Would you open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 19?
Hannah, thank you.
Maybe you've heard this before.
That's so wrong.
Unfair.
How can they treat me like that?
Grumble, grumble.
You know what, honey?
We deserve way better than this life group.
Grumble, grumble.
You know what?
If this church would just realize what we have been contributing sacrificially over the last months and years,
you know what?
A little recognition would go a long way.
Grumble, grumble.
I expect to be treated in a little different way than that.
Grumble, grumble.
To grumble.
Webster says it's to mutter in discontent.
Grumble, grumble.
When something happens to you that you perceive as some kind of injustice, you're tempted to grumble.
Grumble.
When you don't get something you want, you may be tempted to grumble.
Grumbling is almost always born of comparing yourself to others.
And so at the heart of grumbling is this sense of you.
Me.
My rights.
What's due me?
You know, cancer can metastasize in a body.
And it can wreak havoc in a body.
Grumbling is the metastasizing of pride in a body.
And it can do a local body great harm.
God has no place.
There's no place for grumbling in his people.
But you know what is fitting among God's people?
Gratitude.
Humble gratitude that is in constant amazement at God's grace.
And so this morning, the sermon of this title, if I were to rewrite it,
it would be God's grace for your grumbling heart.
We're going to move through quite a section of scripture this morning.
And I want you to see first a stark contrast.
And then Jesus is going to make some sobering clarifications.
And then we're going to end in a parable of God's grace.
And what I want to help you to see this morning,
and what I believe God is wanting to address us with this morning,
is that God's grace compels us to say no to grumbling
and to say yes to gratitude.
And so what I'm going to do is I'm just going to walk us through
a lengthy chunk of scripture here,
but we're just going to move quickly through it
and make points along the way.
So I hope you're looking at Matthew chapter 19.
If you would be looking at verses 13,
we're going to start with a stark contrast
between two different kinds of hearts,
a humble heart and a prideful heart.
And so in verses, chapter 19, verses 13 through 15,
Jesus gives us a lesson on a humble heart.
Here's what's going on.
In verse 13, we have parents bringing their kids to Jesus.
And if you look at verse 13,
at the end, the disciples are rebuking these parents.
They're saying something like this.
Sorry, Jeremiah's real cute,
but the master doesn't have any time for your little babies, okay?
He's got time for big image bearers,
not little image bearers.
And Jesus hears them,
and he says to them,
let the little children come to me
and do not hinder them.
You see that in verse 14?
Why not?
For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.
A couple weeks ago,
Billy preached a great sermon
out of Matthew chapter 18,
verses 3 and 4.
And if you just page one back
and look at Matthew 18, 3 through 4,
Jesus is bringing something to our minds.
And Matthew, who's organizing all this,
is setting up a comparison.
And in Matthew 18, 2, 3 and 4,
we read,
Truly I say to you,
unless you turn and become like children,
you disciples will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
So the kingdom of heaven values humility.
And so Jesus is saying,
hey, you guys,
would you stop keeping the little children
from coming to me?
Let them come to me,
because they are a living parable
of a kingdom value.
Humility.
They're dependent.
They're devoted.
Unassuming.
Trusting.
Jesus is saying,
don't stop these children from coming to me.
They picture something
such as them.
The kingdom of heaven
throws wide open
its doors of grace
to the humble.
Wide open.
And so what we see happening
in verses 13 through 15
is that Matthew
is emphasizing childlike humility.
It is a distinctive trait
that characterizes
a follower of Jesus.
Humility.
And it's not the first time
that Jesus has talked about this.
Back in Matthew chapter 5,
the Sermon of the Mount,
the Beatitudes,
remember,
blessed are the poor in spirit.
Blessed are the mourned.
Blessed are those who are meek.
Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst after righteousness.
These are all different ways
of talking about humility.
Disciples are those
who are God-reliant,
not self-reliant.
We come low to our God.
We come recognizing our need
to our God like children.
So as followers of Jesus,
we are dependent on God's grace,
not our own ability.
So what we see happening
at the end of verse 15
is that after Jesus does this rebuke
of his disciples,
the children come to him
and you see what he does?
He puts his hands on them.
He prays for them
and he blesses them.
So here's what I want to get
into your heads right out of the gate.
Here's what Matthew is saying.
The kingdom emphasizes humility.
God delights in humility.
So much though,
that Jesus moves towards the humble.
God in his grace
moves towards the humble.
He lays his hands on the humble.
He moves towards the humble.
humility
and grace,
when they intersect,
there's an explosion of gratitude.
Where humility and grace intersect,
you've got gratitude.
So this comparison,
this contrast starts up with
childlike humility
humility.
And then,
in contrast,
in walks
a living parable
of pride.
And this is in verses 16 through 22,
the other side
of the contrast.
A young man comes in.
Here's what happened.
This guy walks in,
comes up to Jesus,
he asks a question,
he and Jesus have a dialogue,
and then he walks away sad.
So let's see what happens here.
In verse 16,
a man walks up,
according to Jesus,
and what we learn later
is that he's a young man,
and he's a rich man.
Luke tells us
he is a ruler,
he's a powerful man,
and apparently he's a polite guy,
because he's very nice
in addressing Jesus.
He might be the kind of guy,
dads,
he might say,
hmm,
kind of guy I like
for my daughter.
So this young man
comes up to Jesus
in verse 16,
and he says,
teacher,
what good deed must I do
to have eternal life?
And all of a sudden,
Jesus is smelling something.
Have you ever opened up
your refrigerator,
and you see in the back
a bottle of milk,
and you're like thinking,
oh man,
when did we get that?
What will you do?
You do the sniff test.
You pull it out,
you open it up,
and you just go,
and what are you smelling for?
Sour milk.
And as soon as you know
it's sour milk,
especially if you smell
sour milk,
you're like,
this is out.
This man's question
has the smell of sour pride
in the nostrils of Jesus.
Jesus smells something here.
What this guy is saying is,
what good deed must I do
to have eternal life?
This man thinks that he is capable
of gooding himself
into eternal life.
That's what's behind the question.
It's stinking thinking.
So Jesus picks up on the word good
and attempts to steer this man
to God in verse 17.
Do you see him do it?
Why do you ask me about what is good?
There is only one who is good.
And who is that?
That's God.
In other words,
you ain't good, man.
Only God is good.
Why do you think you can do good
when you're a sinner?
And then in verse 17,
Jesus says,
if you would enter life,
if you would get saved,
you want to be saved?
Here.
Keep the commandments.
Now I'm guessing
some of you right now
are like,
I'm smelling something sour myself.
Hmm.
Is Jesus teaching us salvation
by works right here?
Hmm.
Is he actually saying that
obey the commands
and you will be saved?
Is that what Jesus is saying?
Well, he's not saying that.
Here's how we know.
This is just the beginning
of Jesus' response
to this rich young man.
Jesus is starting to probe
this young man.
Let's wait for the rest
of what Jesus says.
You'll see what he does.
Jesus puts on a bit
of a clinic here.
Now,
depending on how this man
responds to this
will be very telling.
For example,
Jesus says,
keep the commandments.
And if this young man said,
you know what?
Oh, last week,
I was just trying to,
you know,
not murder.
And then I realized
I hate people in my heart.
And I realized
there's just no way
I can keep this one commandment.
I am,
I can't do it,
Jesus.
I can't keep the commandments.
Now,
if he said that to Jesus
right now,
Jesus would be like,
we're cooking with gas.
You're talking to the right guy.
But look how he responds
in verse 18.
Keep the commandments.
Oh yeah,
which ones?
There's a little sour smell
to that.
A little sour pride
to that.
Which ones?
Not quite the humble response.
And then Jesus says
in verse 19
some very interesting thing.
He points them
right to the Bible.
He points them
right to the latter half
of the Ten Commandments
of interrelationships.
Okay?
And so now,
here's what I would do
if I was a cinematographer.
If I was putting this,
this little section
into a movie,
here's how I'd do it.
I'd have a kind of
close-up lens on Jesus
when Jesus would say,
well,
you shall not murder.
He says that.
And then I would,
I would go over
with my lens
to the rich young man
who would then say,
never.
I go back to Jesus
who then says,
you shall not commit adultery.
And that camera
would go back
to the rich young ruler
who would be like,
I didn't even think
about that.
Heaven forbid.
Back to Jesus.
And Jesus says,
you shall not steal.
To the young man
and the young man
says,
not even once,
not even a toothpick.
Back to Jesus.
Jesus says,
you shall not bear
false witness.
It goes to the rich young man.
He says,
I'm not a crook.
Back to Jesus.
And Jesus says,
honor your father
and your mother.
To the young man,
I rise up in the gate
and call my mother
blessed.
Back to Jesus.
Jesus says,
love your neighbor
as yourself.
The young man says,
master,
I walked old lady Ruth,
the widow,
across the street,
coming to here.
I love my neighbor.
This guy's like Teflon.
Nothing sticks.
He says,
all these I have kept.
What do I still lack?
Are you smelling it?
He's talking to Emmanuel.
God incarnate.
The one who came
to save his people
from their sins
by dying for them
on a cross.
He's got a problem.
What do I lack?
Jesus would have been fine
if Jesus said,
humility.
But Jesus doesn't.
Look what he does.
He's not done.
He's just setting this guy up.
He has him right
where he wants.
Just a bigger principle.
The law
brings us to Jesus.
The law
exposes
our sinfulness
and shows us
our need
for Christ.
Jesus
fulfills
the law.
So look where he goes.
Jesus
you want to be perfect?
George 21
you want to be perfect?
You want to be complete?
What he's saying is
this is the Shema
Deuteronomy 6
you want to
love God
with everything you got?
You want to be like that?
Rich wrong man
says oh yes
yes I do
as a matter of fact
yes that's why I'm here.
Jesus says
go.
Oh I can go.
Yes I can go.
And sell.
Oh I can sell.
What do you want me to sell?
All that you got.
Excuse me.
Not only sell
all that you have
and then give to the poor.
Go on eBay
sell all of your stuff
when it comes into PayPal
take all the cash
and give it to the poor.
Jesus is exposing
the true God
of this young man.
wealth.
Riches.
Possessions.
Jesus isn't done.
Remember in
Matthew 16
Jesus
is talking about
being a follower
of him
and to be a follower
if anyone would
come after me
he must
deny himself
take up his cross
and follow me.
That's what he's doing
right here
with this rich young man.
Deny yourself.
Deny the God
you're worshipping
so that you can
follow me.
He's calling him
to repent.
Jesus doesn't
swoon at the feet
of this rich
powerful young man.
He calls him
to repent.
He sees
through him.
and so he says
hey you want to
follow me
repent of your
false God of money
give it all away
and then come
after me.
And then in verse 22
as soon as he hears it
he goes away
sorrowful
for as Matthew
says
he had great
possessions.
Remember when
this is part of a
contrast
remember the humble
of heart
they come to
Jesus
and Jesus
moves towards
them
he puts his
hands on them
he pours out
his grace
on them
what does this
guy do?
Jesus says
come follow me
he goes the
other way.
Verse 22
when the young
man heard
he went
away
sorrowful
for he had
great possessions.
Here's what
that all means
he would
not follow
Jesus
because he
was unwilling
to give up
his stuff.
So he goes
away sorrowful
which is very
ironic
because I thought
that money
is supposed
to make you
happy.
No.
Do you
remember the
rich young
man's original
question?
What good
deed must
I do
to have
eternal
life?
Jesus'
answer about
keeping the
commandments
was just
the beginning.
He was
exposing this
man's
sinfulness.
He was
exposing the
false god
he worshipped
in order for
this man to
have eternal
life meant
that he had
to deny
himself and
follow Jesus.
The answer
to the
question
what must
I do
to inherit
eternal
life is
come follow
me.
Jesus is
the source
of eternal
life.
So here
we have
in this
first section
a contrast
between the
humility of
a child
and the
pride of
a young
man.
One
this
humility
of the
child
Jesus
welcomes.
The pride
of the
young man
he walks
away.
God
opposes
the proud
because the
proud
oppose him
and he
gives grace
to the
humble
because the
humble
come to
him.
so here
we have
a contrast
humble
or prideful
and it's
all a part
of this
section
that's
going to
get summarized
in a
parable.
the
disciples
are watching
all this
happen.
And so
in verse
19
Jesus
makes a
major
clarification.
So we've
looked at the
contrast
let's look at the
clarification
starting in
verse 23.
Now
there are two
clarifications
in this
passage
and you can
see them
with the
word
truly
in verse
23
and verse
28.
Let's look at
the first
clarification
on riches.
Jesus
says
truly I
say to
you
only with
difficulty
will a
rich person
enter the
kingdom of
heaven.
He's
talking to
his
disciples
with
difficulty
it's only
with
difficulty
a rich
person
will
enter
the
kingdom
of
heaven.
And a
little bit
background
of this
culture
at this
time
it was
believed
that wealth
and possessions
were seen
as signs
of God's
blessing
on your
life.
It was
kind of a
first
century
kind of
prosperity
gospel
of sorts.
It's like
hey man
you're
loaded.
Oh man
God
favors
on you.
We see
it showing
up nowadays
and it's
like oh
you've
got a
church
of 9,000
people.
God's
blessing
you.
Oh
you've
got a
church
of 14
people.
Here's
a book.
What Jesus
is going
to get
right here
is that
wealth
is no
reliable
indicator
of God's
favor.
In fact
wealth
is a
liability
to get
into the
kingdom.
So verse
23
truly I
say to
you
it's like
Jesus
said hey
let me
clarify
something for
you my
disciples
only with
difficulty
can a rich
person enter
the kingdom
of heaven
and they're
like what
are you
talking
about?
it's
counter
cultural
it's not
a sign
of God's
favor
it's
a liability
to entering
the kingdom
here's why
wealth
possessions
riches
they can
become a
God
unto
themselves
it's
what
someone
can
live
for
it's
what
someone
can
say
oh
the
love
of
money
I
want
to
love
money
with
all
my
heart
soul
mind
and
strength
there are
some
serious
warnings
about
the
love
of
money
in
our
Bibles
1st
Timothy
6
the
love
of
money
is
the
root
of
all
evil
but
you
remember
this
one
from
Matthew
6
Jesus
says
you
cannot
serve
both
God
and
money
it's
one
or
the
other
only
one
thing
can
control
your
heart
what
controls
your
heart
controls
your
life
and
what
controls
your
life
conforms
you
to
it
and
in
verse
24
Jesus
makes
a
rather
ridiculous
comparison
it's
crazy
now
if
you're
sitting
in
here
I'm
like
oh
well
man
I'm
glad
I'm
not
wealthy
I'm
glad
I'm
not
rich
man
this
guy
next
to
me
is
rich
I'm
glad
I
hope
he's
hearing
it
well
let
me
ask
you
this
are
you
worried
about
next
month's
house
payment
oh
you're
not
are
you
worried
about
groceries
next
week
no
transportation
all set
up
you got
health
insurance
is that
taken
care of
according
to the
world
you are
like part
of the
two
percent
of the
wealthy
this is
a sober
warning
for
anyone
so
we're
left
questioning
how
difficult
is it
for a
rich
man
to
enter
the
kingdom
of
heaven
how
difficult
Jesus
and
then
he
gives
us
this
really
ridiculous
example
look at
verse 24
again
I tell
you
it's
easier
for a
camel
to go
through
the
eye
of
a
needle
than
for
a
rich
man
to
enter
the
kingdom
of
God
so
here's
the
comparison
as far
as
entering
things
goes
a
camel
which
is a
thousand
pound
dromedary
from the
Middle
East
it's
easier
from
that
thousand
pound
beast
to
get
into
maybe
one
eighth
of an
inch
hole
in a
needle
than
for a
rich
man
to
enter
the
kingdom
and you
know what
you're left
saying
well that's
impossible
well this
week I've
been thinking
about that
it's not
impossible for
a thousand
pound
dromedary
to get
into
an eye
of a
needle
here's
all you
need to
do
we have
a
ninja
liquefier
at our
house
you could
liquefy a
camel
and have a
funnel
into an
eye
of a
needle
and spend
four years
dripping it
in
that's
the only
way
it's
impossible
Jesus
is not
he's making
a statement
so this
understanding
that there
is this
eye of the
needle gate
in the
wall of
Jerusalem
and only a
camel needs
to bow
down
and you
take
everything
off
that's
an
attempted
explanation
there's
no eye
of the
needle gate
in the
wall of
Jerusalem
Jesus
is saying
it's
impossible
and the
disciples
get it
look at
verse 25
when the
disciples
heard this
they were
greatly
astonished
that's
shocked
flabbergasted
what
who then
can be
saved
if the
rich folks
can't get
in
who can
that's
exactly
where Jesus
wants them
because it's
not only
wealth
that will
keep you
out of
the
kingdom
it's
any
idol
anything
that you
worship
above
God
it's
impossible
who can
be
saved
nobody
can be
saved
no one
has the
ability
to save
themselves
no one
in verse
26
Jesus
then says
something
that is
incredibly
important
we first
read
but Jesus
looked at
them
and that
would have
been his
divine
x-ray
vision
into the
souls
of his
disciples
they would
have been
like
and he
says to
them
with man
this is
impossible
that anyone
would be
saved
but with
God
all
things
are
possible
with man
salvation
is
impossible
man
man can't
save
himself
only God
by his
impossible
grace
is able
to save
sinners
there is
only one
who is
good
there is
only one
who can
save
and so
what we see
Jesus saying
here is
what's
impossible
for you
is impossible
for God
his grace
alone
saves
and what we
know as
Christians
is this
what Jesus
did on the
cross
on Calvary
that made
the impossible
possible
his grace
his power
on display
on the cross
that makes
our salvation
possible
there is no
other way
so here
Jesus
clarifies
wealth
is not
a sign
of God's
favor
but actually
it's a
major
liability
it can
keep you
out of
the kingdom
everyone's
sin
keeps them
out
of the
kingdom
if it's
not
loving
wealth
maybe
it's
loving
sex
maybe
it's
loving
power
maybe
it's
loving
what
other
people
think
about
you
that'll
keep
you
out
because
you're
elevating
it
above
God
only
God
can
save
grace
and grace
alone
the
second
clarification
shows up
in verse
28
but it's
it's
a response
to Peter
verse 27
then Peter
said in
reply
see we
have left
everything
and follow
you
what then
will we
have
hey
the rich
dude
he walked
away
but Jesus
remember
on the
beach
he asked
me to
follow
you
I dropped
my nets
my livelihood
and I've
been following
you for
two and
a half
years
what about
us
what does
this mean
what will
we have
future
what will
we have
what's in
it for
us
and Jesus
response is
to clarify
what's coming
in the future
a future
grace
a future
inheritance
God's grace
saves us
and God's
grace awaits
us
he says
truly I
say to
you
in the
new
world
let me
clarify
you
in the
new
world
and what
he's
talking
about
there
in verse
28
I think
truly I
say to
you
in the
new
world
he's
talking
about
when
Jesus
comes
back
and
the
whole
heavens
and
the
earth
are
made
new
again
sin
the
curse
is
gone
on
that
day
when
he
makes
all
things
new
he
sits
on
his
glorious
throne
he's
reigning
on
high
the
kingdom
has
been
consummated
in
full
on
that
day
when
that
happens
you
will
receive
your
future
grace
you
will
receive
your
inheritance
notice
he calls
himself
the
son
of
man
when
the
new
earth
when
I
sit
on
my
glorious
throne
the
son
of
man
Daniel
7
he's
given
all
authority
dominion
over
all
nations
at
that
time
at
that
time
you
will
receive
your
future
inheritance
Jesus
says
nowhere
of
when
just
it's
out
there
it's
undefied
gap
between
his
first
coming
and
his
second
coming
we
don't
know
when
he's
coming
back
but
the
inheritance
is
there
he
then
clarifies
the
inheritance
itself
he says
to his
disciples
in
verse
28
on
that
day
new
earth
I'm
on
my
throne
you
who
have
followed
me
will
sit
on
twelve
thrones
judging
the
twelve
tribes
of
Israel
now
this
isn't
the
easiest
thing
to
explain
so
here's
what
we
know
for
sure
when
Jesus
comes
back
and
there's
a
new
heavens
and
new
earth
and
he's
sitting
on
his
throne
his
disciples
are
going
to
play
a
prominent
role
in
establishing
the
new
kingdom
consummated
kingdom
it's a
position
of
prominence
and
he's
speaking
of it
as
inheritance
it's
coming
Jesus
recognizes
that
for those
of us
who
follow
after
him
who
deny
ourselves
take
up
our
cross
follow
him
he's
saying
I've
got
you
there's
future
grace
that
awaits
my
grace
that
saves
you
there's
more
grace
waiting
in
verse
29
he
broadens
the
scope
he
says
and
everyone
who
has
left
houses
everyone
would
include
us
everyone
who
follow
after
Jesus
everyone
who's
left
houses
your
greatest
possession
everyone
who
leaves
brothers
and
sisters
father
mother
or
children
your
most
precious
relationships
everyone
who
leaves
them
who
leaves
your
lands
potential
inheritance
from your
parents
everyone
who
leaves
those
things
for
my
name's
sake
to follow
me
will
receive
a hundred
fold
and will
inherit
eternal life
you notice
the future
will receive
will inherit
it's waiting
it's coming
Jesus
understands
that we
give up
our homes
and we give up
relationships
and we give up
possible
future
inheritance
to follow
him
we get
cut out
of wills
because we're
followers of
Jesus
and Jesus
says
you're in
my will
Jesus is
directing
Peter's gaze
to the
future
return and
reign
when he's
on his
throne
I'll take
care of
you
in verse
30
we read
this
but many
who are
first
will be
last
and the
last
first
and I
don't know
about you
you read
that and
you're like
is Jesus
speaking in
code right
now
I don't
know what
he's
saying
and it
seems out
of place
doesn't
it
he's
just
talking
about
future
what's
this
mean
the
last
will be
first
and the
first
will be
last
well
what he's
doing
is
he's
getting
his
disciples
ready
for
what's
to
come
he's
preparing
his
disciples
for the
hard
work
of the
kingdom
and he
knows
that
when you
have people
working
together
there's
the
very
likelihood
of
comparing
to one
another
and
grumbling
he
knows
there's
going
to be
some
time
before
he
comes
back
and
sits
on
his
glorious
throne
and
he
wants
to
focus
his
followers
on
his
grace
the
grace
that
saves
us
is
the
grace
that
awaits
us
and
so
Jesus
sets
out
a
parable
now
the
parable
is
in
chapter
20
verses
1
through
16
and
it's
there
to
explain
what
he
says
in
verse
30
look
at
verse
30
again
by
many
who
are
first
will
be
last
and
the
last
first
now
look
at
chapter
20
verse
16
so
the
last
will
be
first
and
the
first
will
be
last
so
it
bookends
there
are
these
bookends
of
first
and
last
language
surrounding
this
parable
the
parable
explains
what
Jesus
means
so
what
does
he
say
in
the
parable
well
let's
look
for
the
kingdom
of
heaven
is
like
a
master
of
a
house
so
the
kingdom
of
heaven
the
saving
reign
of
God
is
like
a
master
of
a
house
who's
going
to
hire
a
bunch
of
people
throughout
the
day
and
then
pay
them
at
the
end
of
the
day
it's
interesting
everybody
would
goes
out
early
in
the
morning
6
a.m.
to
the
center
of
the
village
where
day
laborers
would
gather
to
go
work
in
people's
vineyards
and
farms
all
the
way
around
at
6
a.m.
the
master
of
the
house
hires
his
first
group
of
day
laborers
to
put
in
a
full
day
a
12
hour
work
day
in
his
vineyard
and
if
you
look
at
verse
2
Jesus
tells
this
3
the
master
of
the
house
comes
back
at
the
third
hour
at
9
a.m.
and
he
comes
back
and
hires
more
day
laborers
who
are
just
idly
standing
by
because
nobody's
hired
them
and
he
says
in
verse
4
go
into
my
vineyard
and
then
he
talks
about
some
wages
I'll
make
sure
you
get
what
you
do
in
verse
5
at
the
6
hour
he
comes
back
does
the
9th
hour
he
comes
back
and
he
again
hires
more
people
and
says
go
to
my
vineyard
the
master
of
the
house
keeps
on
coming
back
and
hiring
day
laborers
for
the
work
he
has
apparently
the
harvest
he
has
is
plentiful
and
the
workers
are
few
at
the
11th
hour
which
is
5
p.m.
which
means
there's
only
one
more
hour
in
the
work
day
the
master
of
the
house
returns
once
again
to
the
marketplace
find
some
other
laborers
standing
there
and
he
says
why
are you
standing
there
and
say
no
one's
hired
us
and
he
says
go
to
the
vineyard
they
don't
talk
about
wages
just
put
an
hour
in
verse
8
when
quitting
time
rolls
around
the
master
of
the
house
tells
his
foreman
to
call
all
the
laborers
that
he
is
personally
hired
and
sent
to
his
vineyard
he
said
bring
them
together
pay
them
their
wages
and
then
things
get
interesting
look
and
he
says
pay
them
their
wages
beginning
with
the
last
up
to
the
first
that's
interesting
last
and
first
language
the
last
are
to be
hired
the
last
to be
hired
are
to be
paid
first
and
the
first
to be
hired
are
paid
last
we're
reaching
a
climax
of
the
parable
in
verse
nine
here's
the
surprise
those
hired
last
just
an
hour
earlier
each
of
them
receives
a
denarius
each
of
them
receives
pay
for a
full
day's
work
now
that's
unusual
the
last
received
the same
pay
as
the
first
we've
got a
generous
master
of
house
and
then
in
verse
10
the
paying
of
the
wages
skips
to
those
hired
first
you
see
that
word
first
of
course
if
you
were
one
of
these
laborers
you're
like
thinking
oh
man
look
how
generous
he
is
with
those
guys
man
I
might
be
able
to
get
you
know
my
Xbox
finally
we're
going to
get
some
kind
of
bonus
but
surprise
what
happens
they
get
a
denarius
the
first
are
treated
like
the
last
and
then
in
verse
11
these
who
are
hired
first
they
do
what
the
rest
of
us
are
do
grumble
it's
the
opposite
of
gratitude
and
so
look
what
they
do
in
verse
11
and
on
receiving
it
they
grumbled
at
the
master
of
the
house
saying
these
last
worked
only
one
hour
and
you
have
made
them
equal
to
us
who
have
borne
the
burden
of
the
day
and
the
scorching
heat
that's
not
fair
grumble
they're
saying
hey
master
of the
house
you're
treating
the
last
guys
like
us
the
first
guys
they
just
worked
an
hour
we
worked
all
day
we
dug
for
12
hours
in
the
scorching
heat
and
you're
treating
them
like
us
paying
them
what
you're
going
to
pay
us
they
see
in
the
parable
master
of the
house
raising
those
hired
last
to
be
equals
to
those
who
were
working
from
the
first
and
then
in
verse
12
the
master
of the
house
says
friend
I am
doing
you
no
wrong
it's
singular
it's
like
focusing
on
one
person
and
he
says
friend
I'm
not
doing
you
any
wrong
did
you
not
agree
with
me
for
denarius
did
we
not
agree
on
this
take
what
belongs
to
you
and
go
hey
case
close
buddy
it's
legal
we
did
it
right
and
then
he
says
in
verse
12
I
chose
I
chose
to
give
this
last
worker
as
I
give
to
you
the
first
notice
the
emphasis
on
choice
it's
his
prerogative
it's
the
prerogative
the
master
of the
house
to
give
what
he
wants
to
be
generous
with
who
he
wants
to
be
generous
to
in
verse
15
am
I
not
allowed
to
do
what
I
choose
with
what
belongs
to
me
or
do
you
begrudge
me
my
generosity
literally
goodness
there's
only
one
who
is
good
you
have
no
right
to
take
an
offense
here's
what
Jesus
is
doing
he's
using
this
parable
to
show
his
disciples
who
are
being
aimed
at
the
future
he's
saying
don't
grumble
with
one
another
in
the
vineyard
don't
grumble
with
one
another
when
you're
doing
kingdom
work
don't
grumble
with
one
another
when
you're
waiting
on
me
do
you
know
why
because
you're
all
recipients
of
my
grace
all
of
these
workers
receive
the
same
generosity
from
the
master
of
the
house
and
so
the
point
of
the
parable
is
grace
the
master
of the
house
showing
grace
upon
grace
upon
grace
of
being
showing
unmerited
favor
to
those
who
didn't
deserve
it
so
the
point
of
the
parable
is
the
last
will
be
first
and
the
first
will
be
last
regardless
of
when
you
come
to
Christ
regardless
of
when
you're
hired
we're
all
recipients
of
the
same
grace
the
grace
that
saves
us
is
the
grace
that
awaits
us
grace
is
the
great
equalizer
of
disciples
and so
what this
parable
represents
the
master
of
the
house
is
Jesus
his
vineyard
is
the
work
of
the
kingdom
the
labors
are
his
disciples
and
the
end
of
the
day
is
judgment
there's
no room
for
grumbling
in the
kingdom
God's
grace
pushes
out
grumbling
those
with
humble
hearts
who
experience
the
impossible
made
possible
by
God's
grace
who
are
amazed
with
God's
grace
they
don't
point
fingers
I've
been
trying to
help you
see that
grumbling
is the
outworking
of some
perceived
injustice
you see
it in
the
parable
thinking
you deserve
more than
you're
given
at the
heart of
grumbling
is selfish
pride
you don't
get what
you think
or you're
treated
unjustly
so you
grumble
and it's
a cancer
to the
church
gratitude
is the
outworking
of a
profound
sense
of
humility
of
unworthiness
it's
what happens
when poverty
of spirit
meets God's
grace
here's how
it works
out
the
humble
say
things
like
this
that
Jesus
would
call
me
to
follow
him
why
would
he
by his
grace
pursue
me
why
would
he
bother
with
me
I'm
not
worthy
of
him
I
rebelled
against
him
I
mocked
him
I
denied
him
I
made
fun
of
people
who
followed
him
why
would
he
want
me
if
he's
coming
at the
11th
hour
to hire
me
on
to
his
team
sign
me
up
gratitude
is the
healthy
attitude
of a
humble
heart
saved
by
grace
and
it
pushes
out
grumbling
so we
see
Jesus
using
this
parable
to
make
the
point
to
his
disciples
hey
as
after
I
leave
and
as
you're
working
in
the
vineyard
there's
no
room
for
comparison
there's
no
room
for
pride
there's
no
room
for
grumbling
there's
plenty
of room
for
gratitude
there's
plenty
of room
for
rejoicing
in the
king
of grace
and having
other people
experience
the same
grace
this morning
we've looked
at a
contrast
between the
humble
and the
prideful
and we
also saw
Jesus
clarify
what God
alone
is able
to do
his grace
is able
to do
the impossible
and there's
a future
grace
that
awaits
and here
in this
parable
he shows
us that
grace
is the
great
equalizer
of the
followers
of Jesus
so the
next time
you find
yourself
tempted
to grumble
here
think about
these four
truths
this one
you're grumbling
against
this other
co-laborer
in the
kingdom
you were
saved
by the
same
grace
the same
blood
that bought
you
bought
him
or her
and you
await
second
the same
future
grace
and by the
way it's
way better
than a
denarius
hundred
times
eternal
life
third
you labor
in the
same
vineyard
now
we're
working
together
so that
others would
experience
the
amazing
grace
of God
and finally
when you're
tempted to
grumble
remember
that this
co-laborer
this brother
sister
in Christ
the two
of you
serve
the same
master
the king
of grace
I hope
this is all
good news
for a
grumbling
heart
God's
grace
demonstrated
in the
cross
that awaits
us
in the
new
world
it
transforms
grumbling
into
gratitude
let's pray
together
God in
heaven
we thank
you so
much for
this
extended
passage
and we
thank you
so much
Jesus
for how
you
interacted
with people
and how
you taught
and how
you clarified
in this
parable
that you
gave
Lord
Jesus
help
us
to
rejoice
in the
grace
you poured
out on
each
of us
and may
that
humble
posture
towards
what
you've
done
God
may
it
bring
health
to
our
body
God
would
you
make
us
a
grateful
people
and
God
would
you
help
us
to
say
no
to
grumbling
in
light
of
your
amazing
grace
in
Jesus
name
amen
fee
to
cut
him
to
him
to
love
him
or
him
to
bring
back
in
young
man
is
to
raise
him
his
name
what
he
all
he
said
hey