The parables of Jesus reveal the character and nature of His Father. God hired laborers of many nationalities to work in His vineyard. His offer of grace and forgiveness was extended beyond the people of Israel. The mission of Jesus changed because He was rejected by the religious leaders of Israel. The ambiguous language of the Scripture, the reading by Jesus of the scripture in Isaiah was cut short, the people were not willing to accept the authority of Jesus.

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85: Jesus Tells A Story Of Some Workmen In A Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16

When Jesus had finished his discussion of the difficulties in the path of a rich man entering into the kingdom of God, he told another parable, saying:

            “For the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny 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 unto them, ‘Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.’ And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, ‘Why stand ye here all the day idle?’ They say unto him, ‘Because no man hath hired us.’ He saith unto them, ‘Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.’

So when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, ‘Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.’ And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, saying, ‘These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them, and said, ‘Friend, I do thee no wrong. Didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way. I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?’ So the last shall be first, and the first last. For many be called, but few chosen.”

86: Jesus Again Predicts His Death

Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34

As they were on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus went on ahead by himself. His followers, going behind him, were surprised and disappointed at his leaving them. Jesus called his disciples to him and began to tell them the things that would happen to him, saying:

            “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles. And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him; and the third day he shall rise again.”

            But the disciples did not understand what he was trying to tell them.