C:\FCCNET\MATTHEW\MAT19~30.HTM

Matthew 19:30 - 20:16

About the Text

(30) What did Jesus mean by "the first will be last"? Simply that no one has the right to demand more from God just because he/she has been a believer longer. The new believer should be welcomed into the family of God on equal standing and with equal honor as those who have been part of the church for a long fime.

(2) How much is a denarius? One day's wages. Typically, in ancient Palestine, workers were paid daily.

(3) What is the "third hour"? About nine o'clock in the morning. In Biblical times, the day consisted of twelve hours, starting at 6:00am, around sunrise. Therefore, the sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours would respectively be noon, 3:OOpm, and 5:OOpm.

(12) Does this mean that God forgets about one who labors hard doing the Lord's work? No. The Bible is clear that God gives extra rewards to those who sacrifice much in order to be Christ-like in character and fruitful in Christian rninistry (cf. 1 Cor 3:10-15, Matt. 5:12). Yet these rewards are gifts of God's grace, intended to give us hope during times of great toil for the Lord. They are not wages that we can calculate and demand from God as if He owed them to us.

Insights

God seems unfair at times, even to Christians, who often grumble out of jealousy. (1-12)
Christ gives all things, even the little we have, because of His generosity, not because of our calculated hard work. (13-
15)
Christ has the divine authority to give as He pleases, and demands our humility before Him. (15-16)

The Bottom Line

Therefore, we must not grumble about the little we have, and instead be thankful for our station in life, and for the eternal life all Christians have, without comparing ourselves to those who have more. Remember that we are all sinful and only deserve death (cf. Rom. 6:23). Therefore, every good thing, no matter how little, is a gift out of God's generosity. Christ's death on the cross (to take away your sins) and eternal life are also gifts, and He gives these to believers, proving God's love and generosity to you, no matter how "short-changed" life seems to be at the time. With these points in riind (our sinfulness, Christ's generosity, Christ's authority to give), we can accept all things with gratitude and joy. Have you accepted your life's lot, along with your physical appearance, your family background, your childhood, your cultural background, your possessions, your intelligence, and your abilities? Or, are you bitter about the hardships and the little you think you have?

Key Memory Verse

"So the last will be first, and the first will be last." -- Matthew 20:16