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Gospel of Matthew Chapter 20

by Paul George  
9/09/2008 / Bible Studies

Matthew 20:1-34

The key to the interpretation of this parable is found in Matthew 19: 27, Peter asking Jesus, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" In His response to Peter's question, Jesus makes a special promise to Peter and his fellow disciples, "they should one day sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28). He makes a general promise to all who suffer loss for His sake, they, "will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29).

Jesus' answer had to have a great impact on Peter, he was a Jew and like most Jews, he had been brought up unaware of God's purposes regarding the salvation of the Gentiles. In fact, we know from Acts 10:28 it required a vision from heaven to make him aware of God's purpose regarding the salvation of the Gentiles. We must also keep in mind that Peter and his fellow-disciples were weak in faith and knowledge. They were probably apt to attach a great importance to their own sacrifices for Christ's sake, and inclined to self-righteousness and self-conceit. Both these points our Lord knew well. He therefore speaks this parable for the special benefit of Peter and his companions. He read their hearts. He saw what spiritual truth those hearts required, and supplied it immediately. In a word, He checked their rising pride, and taught them humility.

In this parable there are three important lessons; first, there is God's free, sovereign, and unconditional grace. We see His free, sovereign, unconditional grace in His dealings with the world. We see the children of Israel called and chosen to be God's people in the very beginning of "the day." We see some of the Gentiles called at a later period, by the preaching of the apostles. We see others being called in the present age, by the labors of missionaries. We see others, standing idle, because no man has hired them. We might ask ourselves, "why is all this?" It is possible because, God loves to hide pride from churches, and to take away all occasion of boasting. He will never allow the older branches of His church to look contemptuously on the younger. His Gospel holds out pardon and peace through Christ to all humanity of our own times, as fully as it did to Paul.

The old wall between Jews and Gentiles is removed. There is nothing to prevent the believing Gentile being a fellow-heir and partaker of the same hope with the believing Israelite. The Gentiles converted at "the eleventh hour" of the world, shall be heirs of glory as the Jews. They shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while many of the children of the kingdom are forever cast out. The last shall indeed be first.

The second lesson is, that in the saving of individual, as well as in the calling of nations, God acts as a sovereign, and gives no account of what He does. He has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and that too at His own time (Romans 9:15).

We see this truth illustrated in calling of a man to repentance and faith in the beginning of his days, like Timothy, and laboring in the Lord's vineyard for forty or fifty years. We see another man called at the eleventh hour, like the thief on the cross, and plucked like a brand out of the fire, one day a hard impenitent sinner, and the next day in paradise. Yet this parable leads us to believe that both these men are equally forgiven before God. Both are equally washed in Christ's blood, and clothed in Christ's righteousness. Both are equally justified, both accepted, and both will be found at Christ's right hand in the last day.

There can be no doubt that this parable teaches there is no room to boast. It is revealing a humbling fact and gives occasion to many a murmur. However, it is impossible to reject it, unless we reject the whole Bible. True faith in Christ, though it is but a day old, justifies a man before God as completely as the faith of him who has followed Christ for fifty years. The righteousness, in which Timothy will stand at the Day of Judgment, is the same as that of the penitent thief. Both will be saved by grace alone. Both will owe all to Christ. We may not like this. However, it is the teaching of this parable, and not of this parable only, but of the whole New Testament.

The third lesson is nothing in this parable teaches that salvation is in the slightest degree to be obtained by works. To suppose this is to overthrow the whole teaching of the Bible. Whatever a believer receives in the next world, is a matter of grace, and not of debt. God is never a debtor to us, in any sense whatever.

In this parable, there is no distinction made between Jews and Gentiles. To suppose this is to contradict many plain prophecies, both of the Old Testament and New. In the matter of justification, there is no distinction between the believing Jew and the Greek. Yet Israel is still a special people, and not numbered among the nations. God has many purposes concerning the Jews, which are yet to be fulfilled.
In this parable, there is nothing supporting the claim that all saved souls will have the same degree of glory. To suppose this, is to contradict many plain texts of Scripture. In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul wrote, "Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor" (1 Corinthians 3:8.)

Finally, let us beware of supposing from the parable that it is safe for any one to put off repentance until the end of his days. To suppose this is a dangerous delusion. The longer men refuse to obey Christ's voice, the less likely they are to be saved. "Now is the accepted time--now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2.) Few are ever saved on their deathbeds. A false confidence in those words, "the eleventh hour," has ruined thousands of souls.

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up" (Matthew 20:18-19). Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of Him. Jesus asked her, "What do you wish?" (Matthew 20:21). She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand, and one on Your left hand" (Matthew 20:21). Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" (Matthew 20:22). The two sons answered, "We are able" (Matthew 20:22). Jesus said to them, "My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those whom it has been prepared by My Father" (Matthew 20:23).

The first thing we should notice in Jesus' answer to the mother of the sons of Zebedee and to the two sons is the clear announcement He makes of His own approaching death. For the third time we find Him telling His disciples the astounding truth, that He, must suffer and die. Jesus knew from the beginning, all that He would endure. He knew Judas Iscariot would betray Him. He knew all about the persecution of the chief-priests and scribes, the unjust judgment, the delivery to Pontius Pilate, the mocking, the scourging, the crown of thorns, and the cross, the hanging between the two thieves, the nails, and the spear in the side. Yet none of these things turned Jesus away from His mission. He saw Calvary in the distance all His life through and yet walked calmly up to it, without turning to the right or to the left.

The second thing we should note in Jesus' answers is, He was a voluntary sufferer. When He died on the cross, it was not because He did not have the power to prevent it. He suffered intentionally, deliberately, and of His own free-will (John 10:18.). Why did He do this? Jesus knew that without the shedding of His blood there could be no remission of man's sin. He knew that He was the Lamb of God, who must die to take away the sin of the world. He knew that His death was the appointed sacrifice, which must be offered up to make reconciliation for iniquity. Knowing all this, He went willingly to the cross. His heart was set on finishing the mighty work He came into the world to do. He was well aware that all hinged on His own death, and that, without that death, His miracles and preaching would have done comparatively nothing for the world; no wonder that He three times brought to the attention of the disciples that He must die.

The third thing we should note is the disregard for the truth Jesus revealed in the parable of the Laborers for the Vineyard. This disregard for the truth can be found in the hearts of professing Christians today. We might make an excuse for the mother of James and John, what mother does not want the best for her children. However, there is no room for an excuse for James and John. Their thoughts were not focused on the suffering and death of Jesus. Their thoughts were focused on the throne. We should also note, there was an expression of faith in their desire to sit to the right and left of Jesus. There was something to be commended, in that they could see in Jesus of Nazareth a coming king. However, there was also much to blame, in that they did not remember that He was to be crucified before He could reign. Their request reveals the desires of the flesh in all God's children that must be crucified.

There are many Christians, who are like the mother of the sons of Zebedee and her sons. They see in part, and know in part, the things of God. They have faith enough to follow Christ. They have knowledge enough to hate sin, and come out from the world. Yet there are many truths revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus they ignore. The reason for this is their knowledge of the Bible is limited. Their insight into their own hearts is limited. However, from Jesus' answer to the request we must deal gently with such people, because the Lord has received them. We must not set them down as graceless and godless, because of their lack of knowledge or understanding. We must remember that true faith may lie at the bottom of their hearts, though there is much rubbish at the top. We must reflect that the sons of Zebedee, whose knowledge was at one time so imperfect, became pillars of the Church of Christ. We need to accept the fact because a follower of Jesus begins his walk with Jesus in darkness; they may prove finally a man mighty in the Scriptures, and a worthy follower of Jesus.

The fourth thing we should note in this incident is Jesus' response to the request, "You do not know what you are asking." James, John, their mother asked to share in Jesus' reward, but they had not considered that they must first be partakers in His sufferings (1 Peter 4:13). They had forgotten that those who would stand with Christ in glory must drink of His cup of suffering. They did not see that those who carry the cross and those alone would share in Jesus' reward.

The lesson in this incident for the followers of Jesus today, first, we must not commit the same mistake that the sons of Zebedee committed. Second, we must not make thoughtless, inconsiderate requests. Third, we must not make a request without considering the cost. We ask that our souls be saved and go to heaven, when we die. It is a good request. However, are we prepared to take up the cross, and follow Christ? Are we willing to give up the world for His sake? Are we ready to put off the old man, and put on the new, to fight the good fight, to labor in the vineyard?

We ask God to make us holy. It is a good request. However, are we willing to be sanctified by any process that God in His wisdom may call on us to pass through? Are we ready to be purified, and drawn nearer to God by losses, sicknesses, and sorrow? These are hard questions. However, if we are not, our Lord might say to us, "You do not know what you are asking."

The fifth thing we should note in this incident is the effect the request had on the ten when they heard it; they were "indignant with the two brothers" (Matthew 20:24).
The sixth thing we should note in this incident is Jesus' response, "He called them to Himself and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercises authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many'" (Matthew 25-28).

These verses contain lessons of great importance to all professing Christians; first, there may be pride, jealousy, and love of preeminence even among true followers of Jesus. Pride is one of the oldest of sins. By it, the angels fell (Jude 6). Through pride, Adam and Eve were seduced into eating the forbidden fruit. They were not content with their lot, and thought, they would be as Gods.

Seventh, in these verses we learn, that a life of self-denying kindness to others is the true secret of greatness in the kingdom of Christ; "Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave."
Eighth, in the verses we learn, the standard of the world, and the standard of Jesus, are completely different. They are more than different. They are contradictory one to the other. Among the children of this world, the greatest men have the most land, most money, most servants, most rank, and most earthly power. Among the children of God, true greatness consists not in receiving, but in giving, not in selfish possession of good things, but in imparting good to others, not in being served, but in serving, not in sitting still and being ministered to, but in going about and ministering to others.

Ninth, in the verses we learn, Jesus is to be the example of all true Christians. We ought to serve one another, "even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve."
The Lord God has mercifully provided His people with everything necessary to their sanctification. He has given those who follow holiness the clearest of precepts, the best of motives, and the most encouraging of promises. However, this is not all. He has provided the perfect pattern and example, His own Son. It is the model after which we must strive to mold our tempers, our words, and our works, in this evil world.

How humbling this truth is. What searching of heart it ought to rise within us? What a loud call it is to lay aside every sin that easily besets us. In this truth what manner of people ought to be is revealed. In this truth we see how unprofitable religion is that makes a man content with talking and empty profession, while his life is unholy and unclean. In this truth it is revealed those who know nothing of Jesus, as an example, will find at last that He knows nothing of them as His saved people. What did the apostle John write about the one who says he abides in Jesus, "ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1 John 2:6.).

Finally, in these verses we learn, Jesus' death was atonement for sin. What did Jesus say, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom" (Matthew 20:28).

This is the greatest truth in the Bible. Let us take care that we grasp it firmly, and never let it go. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not die merely as a martyr, or as a splendid example of self-sacrifice and self-denial. Those who can see no more than that in His death, fall infinitely short of the truth. They lose sight of the foundation stone of Christianity, and miss the whole comfort of the Gospel. Christ died as a sacrifice for man's sin. He died to make reconciliation for man's iniquity. He died to purge our sins by the offering of Himself. He died to redeem us from the curse that we all deserved, and to make satisfaction to the justice of God, which must otherwise have condemned us. Never let us forget this; we are all by nature debtors. We cannot atone for our own transgressions, for we are weak and frail, and only adding to our debts every day. However, what we could not do, Jesus came into the world to do for us. What we could not pay, He undertook to pay for us. To pay it He died for us upon the cross. "He offered Himself to God" (Hebrews 9:14.). "He suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18.).

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

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