would because in Luke 19 people were complaining that Zakia's got saved maybe you're the few exceptions out there where it's never sort of weld up to say that just doesn't seem right the rest of us need this parable to remind us that God's grace is sovereign that God's goodness is conspicuous and the validity of deathbed conversions we certainly learn here of that 11th hour conversion right there are those who in the $11 by the grace of God taste and see that the Lord is good ronal says concerning all groups true faith in Christ though it be but a day old justifies a man before God as completely as the faith of him who has followed Christ for 50 years you see its justification by grace alone through faith alone that when the sinner lays hold of the Savior he is just freely and in justification what are the twin blessings we receive the forgiveness of sins and a righteousness imputed to us that's classic that means heaven that means joy unspeakable and full of glory the second place I think the parable serves as a warning to believers as a warning to believers again Jesus is not addressing the multitudes here Jesus is addressing his disciple so there's a reason why we saw in the reading of the scripture today and lay in Laodicea there were some pride proud people in a church Jesus a threatens to withdraw the lampstand but when Jesus speaks to them they are still a church they still have the lampstand present they are still the people of God are professing people of God but they were arrogant and they were proud and they said we're good and we're great we're happy we're holding all these things but they did not know this parable demonstrates our tendency toward pride and arrogance we think we deserve it they know something that can happen in the missionary enterprise we think we Western civilization persons deserve it the rest of the world doesn't thankfully not everyone has believed that the missionary enterprise is going forth from every tribe every tongue every people every nation talk to Native Americans before they somehow associate Christianity with the white man we need to try and demolish that lie every tribe every tongue every people every nation there is one Savior there is one Redeemer there is one Lord Jesus Christ and all sinners everywhere need to hear of him the parable demonstrates our tendency toward a misunderstanding of justice it rises up in our hearts to say that's not fair that's not right it doesn't seem just what is right what is fair and what is just means our eternal demise for our having sinned against a thrice holy God as well this parable tends to demonstrate or does demonstrate our tendency toward misunderstanding sovereignty it's it not right for God to do with his what it what he wills it's not right with God to do whatever it is he determines who are we to call into question God who are we to suppose that we can become the arbiter over God who are we to think that we can consult God on what is fair and what is just we can't do that and then as well this parable demonstrates our tendency toward a misunderstanding of grace grace that brings the early morning our labor in its grace that brings the 11th hour labor and as well bruce says the grace of god is not to be parceled out and adjusted to the varieties of individual merit because it wouldn't be grace then read Paul's book called Romans if it is according to works it's not grace faith is consistent with the grace and election principle this is what Paul highlights over and over again enrollments and in Galatians it's why the Protestants and the Reformation demanded and stated and said completely its justification by faith alone because that is consistent with grace with election it is not according to our works and then in the third place I think this text and I'm leaning on royal here has a warning to unbelievers as well I've said that it applies in all these various categories you think death bet you think eleventh hour some of you young people some children might they wait a minute these 11th hour guys got to enter into heaven let's go do what I want till the 11th hour then all come to Jesus see I'm not at the point where I had become an atheist I wouldn't cast off all thought of God I wouldn't discount the reality that God made this world and all things in it if think about fruit just muse on fruit fruits an amazing creation by God look at the beauty this day it's an amazing creation by God so there are some of you in here that probably affirm the existence of God you say that God is you've been around the Bible enough to probably think the god of the Christian system is probably the one that is true and all those things being equal I'm young I'm happy I want to do what I want but this parable promises that in the eleventh hour i can get my act together i can come to god dad and everything will be alright don't reason that way listen to what royal says let us be where of supposing from this parable that it is safe for anyone to put off repentance till the end of his days to suppose this is a most dangerous delusion the longer men refused to obey Christ voice the less likely they are to be saved now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation second Corinthians 6 to listen to what he says here this is most important because i think this does happen young people hear the truth and yet young people want to continue to do their own thing and young people conclude that if the eleventh hour promises is legit here in this parable then it's going to be legit for me when I'm in my 11th hour so i'll wait till I'm 40 really old or 50 really really old or 60 I can't even imagine and when those years calm then I'll make my peace with God through our Lord Jesus Royal says few are ever saved on their deathbed one thief on the cross was saved that none should despair but only one that none should presume he says a false confidence in those words the 11th hour has ruined thousands of souls James tells us that you are but a vapor you're here for a time in and you're gone you may not live to that ripe old age of 40 you may not see tomorrow person Seiryu prognosticating now are you prophesying are you telling us what will happen tomorrow I don't know what will happen but neither do you you don't know what a day brings forth the promise of the scripture is that all those who believe on Jesus will be saved do not put this off do not adopt the mindset that when I'm older do not adopt the mindset that tomorrow or the next day or next sunday or next week come now as royal reminds us the Apostle Paul says now is the accepted time today is the day of salvation do not tarry do not wait do not resist but rather look to the Lord Jesus Christ and live that is the Blessed promise of Holy Scripture well let us pray our Father we thank you for the Word of God and we thank you for this opportunity to gather together in this church and I pray that your word would find its mark into all of our hearts God as believers keep us from a pride and arrogance and wickedness and help us to truly appreciate the grace of God Almighty to marvel at your sovereignty into to see your justice and all of its glory as well My gah see you would go with us now ask that those who are outside of Christ would think through these things that they would have time to consider their soul before a holy God and that they would cry out to you and find grace to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that they might be saved go with us now we pray through Christ our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed