1 00:00:01,601 --> 00:00:04,471 We're continuing our study through the book of Matthew, 2 00:00:04,471 --> 00:00:07,907 and we're going to be in Matthew 20 this morning. 3 00:00:07,907 --> 00:00:11,978 And let me just say right up front, Matthew 20 is an HR 4 00:00:12,078 --> 00:00:14,547 and a payroll nightmare. 5 00:00:14,547 --> 00:00:17,417 And so we're going to approach it for what it's worth. 6 00:00:17,417 --> 00:00:20,520 But let's not approach it from a business mindset. 7 00:00:20,820 --> 00:00:24,391 But it's an interesting it's an interesting passage 8 00:00:24,424 --> 00:00:30,063 that really doesn't stand on its own necessarily as part of a bigger narrative. 9 00:00:30,096 --> 00:00:34,934 And to understand chapter 20, we have to understand chapter 19. 10 00:00:35,635 --> 00:00:41,775 In the original manuscripts, there were no chapter numbers or verse numbers. 11 00:00:41,775 --> 00:00:45,812 It was just one long scroll, one long account. 12 00:00:46,212 --> 00:00:51,017 The the chapter numbers and verse numbers came along much, much later 13 00:00:51,418 --> 00:00:55,121 because it provided us a tool to be able to refer 14 00:00:55,121 --> 00:00:58,391 to certain parts of of the account more easily. 15 00:00:58,858 --> 00:01:01,895 I mean, you can imagine having this long multi foot 16 00:01:01,895 --> 00:01:05,198 scroll, hey, it's somewhere in here and kind of look through it. 17 00:01:05,198 --> 00:01:10,503 So in an effort to help us understand scripture, memorize scripture, 18 00:01:10,503 --> 00:01:15,875 remember it, process it, people later added chapter numbers and verse numbers. 19 00:01:15,875 --> 00:01:18,545 Those were not at all part of the original documents. 20 00:01:18,545 --> 00:01:22,082 And sometimes they got it right and other times they didn't. 21 00:01:22,515 --> 00:01:25,051 And so Matthew 19 and 20, 22 00:01:25,051 --> 00:01:28,221 in my humble opinion, is one, they just missed it. 23 00:01:28,788 --> 00:01:30,356 And here's why. 24 00:01:30,356 --> 00:01:34,994 Because chapter 20 is just the continuing of the conversation 25 00:01:34,994 --> 00:01:38,731 that Jesus was having with his disciples, and specifically 26 00:01:38,731 --> 00:01:43,036 responding to Peter's question at the end of chapter 19. 27 00:01:43,036 --> 00:01:48,908 And so I want to unpack it a little bit together and go back to the end of chapter 28 00:01:48,908 --> 00:01:53,179 19 to understand the flow of it all, because otherwise we'll miss it. 29 00:01:53,213 --> 00:01:54,747 We'll start reading chapter 20. 30 00:01:54,747 --> 00:01:56,983 And and we don't understand that. 31 00:01:56,983 --> 00:01:59,652 It is in reference to a question that was asked in chapter 19. 32 00:01:59,652 --> 00:02:02,655 And it's the explanation of the answer. 33 00:02:02,856 --> 00:02:06,860 And so we have to understand these two things together. But 34 00:02:08,394 --> 00:02:10,363 chapter 19, 35 00:02:10,363 --> 00:02:13,199 at the end of that, Peter is going to ask this question, 36 00:02:13,199 --> 00:02:18,071 what do we get for the sacrifice that we've given for you and the Kingdom? 37 00:02:18,438 --> 00:02:19,873 Legitimate question. 38 00:02:19,873 --> 00:02:23,109 And if anybody's followed, if any, if you follow Jesus for any length of time 39 00:02:23,109 --> 00:02:26,412 and you've sacrificed for the kingdom of God, at some point 40 00:02:26,479 --> 00:02:29,482 there will be the question, what's the payoff? 41 00:02:29,516 --> 00:02:33,019 I mean, other than going to heaven, which that's great, you know? 42 00:02:33,052 --> 00:02:34,821 But like other like what? 43 00:02:34,821 --> 00:02:36,055 Is there anything else? 44 00:02:36,055 --> 00:02:39,259 And it's a legitimate question and Peter asks it, 45 00:02:39,259 --> 00:02:42,262 and in chapter 20 Jesus answers it. 46 00:02:42,262 --> 00:02:46,266 But so we're going to look at I'm going to take it this in a, in a chunk 47 00:02:46,299 --> 00:02:50,336 as it was originally written, so we can understand the flow of it all. 48 00:02:50,336 --> 00:02:51,571 But before we get there, 49 00:02:51,571 --> 00:02:55,341 let me give you the big idea for this first part of chapter 20. 50 00:02:55,375 --> 00:02:57,177 Here's the big idea. Don't miss this. 51 00:02:57,177 --> 00:03:02,715 God's rewards are given by his grace, not our work, 52 00:03:03,383 --> 00:03:05,818 but they're given to those who work. 53 00:03:07,187 --> 00:03:08,354 We have to understand this to 54 00:03:08,354 --> 00:03:12,158 understand chapter 20 God's rewards. 55 00:03:12,192 --> 00:03:16,462 And we're going to talk about what rewards are are given by his grace. 56 00:03:16,462 --> 00:03:22,502 Not not because we've worked, but they're given to those who work. 57 00:03:22,502 --> 00:03:23,937 We'll flesh it out, but 58 00:03:23,937 --> 00:03:26,940 just keep that in the back of your mind as we go through this together. 59 00:03:27,173 --> 00:03:32,178 Let me recap chapter 19 from verses 16 through through the end of it, 60 00:03:32,212 --> 00:03:35,982 verse 30 or so, in verses 16 through 61 00:03:36,015 --> 00:03:39,018 21 of chapter 19, 62 00:03:39,052 --> 00:03:42,722 this this young man approaches Jesus and ask what he has to do to be 63 00:03:42,722 --> 00:03:46,292 saved is a young man we know from Matthew and from Luke that he was young. 64 00:03:46,292 --> 00:03:49,062 He had a lot of resources, possessions. He was a ruler. 65 00:03:49,062 --> 00:03:50,663 So this guy, like everything 66 00:03:50,663 --> 00:03:53,666 was up into the right for him as far as the world was concerned. 67 00:03:53,700 --> 00:03:54,334 He had a lot of money. 68 00:03:54,334 --> 00:03:57,237 He had a lot of possession, a lot of power, prestige, esteem. 69 00:03:57,237 --> 00:03:59,272 And he says, Jesus, what do I have to do to be saved? 70 00:03:59,272 --> 00:04:00,974 You talk a lot about salvation, eternal life. 71 00:04:00,974 --> 00:04:02,675 What do I have to do to get that? 72 00:04:02,675 --> 00:04:03,676 Jesus says, well, listen, 73 00:04:03,676 --> 00:04:07,347 if you want to talk about religion, I'll tell you what religion will say. 74 00:04:07,380 --> 00:04:09,182 Now that's something different than me. 75 00:04:09,182 --> 00:04:11,217 But if you want to talk about religion, I'll tell you. 76 00:04:11,217 --> 00:04:14,454 Religion will say that you've got to be perfect and it'll be all the commands. 77 00:04:14,454 --> 00:04:17,156 And this guy is pretty arrogant and not very self-aware. 78 00:04:17,156 --> 00:04:18,992 And he says, yeah, I've done all of them. 79 00:04:18,992 --> 00:04:22,161 Jesus says, okay, then I you want to play that game? 80 00:04:22,428 --> 00:04:25,498 Let me just press in a little bit more and says, I'll tell you what. 81 00:04:25,498 --> 00:04:28,101 Then you really want to be perfect, 82 00:04:29,636 --> 00:04:30,136 cashing 83 00:04:30,136 --> 00:04:34,874 some of your stocks and go into your bank account and some of your possessions 84 00:04:34,874 --> 00:04:38,144 and sell it and give it to my kingdom and my kingdom work in this world. 85 00:04:38,144 --> 00:04:40,313 Then you'll be saved. 86 00:04:40,313 --> 00:04:44,917 And the Bible says that upon hearing that, the man got real sad. 87 00:04:45,718 --> 00:04:48,187 Do you know why? 88 00:04:48,187 --> 00:04:51,758 Because he loved his money as possessions more than the kingdom. 89 00:04:52,458 --> 00:04:55,461 And he knew that if it was one or the other, 90 00:04:55,895 --> 00:04:58,898 he would sacrifice kingdom investment 91 00:04:58,898 --> 00:05:01,934 for monetary gain and enjoyment. 92 00:05:02,735 --> 00:05:05,738 And he went away sad. 93 00:05:05,905 --> 00:05:10,109 See, this man came to Jesus asking on the surface level 94 00:05:10,109 --> 00:05:15,481 about wholeness and completeness and goodness and righteousness. 95 00:05:16,015 --> 00:05:20,253 But Jesus revealed the fact that that's really not what he cared about. 96 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:24,891 What he really loved was his possessions and his money. 97 00:05:26,392 --> 00:05:28,161 And that was proved by the 98 00:05:28,161 --> 00:05:32,131 fact that this man would rather sacrifice 99 00:05:32,131 --> 00:05:35,868 his righteousness to keep his possessions. 100 00:05:36,135 --> 00:05:39,572 Then he would sacrifice his possessions and gain righteousness. 101 00:05:41,541 --> 00:05:45,211 And it's so interesting that all the things that you and I work for 102 00:05:45,278 --> 00:05:49,882 in this world, the possessions we accumulate, the toys 103 00:05:50,016 --> 00:05:52,852 that we accumulate, all the things 104 00:05:52,852 --> 00:05:56,122 that we have to store in a storage unit down on Avenue 12 105 00:05:56,155 --> 00:05:59,158 because we don't have enough room at the house anymore. 106 00:06:00,093 --> 00:06:01,961 All the toys we buy, the kids, 107 00:06:01,961 --> 00:06:05,465 all the experiences that we spend money on, all of that. 108 00:06:05,498 --> 00:06:10,603 We think at some level, at some level, maybe not in the grand scheme, 109 00:06:10,603 --> 00:06:14,974 but at some level it's going to bring me happiness and joy and contentment. 110 00:06:15,308 --> 00:06:19,278 And this account shows us that all that stuff 111 00:06:20,146 --> 00:06:24,016 does not bring us happiness. Why? 112 00:06:24,050 --> 00:06:27,019 Because the man kept it all and went away 113 00:06:28,054 --> 00:06:31,057 happy or sad? Sad. 114 00:06:31,724 --> 00:06:34,727 If if the things that we work for in accumulate 115 00:06:34,727 --> 00:06:38,231 and spend our money on all the status symbols, 116 00:06:38,231 --> 00:06:41,467 all the things that make us look like, hey, look at my life. 117 00:06:41,634 --> 00:06:45,571 If they really brought joy and happiness this guy would have, 118 00:06:45,638 --> 00:06:47,173 he would have walked away happy. Why? 119 00:06:47,173 --> 00:06:49,509 Because he kept it all. 120 00:06:49,509 --> 00:06:51,010 But he kept his possessions. 121 00:06:51,010 --> 00:06:54,013 And when he said why? Because this stuff. 122 00:06:54,747 --> 00:06:57,016 It'll be fun for a little bit. 123 00:06:57,016 --> 00:07:00,019 And then you got to get something else. 124 00:07:01,387 --> 00:07:02,455 Here's what I want us to. 125 00:07:02,455 --> 00:07:05,958 And one of the things that we have to understand going into this, this passage, 126 00:07:05,992 --> 00:07:09,162 we cannot fully follow Jesus while reserving the right 127 00:07:09,195 --> 00:07:12,198 to veto his commands. 128 00:07:12,532 --> 00:07:14,934 We cannot be a disciple of Jesus 129 00:07:14,934 --> 00:07:18,237 while reserving the right to say yes to that, and no to that. 130 00:07:19,839 --> 00:07:21,040 This guy reserved the 131 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,043 right to veto God's commands. 132 00:07:24,076 --> 00:07:26,979 He wasn't incisal. 133 00:07:26,979 --> 00:07:30,149 So if we're going to really follow Jesus, we lay down our right 134 00:07:30,183 --> 00:07:33,186 to veto what he says. 135 00:07:33,352 --> 00:07:36,355 Understand? 136 00:07:40,393 --> 00:07:42,895 You looking a little concerned right now. 137 00:07:42,895 --> 00:07:45,898 You're like, I don't like where this is going. 138 00:07:49,302 --> 00:07:51,337 It's going to be fun. 139 00:07:51,337 --> 00:07:54,307 And so Jesus, he's talking to his disciples. 140 00:07:54,307 --> 00:07:58,811 This this rich man goes away and he tells his disciples, verses 23 and 24 141 00:07:59,345 --> 00:08:02,081 he said, it's harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven 142 00:08:02,081 --> 00:08:04,116 than it is for a camel to go through a needle. 143 00:08:04,116 --> 00:08:05,451 Now, we talked last week. 144 00:08:05,451 --> 00:08:09,422 He's kind of being funny because Hebrew humor was exaggeration, 145 00:08:09,422 --> 00:08:11,090 and so this is a huge exaggeration. 146 00:08:11,090 --> 00:08:13,226 The camel go through, I have a needle. 147 00:08:13,226 --> 00:08:17,296 But he's making a profound point, saying, listen, it is hard 148 00:08:18,130 --> 00:08:21,734 for people who have a lot of possessions, 149 00:08:22,068 --> 00:08:26,305 for people who have a lot of toys, for people of a lot of status, 150 00:08:26,305 --> 00:08:29,642 for people who have a lot of wealth, for people who have a lot. 151 00:08:31,544 --> 00:08:32,745 They got all the nice stuff. 152 00:08:32,745 --> 00:08:35,748 It's hard for them to be disciples. 153 00:08:37,617 --> 00:08:39,385 Not because money is bad. 154 00:08:39,385 --> 00:08:41,053 That's not what he says. 155 00:08:41,053 --> 00:08:42,755 Nowhere in the Bible does. 156 00:08:42,755 --> 00:08:46,592 Does the Bible say that money and wealth is bad. 157 00:08:46,626 --> 00:08:50,062 Now it says the love of money 158 00:08:50,062 --> 00:08:53,299 is a root of all kinds of evil. 159 00:08:53,599 --> 00:08:56,202 But it doesn't say that money is evil. Do you follow? 160 00:08:56,202 --> 00:09:00,239 And there are many, many, many times in Scripture, both old and New Testament, 161 00:09:00,273 --> 00:09:04,944 or God's blessing and favor is upon people financially with resources. 162 00:09:04,944 --> 00:09:09,282 And he continues to to to lavish upon them resources. Why? 163 00:09:09,315 --> 00:09:11,417 Because they're going to invest it in his kingdom. 164 00:09:11,417 --> 00:09:14,420 And the more they invest in his kingdom, the more he lavishes on them. 165 00:09:14,854 --> 00:09:17,990 And so that's part of God's economy, for sure. 166 00:09:18,257 --> 00:09:22,461 But the point Jesus is making is that those with a lot of wealth, 167 00:09:22,461 --> 00:09:26,465 a lot of comfort, a lot of prestige, a lot of possessions, it's hard 168 00:09:26,465 --> 00:09:30,603 for them to be disciples because of two reasons one. 169 00:09:31,704 --> 00:09:34,106 Possessions, money 170 00:09:34,106 --> 00:09:37,677 and wealth give us a false sense of self-reliance. 171 00:09:38,411 --> 00:09:43,583 And as long as I don't have to rely on God, 172 00:09:44,650 --> 00:09:47,653 I will never be his disciple. 173 00:09:47,653 --> 00:09:51,958 And so the more I self insulate and the more I protect, 174 00:09:51,958 --> 00:09:56,262 and the more I gain and and live in this false sense 175 00:09:56,262 --> 00:09:59,465 of my own self-reliance, because I have enough 176 00:09:59,465 --> 00:10:02,668 and I have more than enough, the less I'm reliant upon God. 177 00:10:02,668 --> 00:10:05,805 And if I'm not fully reliant upon God, I cannot be as disciple. 178 00:10:05,838 --> 00:10:09,075 So one of the things Jesus is saying is that if you want to really press 179 00:10:09,075 --> 00:10:12,812 into being a disciple, start giving away the stuff that you rely on 180 00:10:13,713 --> 00:10:18,751 and put yourself in a position to give and to be generous. 181 00:10:18,751 --> 00:10:23,756 So much so that you're forced to rely on God's good hand of provision. 182 00:10:23,789 --> 00:10:24,690 Do you understand? 183 00:10:26,626 --> 00:10:28,060 That's why it's hard for people 184 00:10:28,060 --> 00:10:31,397 who have a bunch to truly be disciples. 185 00:10:32,498 --> 00:10:37,003 The other reason it's so hard is because the Bible says you cannot love 186 00:10:37,069 --> 00:10:40,306 God and money because one of them will get the priority 187 00:10:41,307 --> 00:10:42,375 God of your possessions. 188 00:10:42,375 --> 00:10:44,944 One of them's going to get the priority. 189 00:10:44,944 --> 00:10:46,379 You can't love them both equally. 190 00:10:46,379 --> 00:10:49,382 One will outweigh the other. 191 00:10:50,116 --> 00:10:53,719 And let me tell you this, the best indication in my life 192 00:10:53,719 --> 00:10:57,957 and the best indication in your life if money has the top 193 00:10:57,957 --> 00:11:00,993 priority in your world, is 194 00:11:01,027 --> 00:11:04,430 can you submit to the biblical standard of tithing? 195 00:11:05,665 --> 00:11:08,668 It's 10%. 196 00:11:08,668 --> 00:11:12,371 Can you go beyond the tithe to generosity 197 00:11:13,139 --> 00:11:16,776 to 11, 12, 13, 14, 15%? 198 00:11:18,411 --> 00:11:22,948 And if I can't live in that world, that's one indicator 199 00:11:23,516 --> 00:11:27,453 that the highest priority in my world is finances, not the kingdom. 200 00:11:33,759 --> 00:11:34,593 I want you to know 201 00:11:34,593 --> 00:11:39,632 something that Jesus talks more about finances, resources, and generosity 202 00:11:39,632 --> 00:11:42,635 than he does about heaven or hell combined. 203 00:11:43,836 --> 00:11:46,238 And so if we're going to be so the Bible, guess what 204 00:11:46,238 --> 00:11:49,241 we have to talk about? 205 00:11:53,546 --> 00:11:55,948 Did you know that one in every ten verses in the four 206 00:11:55,948 --> 00:11:58,951 Gospels is about resources and generosity and money? 207 00:11:59,185 --> 00:12:02,188 One in every ten. 208 00:12:02,321 --> 00:12:04,490 It's a lot. 209 00:12:04,490 --> 00:12:07,893 And so Jesus presses into this and we have to 210 00:12:09,361 --> 00:12:11,397 and and so the natural question 211 00:12:11,397 --> 00:12:15,534 of verses 25 through 30, Peter, will this fine you just told this guy 212 00:12:16,402 --> 00:12:20,339 to give sacrificially to the Kingdom works. 213 00:12:20,339 --> 00:12:22,108 You just told her and he couldn't do it. 214 00:12:22,108 --> 00:12:23,075 Well, here's the deal. 215 00:12:23,075 --> 00:12:26,078 Jesus, we have this what Peter says we have. 216 00:12:26,212 --> 00:12:29,915 When you called us, we were in the middle of a work day. 217 00:12:30,916 --> 00:12:31,650 You called 218 00:12:31,650 --> 00:12:35,988 us, and we gave up the tools of our trade. 219 00:12:35,988 --> 00:12:40,593 We gave up the implementations of our of of our enterprise. 220 00:12:40,626 --> 00:12:42,962 We gave up our business. 221 00:12:42,962 --> 00:12:44,396 We gave up our identity. 222 00:12:44,396 --> 00:12:45,898 We walked away from money. 223 00:12:45,898 --> 00:12:48,467 We walked away from security. We walked away from our identity. 224 00:12:48,467 --> 00:12:51,103 We worked from religion like we gave up everything. 225 00:12:51,103 --> 00:12:53,339 What do we get for doing that? 226 00:12:53,339 --> 00:12:56,342 Anybody ever been there? 227 00:12:59,879 --> 00:13:02,882 Okay, well, if you haven't, I have, 228 00:13:03,883 --> 00:13:07,586 like, God, I'm I'm trying real hard to be faithful. 229 00:13:07,586 --> 00:13:10,523 And we have given up, I guarantee you. 230 00:13:10,523 --> 00:13:13,492 And when shell and I moved here with our three sons, 231 00:13:14,026 --> 00:13:17,029 we gave up everything. 232 00:13:17,696 --> 00:13:19,431 The house we own down 233 00:13:19,431 --> 00:13:22,434 south, our friends relationships 234 00:13:22,701 --> 00:13:25,704 gave up a paycheck, I mean. 235 00:13:27,506 --> 00:13:29,875 My wife gave up a really part 236 00:13:29,875 --> 00:13:33,612 time, joyful opportunity to be with our kids 237 00:13:33,612 --> 00:13:37,383 and work at the sound like it was just a great scenario, gave it all up, 238 00:13:38,951 --> 00:13:40,052 and there was a long 239 00:13:40,052 --> 00:13:43,055 time I was like, okay, Lord. 240 00:13:45,958 --> 00:13:48,961 I mean, I get the question 241 00:13:49,228 --> 00:13:51,864 and Jesus says, listen, 242 00:13:51,864 --> 00:13:55,100 anybody who's given up relationships 243 00:13:55,100 --> 00:13:58,103 and homes and finances 244 00:13:58,103 --> 00:14:01,874 and people, people, whatever you it it is noticed, 245 00:14:01,907 --> 00:14:04,910 it is known, it will be 246 00:14:06,078 --> 00:14:07,546 rewarded. 247 00:14:07,546 --> 00:14:10,149 No sacrifice that you give for the kingdom. 248 00:14:10,149 --> 00:14:12,017 Well, it goes unnoticed and unrewarded. 249 00:14:12,017 --> 00:14:14,820 That's what he says. 250 00:14:14,820 --> 00:14:17,423 But but please, let me let me press into this. 251 00:14:17,423 --> 00:14:20,192 Now we have to get this part. 252 00:14:20,192 --> 00:14:23,863 That kingdom surrender is not a strategy 253 00:14:23,863 --> 00:14:26,866 to get more from God. 254 00:14:26,899 --> 00:14:29,902 But we gotta get we gotta understand this 255 00:14:31,537 --> 00:14:34,773 just because I'm giving something up for the kingdom, 256 00:14:34,773 --> 00:14:38,510 that's not a strategy to manipulate God's hand, to make him give me more. 257 00:14:38,544 --> 00:14:40,112 We we gotta be clear about that. 258 00:14:40,112 --> 00:14:42,014 He will not be manipulated, 259 00:14:43,382 --> 00:14:44,283 but it is a 260 00:14:44,283 --> 00:14:47,253 recognition that God Himself is the treasure. 261 00:14:48,220 --> 00:14:49,655 That's why I would give it up. 262 00:14:49,655 --> 00:14:53,158 Because he's the treasure not to get treasure. 263 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,363 Do you know what the reward of following Jesus is? 264 00:14:59,598 --> 00:15:01,901 Jesus. 265 00:15:01,901 --> 00:15:04,904 The reward of following Jesus is ultimately Jesus. 266 00:15:09,508 --> 00:15:13,612 And so this is the context that we enter chapter 20. 267 00:15:14,546 --> 00:15:15,714 That's the context. 268 00:15:15,714 --> 00:15:17,516 That's the conversation. 269 00:15:17,516 --> 00:15:19,118 Peter has asked this question. 270 00:15:19,118 --> 00:15:22,121 Jesus is he's he's initially addressed it. 271 00:15:22,121 --> 00:15:23,022 Yes, there is. 272 00:15:23,022 --> 00:15:23,822 There's a lot coming. 273 00:15:23,822 --> 00:15:26,825 For those of you who give up for the Kingdom 274 00:15:27,393 --> 00:15:29,995 100 fold return plus eternity. 275 00:15:29,995 --> 00:15:31,530 There's a lot. 276 00:15:31,530 --> 00:15:36,201 And then he explains his response to Peter. 277 00:15:38,737 --> 00:15:42,241 And, and and chapter 20, verse one starts with this 278 00:15:42,241 --> 00:15:46,145 the kingdom of heaven is like, look at what, look at what it says. 279 00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:49,615 For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house 280 00:15:49,615 --> 00:15:53,752 who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 281 00:15:53,786 --> 00:15:58,724 After agreeing with the laborers for a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 282 00:15:58,724 --> 00:16:01,694 And so Jesus says, yes, Peter, there's great reward. 283 00:16:01,694 --> 00:16:05,230 And let me give you this parable to help you understand the reward. 284 00:16:05,230 --> 00:16:08,233 And so he tells this parable. 285 00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:11,503 A parable is a simple story 286 00:16:11,537 --> 00:16:14,840 set next to a truth to help us 287 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:17,843 easily understand the truth. 288 00:16:18,010 --> 00:16:21,013 That's where the word parable comes from, its two words 289 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,283 para, which means next to a story. 290 00:16:24,283 --> 00:16:27,019 So there's a story thrown next to a truth. 291 00:16:27,019 --> 00:16:31,757 And so Jesus has just taught this truth about sacrifice and reward. 292 00:16:31,757 --> 00:16:34,560 And he says, let me tell you a story that hope you understand it. 293 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:39,865 Now for this parable, I want to give you the cheat sheet 294 00:16:39,898 --> 00:16:43,469 to understand the parable before we look at the details. 295 00:16:43,502 --> 00:16:47,639 Because here's the danger, the danger, if you don't understand what a parable is, 296 00:16:47,673 --> 00:16:49,274 is that we're going to look for meaning 297 00:16:49,274 --> 00:16:52,778 in every little thing in the story, in the parable. 298 00:16:53,312 --> 00:16:58,817 The parable is intended to give one concrete I got it moment 299 00:16:58,851 --> 00:17:02,988 not to give a bunch of details about everything in the story. 300 00:17:02,988 --> 00:17:06,625 And so everything in a parable doesn't mean something. 301 00:17:06,658 --> 00:17:09,495 The entire parable means one thing. 302 00:17:09,495 --> 00:17:13,532 And so the parable that we'll look at here is not about the workers. 303 00:17:13,532 --> 00:17:15,801 It's not about God's invitation in the kingdom. 304 00:17:15,801 --> 00:17:18,971 It's not about how the kingdom started with the Jews and went through the Jews 305 00:17:18,971 --> 00:17:20,339 and finally include the Gentiles. 306 00:17:20,339 --> 00:17:22,141 It's not about any of that stuff. 307 00:17:22,141 --> 00:17:25,310 It's simply about the graciousness 308 00:17:25,310 --> 00:17:28,313 and compassion of the employer. 309 00:17:28,781 --> 00:17:30,349 It's the whole parable is about this. 310 00:17:30,349 --> 00:17:35,387 This whole thing is about the graciousness of God, our father. 311 00:17:35,821 --> 00:17:39,058 That's what it's about. And so. 312 00:17:41,660 --> 00:17:44,296 He goes, this, this man 313 00:17:44,296 --> 00:17:48,067 owns this big field, probably hundreds of acres. 314 00:17:48,100 --> 00:17:49,501 The the crops come and do. 315 00:17:49,501 --> 00:17:50,869 It's got to be harvested right then, 316 00:17:50,869 --> 00:17:53,238 the way the rains are going to come, it's going to ruin the crops. 317 00:17:53,238 --> 00:17:56,275 He was like, I need people working in my field. 318 00:17:56,275 --> 00:17:59,144 And so it goes out at the first of the day. 319 00:17:59,144 --> 00:18:02,414 Now their day ran from six in the morning to six at night. 320 00:18:02,815 --> 00:18:04,516 So it's a long day. 321 00:18:04,516 --> 00:18:06,251 And you started working at 6 a.m.. 322 00:18:06,251 --> 00:18:11,623 So this, this employer goes to the city 323 00:18:11,657 --> 00:18:14,827 square where men would go who needed employment. 324 00:18:14,860 --> 00:18:17,196 And so he was hiring day laborers. 325 00:18:17,196 --> 00:18:19,431 This is very common. 326 00:18:19,431 --> 00:18:20,032 And, you know, 327 00:18:20,032 --> 00:18:21,433 you go down to Home Depot, you got your tools, 328 00:18:21,433 --> 00:18:24,436 you wait for someone to come by and hire you to train some drywall or whatever. 329 00:18:24,503 --> 00:18:26,071 Like that's what's going on here. 330 00:18:26,071 --> 00:18:30,642 And so this, this, this, this owner, this field says, look, I need guys, man. 331 00:18:30,642 --> 00:18:31,677 I need guys to work. 332 00:18:31,677 --> 00:18:34,513 So 6 a.m., he goes, there's guys with their tools ready to go. 333 00:18:34,513 --> 00:18:36,348 They're ready to rock and roll. He said, come on, 334 00:18:36,348 --> 00:18:39,518 I got some work I want you to do and I'll pay you a denarius. 335 00:18:39,551 --> 00:18:42,754 That was a sum of money, which was a full day's worth of work. 336 00:18:42,754 --> 00:18:44,857 So you work the full day, 6 to 6. 337 00:18:44,857 --> 00:18:45,991 I'll pay you. 338 00:18:45,991 --> 00:18:47,626 I'll pay you the going wage. 339 00:18:47,626 --> 00:18:51,630 So it would be like hiring a day laborer or whatever minimum wage is, 340 00:18:51,663 --> 00:18:54,833 you know, $72 an hour now in California, whatever 341 00:18:54,833 --> 00:18:58,003 it is, and say, I'll pay you, you know, the whole day. 342 00:18:58,003 --> 00:18:59,138 Yeah. That's great. 343 00:18:59,138 --> 00:19:02,241 And so that's, that's the scenario. 344 00:19:02,841 --> 00:19:05,010 And then he goes in and he hires them. 345 00:19:05,010 --> 00:19:08,380 Now watch this verses three. And following 346 00:19:09,982 --> 00:19:13,619 and going out about the third hour. 347 00:19:15,754 --> 00:19:19,091 He saw others standing idle in the marketplace and said to them, 348 00:19:19,391 --> 00:19:22,794 you go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right, I will give you. 349 00:19:22,794 --> 00:19:26,999 So they went going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour 350 00:19:26,999 --> 00:19:28,066 he did the same. 351 00:19:28,066 --> 00:19:31,503 And about the 11th hour he went out and found other standing. 352 00:19:31,503 --> 00:19:34,540 He said to them, why do you stand here idle all day? 353 00:19:34,573 --> 00:19:36,708 They said to him, because no one's hired us. 354 00:19:36,708 --> 00:19:39,344 He said to them, you go into the vineyard, too. 355 00:19:39,344 --> 00:19:42,014 And so he was like, I got my first set of guys. 356 00:19:42,014 --> 00:19:43,348 They're working hard, I need more. 357 00:19:43,348 --> 00:19:46,718 So it goes out at the third hour, which would be what time in the morning, 358 00:19:47,052 --> 00:19:49,721 9 a.m. and he tells them what he say. 359 00:19:49,721 --> 00:19:51,590 You go out and work on what he say. 360 00:19:51,590 --> 00:19:54,593 He'll pay him whatever's fair. 361 00:19:55,093 --> 00:19:59,398 He doesn't say it in areas he said, whatever's fair, and so on. 362 00:19:59,431 --> 00:20:02,701 At the sixth hour, which would be, what, noon? 363 00:20:02,701 --> 00:20:06,138 And at the ninth hour, which would be, what, three in afternoon? 364 00:20:06,138 --> 00:20:09,074 Just whatever's fair and they go work. Why not? 365 00:20:09,074 --> 00:20:12,077 Because they've been promised a wage, but 366 00:20:12,077 --> 00:20:15,914 because they trust the character and the integrity of the employer. 367 00:20:16,915 --> 00:20:18,650 They trust him. 368 00:20:18,650 --> 00:20:21,253 And so they're employed by him. 369 00:20:21,253 --> 00:20:24,957 They trust that he'll do what's fair, he'll do what's right. 370 00:20:25,224 --> 00:20:29,428 And so even at the at the at the, at the what our 371 00:20:29,628 --> 00:20:33,298 is the last one hired 11th hour is what time. 372 00:20:33,732 --> 00:20:35,133 Five in the evening. Wednesday. 373 00:20:35,133 --> 00:20:36,134 Over. 374 00:20:36,134 --> 00:20:39,137 He's there going to work one hour. 375 00:20:39,171 --> 00:20:40,272 And what does he say. 376 00:20:40,272 --> 00:20:43,275 He'll pay them. 377 00:20:43,275 --> 00:20:45,143 No, nothing. 378 00:20:45,143 --> 00:20:47,112 He doesn't say. I'll pay him anything. He says go to work. 379 00:20:47,112 --> 00:20:48,013 They said okay, right. 380 00:20:48,013 --> 00:20:48,814 His question 381 00:20:48,814 --> 00:20:52,351 to each one of those groups said, why are you standing here not working? 382 00:20:53,352 --> 00:20:57,789 Why are you standing here just absorbing what's in the world go by. 383 00:20:57,823 --> 00:21:00,025 Why aren't you doing something? 384 00:21:00,025 --> 00:21:02,794 There's work to be done. 385 00:21:02,794 --> 00:21:05,030 I don't care if you jump in early or late. 386 00:21:05,030 --> 00:21:06,531 Just jump in. 387 00:21:08,066 --> 00:21:08,734 And the 388 00:21:08,734 --> 00:21:11,937 last one, who's hired at five in the evening, they work one hour. 389 00:21:11,970 --> 00:21:14,072 They're not even told they'll get anything. 390 00:21:14,072 --> 00:21:17,075 They just realize the value of the work. 391 00:21:18,210 --> 00:21:21,546 They realize what what good it will produce and what good will do them. 392 00:21:21,546 --> 00:21:23,582 And so they jump in. 393 00:21:23,582 --> 00:21:26,585 Do you see this? 394 00:21:26,985 --> 00:21:28,620 And the store. 395 00:21:28,620 --> 00:21:32,557 This whole story is, though we can draw some lessons from the workers, 396 00:21:32,557 --> 00:21:35,694 the stories about the graciousness of the employer. 397 00:21:35,694 --> 00:21:38,530 And we're going to see in profound measure in just a moment. 398 00:21:38,530 --> 00:21:41,533 But they jump in. 399 00:21:43,001 --> 00:21:45,437 Look at verse eight. 400 00:21:45,437 --> 00:21:49,374 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard 401 00:21:49,374 --> 00:21:51,443 said to his foreman, call the laborers 402 00:21:51,443 --> 00:21:55,380 and pay them their wages, beginning with the last up to the first. 403 00:21:55,380 --> 00:21:56,915 That's an important little phrase. 404 00:21:56,915 --> 00:21:59,951 You're just going to say it over and over, or first and last and last first. 405 00:21:59,951 --> 00:22:02,321 So start were the ones who were hired. At what time? 406 00:22:03,255 --> 00:22:06,258 5:00. 407 00:22:07,559 --> 00:22:08,627 And when those hired 408 00:22:08,627 --> 00:22:11,630 about the 11th hour came, each of them received a dinner. 409 00:22:11,663 --> 00:22:16,001 How much did they get for one hours work and it tire day's worth of work money. 410 00:22:16,134 --> 00:22:17,736 Well, wow. 411 00:22:17,736 --> 00:22:20,639 That's awesome. 412 00:22:20,639 --> 00:22:21,306 Right? 413 00:22:21,306 --> 00:22:25,410 You work one hour and you get 150 bucks. 414 00:22:25,410 --> 00:22:26,111 That's not bad. 415 00:22:26,111 --> 00:22:27,579 That's like lawyer wages right there. 416 00:22:27,579 --> 00:22:30,582 That's not bad. 417 00:22:32,050 --> 00:22:33,919 Now, those hired first came. 418 00:22:33,919 --> 00:22:37,823 They thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 419 00:22:37,823 --> 00:22:40,692 And on receiving it, they grumbled at the master of the house. 420 00:22:40,692 --> 00:22:42,994 Okay, wait. 421 00:22:42,994 --> 00:22:45,997 Why are you so upset? 422 00:22:46,298 --> 00:22:50,602 You got exactly what you were promised. 423 00:22:51,002 --> 00:22:53,071 He was completely fair to you. 424 00:22:53,071 --> 00:22:56,074 Why do you grumble? 425 00:22:58,043 --> 00:23:00,879 They grumbled because they got what was fair. 426 00:23:00,879 --> 00:23:03,315 But others got what was gracious. 427 00:23:06,752 --> 00:23:09,221 The others got grace. 428 00:23:09,221 --> 00:23:12,224 They got fair. 429 00:23:12,657 --> 00:23:15,227 See, they didn't mind their payment 430 00:23:15,227 --> 00:23:18,630 until they saw the grace that others received. 431 00:23:21,032 --> 00:23:23,535 Religious people want what's fair. 432 00:23:23,535 --> 00:23:26,538 And till they see how wonderful grace is. 433 00:23:30,108 --> 00:23:32,344 It says, why do you look at what he says? 434 00:23:32,344 --> 00:23:35,347 Verses 13, 14, 15. 435 00:23:37,082 --> 00:23:38,350 Let me go back to 436 00:23:38,350 --> 00:23:41,353 let me go back to to verse 12. 437 00:23:42,187 --> 00:23:46,792 They said, these last workers only worked only one hour, 438 00:23:46,825 --> 00:23:50,996 and you've made them equal to us because they thought they deserved more. 439 00:23:51,630 --> 00:23:54,633 After all we've done, 440 00:23:54,833 --> 00:23:57,469 you made them equal to us 441 00:23:57,469 --> 00:24:00,772 who have borne the burden of the day in the scorching heat. 442 00:24:00,772 --> 00:24:03,775 But he replied to one of them, friend. 443 00:24:04,176 --> 00:24:07,078 Am I doing you? I am doing, you know, wrong. 444 00:24:07,078 --> 00:24:09,948 Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 445 00:24:09,948 --> 00:24:12,951 Take what belongs to you and go. 446 00:24:12,984 --> 00:24:18,323 I chose to give the last workers as I give to you. 447 00:24:20,091 --> 00:24:21,493 Am I not allowed to 448 00:24:21,493 --> 00:24:25,297 do what I choose with what belongs to me? 449 00:24:25,697 --> 00:24:28,700 Oh, do you begrudge my generosity? 450 00:24:29,401 --> 00:24:31,970 So the first will be last. 451 00:24:31,970 --> 00:24:34,039 Says, why do you begrudge my generosity? 452 00:24:34,039 --> 00:24:36,575 That phrase in the Greek is. 453 00:24:36,575 --> 00:24:39,478 Why do you have an evil eye? 454 00:24:39,478 --> 00:24:44,082 That evil eye was an idiom that goes way back to the book of Deuteronomy that says, 455 00:24:44,082 --> 00:24:47,619 why is your eye jealous and envious of what I've done for somebody else? 456 00:24:49,588 --> 00:24:52,190 You think because you've you've sacrificed 457 00:24:52,190 --> 00:24:55,694 and served hard that you deserve more and they deserve less? 458 00:24:55,794 --> 00:25:00,932 What it don't I, as the authority, have the authority to do with what I want, 459 00:25:00,999 --> 00:25:04,002 to whom I want, with what I have. 460 00:25:05,036 --> 00:25:08,106 Why does my graciousness to someone else make you envious? 461 00:25:08,106 --> 00:25:11,109 I did what was okay. What we agreed to. 462 00:25:11,343 --> 00:25:15,614 See the stories about the graciousness of the employer. 463 00:25:15,780 --> 00:25:18,783 Not the work of the workers, 464 00:25:18,850 --> 00:25:22,988 but the graciousness of the employer was not given to those who were idle. 465 00:25:24,022 --> 00:25:27,025 His gracious gifts were given to those who worked. 466 00:25:27,626 --> 00:25:30,629 Do you see how this is playing out? 467 00:25:34,232 --> 00:25:35,433 God's great 468 00:25:35,433 --> 00:25:39,137 gifts are God's to give, 469 00:25:39,871 --> 00:25:42,974 and they're given not because they're earned, 470 00:25:43,041 --> 00:25:46,144 but they're given because he is gracious. 471 00:25:52,751 --> 00:25:53,585 And God's 472 00:25:53,585 --> 00:25:56,588 grace makes some who are last, first. 473 00:25:57,589 --> 00:26:00,592 Look, it don't matter if you jump in at the 11th hour. 474 00:26:01,226 --> 00:26:02,894 It doesn't matter. You've been working on it. 475 00:26:02,894 --> 00:26:05,897 Just trust the father 476 00:26:06,898 --> 00:26:09,901 to give according to his grace. 477 00:26:12,137 --> 00:26:14,239 I love the fact that Jesus 478 00:26:14,239 --> 00:26:17,242 doesn't chide Peter for the question. 479 00:26:18,076 --> 00:26:19,678 Peter's like, look, we've given up everything. 480 00:26:19,678 --> 00:26:20,345 What do we get? 481 00:26:20,345 --> 00:26:23,348 Jesus doesn't say, Peter, how could you ask me that? 482 00:26:23,415 --> 00:26:26,251 Like you're so ungrateful. 483 00:26:26,251 --> 00:26:29,254 Why is that where you go? 484 00:26:29,955 --> 00:26:33,992 You should just serve faithfully without worried about what you I love. 485 00:26:34,025 --> 00:26:36,261 That just doesn't. He doesn't try them for the question. 486 00:26:36,261 --> 00:26:39,397 He said, no, I get it. I get the question. 487 00:26:39,798 --> 00:26:42,601 But you need to understand something that my rewards are different 488 00:26:42,601 --> 00:26:43,635 than how you would do it. 489 00:26:43,635 --> 00:26:48,540 Just understand that the question is okay, but I have the authority 490 00:26:48,540 --> 00:26:52,877 to do what I want with my with what I want with my people. 491 00:26:53,311 --> 00:26:55,780 And sometimes it's not going to make sense to you, 492 00:26:57,549 --> 00:27:00,218 but I will respond to you according to my grace. 493 00:27:00,218 --> 00:27:05,357 And what we see happening here, and this is something I have to address. 494 00:27:05,390 --> 00:27:08,560 There's a difference between gifts and rewards. 495 00:27:09,561 --> 00:27:15,133 And most of Christendom, most especially the American church, lives 496 00:27:15,133 --> 00:27:18,970 in the world of the gift and neglects 497 00:27:19,137 --> 00:27:21,973 the reality of the rewards. 498 00:27:21,973 --> 00:27:24,576 And in order to have a developed 499 00:27:24,576 --> 00:27:28,013 theology and a biblical worldview, 500 00:27:28,079 --> 00:27:32,150 we have to understand the difference between gifts and rewards. 501 00:27:32,183 --> 00:27:37,055 Most Christians stop at gifts and never even deal 502 00:27:37,055 --> 00:27:39,958 with the truth and reality biblically of rewards. 503 00:27:39,958 --> 00:27:42,560 Let me tell you the difference. 504 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:45,497 Salvation is a gift. 505 00:27:45,497 --> 00:27:47,999 A gift is something that is given freely 506 00:27:47,999 --> 00:27:51,002 and received. 507 00:27:51,403 --> 00:27:54,739 Ephesians 289 for by grace you have been saved through faith, 508 00:27:54,739 --> 00:27:57,742 and this is not your of your own doing. 509 00:27:57,742 --> 00:27:59,210 It is the what. 510 00:28:00,311 --> 00:28:00,979 It's the 511 00:28:00,979 --> 00:28:04,582 gift of God, not a result of your work. 512 00:28:04,616 --> 00:28:06,584 So that no 1st May boast. 513 00:28:06,584 --> 00:28:10,855 And so salvation is the gift of God by faith 514 00:28:10,855 --> 00:28:15,160 that he graciously gives because of his grace that we receive. 515 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,595 And we don't work for that salvation. 516 00:28:17,595 --> 00:28:19,097 Everybody understand? 517 00:28:19,097 --> 00:28:25,670 So that salvation is a gift of one who has received that gift, 518 00:28:25,670 --> 00:28:30,775 and has entered into this relationship with the father through faith in the son. 519 00:28:31,176 --> 00:28:37,282 We all get the same gift, and we all have the same salvation, 520 00:28:37,282 --> 00:28:40,752 and we were all exist eternally in the same place. 521 00:28:41,219 --> 00:28:45,156 However, we will have different experiences 522 00:28:45,156 --> 00:28:48,159 in that place throughout eternity, 523 00:28:49,260 --> 00:28:52,630 though we get the same salvation in the same place. 524 00:28:53,298 --> 00:28:56,701 The experience in that place will be different. 525 00:28:56,735 --> 00:28:59,270 How do I know that? Because I've read the Bible. 526 00:29:00,472 --> 00:29:02,707 We don't earn salvation. 527 00:29:02,707 --> 00:29:04,642 Let me be very clear. 528 00:29:04,642 --> 00:29:08,980 However, eternity includes rewards, 529 00:29:10,215 --> 00:29:13,318 and our experience in eternity, 530 00:29:13,551 --> 00:29:17,222 in part, will be based on the rewards 531 00:29:17,322 --> 00:29:20,291 that we've laid up there. 532 00:29:20,959 --> 00:29:23,895 Second Corinthians five is very clear, 533 00:29:23,895 --> 00:29:27,532 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 534 00:29:27,532 --> 00:29:33,872 so that each 1st May what receive, what is, what 535 00:29:33,905 --> 00:29:38,643 do for what what they've done in the body, whether good or evil. 536 00:29:38,643 --> 00:29:44,482 And so there will be a time for every Christ following person who will stand 537 00:29:44,482 --> 00:29:50,755 before the judgment seat of Christ and be rewarded for what we did on earth. 538 00:29:50,755 --> 00:29:53,758 Now, this is not talking about salvation. 539 00:29:54,559 --> 00:29:58,263 Salvation is meted out. 540 00:29:59,097 --> 00:30:03,268 Revelation 20 at the Great White Throne judgment. 541 00:30:04,002 --> 00:30:06,171 That is not this. 542 00:30:06,171 --> 00:30:10,875 This is the judgment of Christians 543 00:30:11,075 --> 00:30:16,381 that will receive the rewards or experience the loss of rewards 544 00:30:16,381 --> 00:30:20,552 for what they did or didn't do in their Christian life on earth. 545 00:30:20,585 --> 00:30:21,719 This is different 546 00:30:23,188 --> 00:30:25,990 and most people don't understand this. 547 00:30:25,990 --> 00:30:28,993 I want you to understand it. 548 00:30:29,460 --> 00:30:31,362 Eternal rewards 549 00:30:31,362 --> 00:30:34,933 are connected to faithfulness and obedience 550 00:30:35,266 --> 00:30:39,304 and service and generosity 551 00:30:39,337 --> 00:30:42,974 and sacrifice and perseverance. 552 00:30:43,041 --> 00:30:47,145 Not your salvation, but your rewards in eternity are. 553 00:30:47,178 --> 00:30:50,181 Do you understand this? You. 554 00:30:50,915 --> 00:30:51,749 I know you do. 555 00:30:51,749 --> 00:30:52,917 Let me ask you a better question. 556 00:30:52,917 --> 00:30:55,920 Are you receiving this? Yes. 557 00:30:57,455 --> 00:31:00,458 It's really easy to understand. 558 00:31:00,692 --> 00:31:03,695 There's pushback against receiving it. 559 00:31:06,898 --> 00:31:09,667 Second Corinthians 510 is really clear. 560 00:31:09,667 --> 00:31:11,936 Lay up for your selves. 561 00:31:11,936 --> 00:31:14,539 Treasures in heaven. 562 00:31:14,539 --> 00:31:16,875 Rewards. 563 00:31:16,875 --> 00:31:18,142 This isn't hyperbole. 564 00:31:18,142 --> 00:31:20,411 This isn't folklore stuff. 565 00:31:20,411 --> 00:31:24,382 We're neither moth nor rust destroys where thieves do not break into steal. 566 00:31:24,415 --> 00:31:25,984 Like like there. 567 00:31:25,984 --> 00:31:29,954 There is part of this Christian life after salvation, which is the gift 568 00:31:29,954 --> 00:31:32,957 where we lay up rewards. 569 00:31:34,192 --> 00:31:38,263 This is not judgment to determine salvation. 570 00:31:38,363 --> 00:31:42,867 This is the judgment of what we did on earth after we're saved. 571 00:31:46,971 --> 00:31:49,340 This is the evaluation. 572 00:31:49,340 --> 00:31:53,144 And that evaluation will be rewarded. 573 00:31:54,312 --> 00:31:56,748 So work 574 00:31:56,748 --> 00:31:59,951 to store up rewards in eternity 575 00:32:01,853 --> 00:32:03,354 and trust 576 00:32:03,354 --> 00:32:06,624 that the good master will give 577 00:32:06,658 --> 00:32:10,028 rewards based on his graciousness, 578 00:32:10,061 --> 00:32:13,064 not because we manipulated his hand. 579 00:32:18,069 --> 00:32:19,637 Usually, 580 00:32:19,637 --> 00:32:23,641 rewards are attached to generosity all through Scripture. 581 00:32:24,676 --> 00:32:25,977 Jesus says in Luke 12. 582 00:32:25,977 --> 00:32:27,679 Sell your possessions. 583 00:32:27,679 --> 00:32:31,349 Leverage some of that trust stuff that you got. 584 00:32:31,349 --> 00:32:35,620 Set aside your investments, your income. 585 00:32:36,220 --> 00:32:38,990 Leverage all of that and give to the needy. 586 00:32:38,990 --> 00:32:42,794 Provide yourselves with money bags that do not grow old 587 00:32:42,794 --> 00:32:45,863 with treasure in the heavens that does not fail. 588 00:32:45,897 --> 00:32:49,434 Where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 589 00:32:51,602 --> 00:32:54,305 It's explicit. 590 00:32:54,305 --> 00:32:55,840 Matthew 1921. 591 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:56,641 Matthew 19. 592 00:32:56,641 --> 00:32:59,944 Verse 29. First Timothy 618 through 19. 593 00:32:59,978 --> 00:33:05,984 The question we have to ask ourselves is this will I be rewarded there? 594 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:10,822 Not salvation? 595 00:33:10,822 --> 00:33:13,825 That's a free gift by grace because of God's grace through faith. 596 00:33:14,692 --> 00:33:17,695 But will I be rewarded there? 597 00:33:19,731 --> 00:33:22,734 That's the question. 598 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,770 Do you want to know what gets rewarded? 599 00:33:26,971 --> 00:33:29,540 No, you don't care. 600 00:33:29,540 --> 00:33:32,543 The Bible tells us what gets rewards. 601 00:33:34,178 --> 00:33:35,146 Nobody. 602 00:33:35,146 --> 00:33:36,881 Well it's close. Father. Think. 603 00:33:36,881 --> 00:33:39,851 No. You want to know? 604 00:33:41,652 --> 00:33:43,254 Faithful kingdom service and work. 605 00:33:43,254 --> 00:33:46,257 That's one of the things that gets rewarded. 606 00:33:46,557 --> 00:33:50,762 Faithful kingdom service and work again. 607 00:33:50,795 --> 00:33:53,398 All this primarily happens in in the church. 608 00:33:53,398 --> 00:33:56,401 I mean, this is what Jesus created. 609 00:33:57,201 --> 00:33:59,737 Who plants who waters are one, 610 00:33:59,737 --> 00:34:03,074 but each one will receive his wages according to what? 611 00:34:03,107 --> 00:34:05,243 His work. 612 00:34:05,243 --> 00:34:06,878 So you have to ask. 613 00:34:06,878 --> 00:34:10,515 Am I faithfully serving and working in the Kingdom? 614 00:34:10,915 --> 00:34:13,918 That's one of the things that gets rewarded. 615 00:34:14,385 --> 00:34:17,588 So the question is, will you be rewarded? 616 00:34:18,623 --> 00:34:21,059 You'll be saved through faith because of God's grace. 617 00:34:21,059 --> 00:34:22,660 But will you be rewarded? For what? 618 00:34:22,660 --> 00:34:24,695 For your work. 619 00:34:24,695 --> 00:34:27,698 If you're working. 620 00:34:27,698 --> 00:34:30,701 You want want to know what else is rewarded? 621 00:34:31,069 --> 00:34:32,136 That's better. 622 00:34:32,136 --> 00:34:35,573 Those who live a disciplined, purposeful Christian life, 623 00:34:36,707 --> 00:34:39,710 who apply themselves, who press in. 624 00:34:40,011 --> 00:34:43,014 Don't you know, Paul says that in a race, all runners run, 625 00:34:43,014 --> 00:34:44,749 but only one of them receives the price. 626 00:34:44,749 --> 00:34:49,754 So run, man, run not just haphazardly, 627 00:34:49,754 --> 00:34:52,757 but run it to obtain. 628 00:34:54,158 --> 00:34:56,861 The prize. 629 00:34:56,861 --> 00:35:00,264 Every athlete we know, this 630 00:35:00,598 --> 00:35:04,335 exercise is self-control in all things, 631 00:35:04,402 --> 00:35:07,905 and they do it to receive a special wreath. 632 00:35:07,939 --> 00:35:13,010 We do it in imperishable, and there's rewards based on our disciplined, 633 00:35:13,144 --> 00:35:17,915 purposeful, day in, day out righteousness, 634 00:35:17,915 --> 00:35:23,254 obedience, and holiness. And. 635 00:35:26,023 --> 00:35:27,291 What else gets rewarded? 636 00:35:27,291 --> 00:35:31,062 Those who finish strong and have a strong desire for Jesus's coming. 637 00:35:32,163 --> 00:35:32,830 Paul, at the end 638 00:35:32,830 --> 00:35:35,833 of his life says, I fought the good fight. 639 00:35:36,601 --> 00:35:41,038 I finished the race God gave me and it wasn't easy. 640 00:35:41,572 --> 00:35:43,040 But I didn't back up. 641 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:45,510 I didn't back down. 642 00:35:45,510 --> 00:35:47,612 I've kept the faith. 643 00:35:47,612 --> 00:35:50,148 Henceforth there is laid up for me. 644 00:35:50,148 --> 00:35:53,417 Remember, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, a crown of righteousness 645 00:35:53,451 --> 00:35:56,521 which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day. 646 00:35:56,521 --> 00:36:00,258 And not just me, but everybody who loves his appearance, 647 00:36:00,291 --> 00:36:02,460 who like come, Lord Jesus, come. 648 00:36:02,460 --> 00:36:05,763 And until you do, I'm going to press in and I'm 649 00:36:05,763 --> 00:36:08,900 going to stay after it and I'm going to live discipline. 650 00:36:08,933 --> 00:36:09,734 I'm going to fit it. 651 00:36:09,734 --> 00:36:12,737 I'm not backing off. 652 00:36:14,505 --> 00:36:17,508 That gets rewarded. 653 00:36:19,076 --> 00:36:21,879 You don't know what else. 654 00:36:21,879 --> 00:36:25,483 Those who endure trials, suffering and even death for the kingdom 655 00:36:26,517 --> 00:36:27,151 bless us. 656 00:36:27,151 --> 00:36:29,120 The man who remained steadfast under trial. 657 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:32,156 For when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life 658 00:36:32,156 --> 00:36:35,393 which God has promised to those who love him. 659 00:36:35,426 --> 00:36:38,963 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 660 00:36:38,963 --> 00:36:40,665 Behold, the devil is about to 661 00:36:40,665 --> 00:36:44,635 throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested for ten days. 662 00:36:44,635 --> 00:36:49,840 You will have tribulation, but be faithful unto death, 663 00:36:50,942 --> 00:36:53,945 and you'll receive the crown of life. 664 00:36:55,179 --> 00:36:58,683 Listen, we're rewarded for our ability to suffer 665 00:36:58,683 --> 00:37:02,653 well and even to die well for the kingdom, 666 00:37:04,155 --> 00:37:07,258 that when those times come, there is the appropriate response. 667 00:37:07,291 --> 00:37:09,393 God, deliver me from this hour. 668 00:37:09,393 --> 00:37:12,730 But to realize sometimes we were made for that our. 669 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:17,702 And so I will suffer. 670 00:37:17,702 --> 00:37:21,872 Well, not because it's pleasurable, not because I enjoy it, 671 00:37:21,872 --> 00:37:24,976 but because I know that there's rewards waiting for me. 672 00:37:25,042 --> 00:37:26,510 Man, can you imagine? 673 00:37:32,750 --> 00:37:35,753 Will you be rewarded? 674 00:37:38,723 --> 00:37:40,358 Those who are faithful shepherds 675 00:37:40,358 --> 00:37:43,861 and have spiritual authority and leadership. 676 00:37:46,330 --> 00:37:49,333 It gets rewarded. 677 00:37:50,701 --> 00:37:53,704 Steward your leadership well. 678 00:37:56,641 --> 00:37:59,610 Lead and lead well. 679 00:38:00,278 --> 00:38:03,281 The question over all this is will you be rewarded? 680 00:38:04,548 --> 00:38:05,916 Listen, the point is this. 681 00:38:05,916 --> 00:38:08,919 Don't have a safe soul and a wasted life. 682 00:38:11,789 --> 00:38:12,690 My God. 683 00:38:12,690 --> 00:38:16,193 I'd rather slide into heaven with my hair on fire. 684 00:38:16,193 --> 00:38:19,697 With a beat up, bruised up, decrepit old body for the kingdom 685 00:38:19,697 --> 00:38:22,700 than to coast into heaven on a lazy boy. 686 00:38:26,304 --> 00:38:29,307 I want rewards in heaven. 687 00:38:31,075 --> 00:38:32,376 And in a holy way. 688 00:38:32,376 --> 00:38:35,379 I want more rewards than all of you. 689 00:38:36,180 --> 00:38:39,183 I've got a competitive streak in me. 690 00:38:42,420 --> 00:38:43,254 Rewards 691 00:38:43,254 --> 00:38:46,390 are given to those who worked in the master field. 692 00:38:46,390 --> 00:38:50,161 But the wards were determined by the grace of the master, not upon their 693 00:38:50,161 --> 00:38:51,495 manipulating his hand, 694 00:38:52,463 --> 00:38:54,398 and they were not given to 695 00:38:54,398 --> 00:38:57,401 those who did not work. 696 00:39:00,738 --> 00:39:03,741 I know you hear me. 697 00:39:04,141 --> 00:39:07,144 Can you accept this? 698 00:39:09,980 --> 00:39:11,515 The degree of the rewards 699 00:39:11,515 --> 00:39:14,518 is determined by the graciousness of the master. 700 00:39:15,453 --> 00:39:19,790 See, grace determines whether we enter the kingdom, 701 00:39:19,790 --> 00:39:23,361 but faithfulness affects how we're rewarded in the kingdom. 702 00:39:26,230 --> 00:39:29,233 So the question is, will you be rewarded? 703 00:39:32,002 --> 00:39:36,307 I'm going to finish out this section of Matthew 20 next week. 704 00:39:36,307 --> 00:39:40,144 And Jesus is going to introduce again for the disciples the fact that he's going 705 00:39:40,144 --> 00:39:42,146 to be handed over to people and be crucified. 706 00:39:42,146 --> 00:39:46,050 This is the first place where Jesus tells us crucifixion 707 00:39:46,751 --> 00:39:49,754 and they completely miss it. 708 00:39:49,787 --> 00:39:52,656 But underpinning this whole thing 709 00:39:52,656 --> 00:39:56,026 is the access to this incredible grace of God. 710 00:39:56,026 --> 00:40:00,297 Not because we deserve it, but because Jesus has been sacrificed on our behalf. 711 00:40:00,331 --> 00:40:04,935 That's the blood of Jesus that allows us access to the grace of God. 712 00:40:06,504 --> 00:40:07,705 And that's what it's going 713 00:40:07,705 --> 00:40:10,708 to draw this back to. 714 00:40:10,908 --> 00:40:14,412 It's because of the blood Jesus on the cross that we have access 715 00:40:14,412 --> 00:40:19,016 to the grace of God and his grace lavishes upon us 716 00:40:19,016 --> 00:40:22,019 rewards not be 717 00:40:22,753 --> 00:40:26,891 not not because we've manipulated by our work, 718 00:40:26,891 --> 00:40:30,694 but because his blood and life has been so valuable 719 00:40:30,694 --> 00:40:36,333 that we work to honor him, and we trust him for the rewards, 720 00:40:37,001 --> 00:40:40,938 either on this earth or certainly in eternity. 721 00:40:42,940 --> 00:40:45,943 Listen. 722 00:40:46,110 --> 00:40:48,212 You belong to the family of God 723 00:40:48,212 --> 00:40:51,415 by faith in what Jesus has done, 724 00:40:51,782 --> 00:40:55,052 and that shows up in our world 725 00:40:55,119 --> 00:40:58,122 by the act of baptism 726 00:40:58,589 --> 00:41:02,059 and being a part of a local church family. 727 00:41:02,059 --> 00:41:03,694 This is all the gift. 728 00:41:03,694 --> 00:41:05,863 This is not earned. 729 00:41:05,863 --> 00:41:07,665 Do you understand? 730 00:41:07,665 --> 00:41:12,036 And once we've been gifted, the belong in the family. 731 00:41:12,269 --> 00:41:17,508 Then we start the process of becoming like Christ. 732 00:41:18,175 --> 00:41:20,544 Now we understand what it means to read the Bible 733 00:41:20,544 --> 00:41:23,914 and do a flip journal and and apply the Bible to life. 734 00:41:23,914 --> 00:41:25,716 We understand what it means to develop 735 00:41:25,716 --> 00:41:29,820 spiritual disciplines, to develop the character of Christ in us. Why? 736 00:41:29,854 --> 00:41:35,459 So that we can give of our lives to the kingdom, 737 00:41:35,860 --> 00:41:37,294 storing up treasures 738 00:41:37,294 --> 00:41:41,232 for ourselves in heaven, understanding what my spiritual gifts are 739 00:41:41,232 --> 00:41:45,269 so I can serve the body of Christ and be rewarded in heaven 740 00:41:45,269 --> 00:41:50,441 so I can sacrifice my finances and my resources for kingdom work. 741 00:41:50,641 --> 00:41:55,412 Because I am giving to the Kingdom, and I know that nothing that I give 742 00:41:55,479 --> 00:42:00,184 is ever going to be wasted, and it's all going to be rewarded by a gracious God, 743 00:42:01,585 --> 00:42:03,988 not because I've earned it, but because he's gracious. 744 00:42:03,988 --> 00:42:07,191 And I will go on mission 745 00:42:08,826 --> 00:42:11,462 to my workplace, to my school, to my family. 746 00:42:11,462 --> 00:42:12,396 There's no Jesus. 747 00:42:12,396 --> 00:42:17,034 I'll learn how to share my faith because I'm on mission with him, 748 00:42:17,301 --> 00:42:20,237 storing up for myself treasures in heaven 749 00:42:20,237 --> 00:42:24,775 because I want those who don't know Jesus, who are lost and dying to belong to 750 00:42:24,775 --> 00:42:28,879 the family of God and receive the gift that I've received 751 00:42:29,513 --> 00:42:32,516 so that they can do it. 752 00:42:32,583 --> 00:42:35,586 Do you understand? 753 00:42:35,819 --> 00:42:38,822 This is where it begins. 754 00:42:39,023 --> 00:42:41,225 Don't stop here. 755 00:42:41,225 --> 00:42:44,228 The save soul and a wasted life. 756 00:42:46,263 --> 00:42:49,199 Know where you are in the flip side. 757 00:42:49,199 --> 00:42:52,202 Flow. 758 00:42:52,236 --> 00:42:55,539 There's these bookmarks you can keep in your Bible to remind you. 759 00:42:55,573 --> 00:42:56,574 What's my next step? 760 00:42:56,574 --> 00:42:57,341 Here's what I know. 761 00:42:57,341 --> 00:43:00,177 All of us know what our next step is in that flow. 762 00:43:01,412 --> 00:43:04,315 You know, the question is not do you know? 763 00:43:04,315 --> 00:43:07,318 The question is will you receive it? 764 00:43:08,919 --> 00:43:11,021 That's discipleship. 765 00:43:11,021 --> 00:43:13,424 This is the kingdom of heaven. 766 00:43:13,424 --> 00:43:16,427 I want you to pray with me. 767 00:43:19,363 --> 00:43:23,067 For some of you, you've not yet responded to Jesus. 768 00:43:23,067 --> 00:43:26,003 Say, come and follow me. 769 00:43:26,003 --> 00:43:27,171 You've tried to earn your way. 770 00:43:27,171 --> 00:43:28,072 You've tried to be good. 771 00:43:28,072 --> 00:43:31,909 I understand that's where we start, but where we have to get to 772 00:43:31,942 --> 00:43:35,879 is realizing that we can't be good enough, and we rely on what 773 00:43:35,913 --> 00:43:39,083 Jesus has done on the cross because of God's grace through faith. 774 00:43:39,984 --> 00:43:42,987 And if that's you, I invite you in this moment 775 00:43:44,254 --> 00:43:47,257 to admit that very thing 776 00:43:47,825 --> 00:43:48,759 between you and God. 777 00:43:48,759 --> 00:43:51,261 Say, God, I admit it. I've tried to be right. 778 00:43:51,261 --> 00:43:52,429 I've tried to be religious. 779 00:43:52,429 --> 00:43:57,701 I just can't muster enough goodness in me to do it. 780 00:43:59,570 --> 00:44:02,573 I admit I've sinned. 781 00:44:02,740 --> 00:44:04,274 I'm a sinner. 782 00:44:04,274 --> 00:44:08,145 I can't even live up to my own standards, let alone yours. 783 00:44:09,480 --> 00:44:12,483 And I need you to forgive me. 784 00:44:13,117 --> 00:44:15,419 I believe what 785 00:44:15,419 --> 00:44:18,422 Jesus did on the cross was sufficient, 786 00:44:18,756 --> 00:44:24,828 and I receive that gift of salvation by faith. 787 00:44:25,295 --> 00:44:27,297 Thank you. 788 00:44:27,297 --> 00:44:30,300 Thank you for your forgiveness, I receive it. 789 00:44:31,802 --> 00:44:34,772 Friends belong to the family of God. 790 00:44:35,873 --> 00:44:38,876 And then once you've done that, become 791 00:44:39,943 --> 00:44:44,515 give and goal and make the commitment today 792 00:44:44,515 --> 00:44:49,253 to store up for yourselves treasures in eternity and throughout eternity. 793 00:44:50,120 --> 00:44:51,555 I'd invite you to pray. 794 00:44:51,555 --> 00:44:56,226 Father, I choose this day to give you my full allegiance, 795 00:44:56,860 --> 00:45:00,097 to rearrange and reassess my life, 796 00:45:00,097 --> 00:45:04,668 my family, my schedule, our family schedule, our finances, 797 00:45:04,668 --> 00:45:09,873 what we do every weekend, where we go, what we invest in. 798 00:45:09,873 --> 00:45:12,943 I choose in this moment 799 00:45:12,943 --> 00:45:16,380 to realign it all to be kingdom first. 800 00:45:17,781 --> 00:45:20,551 I trust your grace 801 00:45:20,551 --> 00:45:23,620 that whatever we give up will not be wasted, 802 00:45:24,421 --> 00:45:27,057 but it will be rewarded. 803 00:45:27,057 --> 00:45:30,994 And I'm comfortable with whatever you determine 804 00:45:30,994 --> 00:45:34,732 those rewards to be both in this world 805 00:45:34,732 --> 00:45:37,735 and in eternity. 806 00:45:38,535 --> 00:45:40,437 Friends, in essence, what you've just done, 807 00:45:40,437 --> 00:45:45,776 what you are doing is saying, father, I choose to be a radical disciple. 808 00:45:48,879 --> 00:45:50,881 God, I know by your word 809 00:45:50,881 --> 00:45:54,785 that your eyes range to and fro about the earth to find those 810 00:45:54,785 --> 00:45:59,423 who are strongly committed to you, that you may strongly support us. 811 00:45:59,423 --> 00:46:02,426 So find us here, 812 00:46:02,593 --> 00:46:05,362 those hearts who are strongly committed to you, 813 00:46:05,362 --> 00:46:09,500 who are radical disciples, and on our behalf. 814 00:46:12,302 --> 00:46:14,972 Come, 815 00:46:14,972 --> 00:46:17,975 do what only you can do through our lives. 816 00:46:18,976 --> 00:46:23,413 Support us in the work of the kingdom, that your kingdom may come, 817 00:46:23,413 --> 00:46:27,050 and your will would be done on earth, as it already is in heaven. 818 00:46:27,117 --> 00:46:27,985 May you be praised. 819 00:46:27,985 --> 00:46:29,553 We love you. 820 00:46:29,553 --> 00:46:31,755 In your name of Amen. 821 00:46:31,755 --> 00:46:34,224 Listen, I want you this week to read 822 00:46:34,224 --> 00:46:37,361 the last part of chapter 19 and all of chapter 20. 823 00:46:37,394 --> 00:46:40,464 This whole thing fits together from 20 on 824 00:46:40,497 --> 00:46:44,001 is all about Jesus's last week on earth. 825 00:46:44,134 --> 00:46:47,070 The triumphal entry, the crucifixion and the resurrection. 826 00:46:47,070 --> 00:46:50,507 This is where the Bible really presses in hard to the story of Jesus. 827 00:46:50,741 --> 00:46:55,512 So press and hard with it and I'll see you next week, I love you. 828 00:46:55,546 --> 00:46:56,313 Let's sing.