Matthew 20:1-16 Vineyard Workers

Often think of this parable in connection with the offence of the Gospel and the kindness of God causing offense.

The answer to the question put to the last group "Because no-one Has Hired Us" was that true?
Maybe not a lie, so true in that sense, but did the answer hide something so it was not truly true?

Why had no-one hired them?

• Had they been there early in the morning and turned down the landowner's invitation?
  Had they stayed there all day giving the same response at each opportunity?
   
• Had they not bothered to seek such opportunity and just wandered around there late in the day?

There is the landowner's persistence & kindness in extending the opportunity.
Even if, maybe, he had no need for more workers.
Finally the climax of the landowner's kindness - rewarding all the workers 'as agreed'.

The landowner's persistence reminds me of - The Hound of Heaven.
With unhurrying and imperturbed pace, so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine grace.
Away from God it seeks to hide itself.
Divine grace follows after, unwearyingly follows ever after, till the soul turns to Him.

• Are you a seeker, asking what is life all about?
  Heard the Gospel often, but keep putting it aside 'for another day'?
   
• You don't care and are not asking questions / seeking answers?

The landowner came at 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 5pm.
Why 5pm? The day would finish at 6pm and it would be too late then.
The kindness of the landowner in coming at 5pm.

Do you have another hour, day, year to "stand around doing nothing" (Matthew 20:6)?

* Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Kairos time - window of opportunity to accept God’s salvation

* This is the year of the Lord's favour (Luke 4:19).

* See that you do not refuse Him who speaks (Hebrews 12:25).