INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
"VERS. 1 - 16. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard."
"It is unusual for an employer to give as much remuneration to those who have wrought one hour as to those who have wrought 9 or 12." "'My thoughts are not your thoughts,'" "God's kingdom is not of this world." "To those late he was better than they expected. To the hireling He shows Himself a hirer; to the trustful worthy of confidence." "Service is not determined by duration, but by spirit. (W. M. Taylor, D. D.)" "God Himself the best reward" "He is Himself the 'exceeding great reward' of all His people." "The quality, not the performance, is the accepted thing, the heart of faith & love, not any self-complacent operations. (Bishop Huntington.)" "There is something for us to do." "Important to be where the call of the Master may meet us." "CALLING. God calls men to work for Him in His vineyard. Some in early life... He continues to call up to the 11th hour." "The honour of working for Him is a sufficient reward." "There will be a last call - we know not how soon" "PAYING. God will be no man's debtor. He will give what He has promised. More than we deserve..." "WHAT DID THEY DO IN ANSWER TO HIS CALL?" "1. They went at once. Immediate service. 2. They worked with a will. 3. They never left the service, but remained till night. 4. They received the full reward at the day's end. (C. H. Spurgeon.)" "Labourers: - I. Idleness rebuked. II. Service required. III. Toil rewarded. IV. Discontent manifested. V. Murmuring silenced. VI. Administration vindicated. (M. Braithwaite.)" "...the true follower of Christ, who has listened to the earliest call of his Master, & has revelled in the glory of serving Him throughout life, will from the bottom of his heart pity the man who has only late in life recognized the glory of His service, & has had barely time to pick up his tools when the dusk of evening falls upon him." "In being good to others I do not wrong you." "The 11th hour: - I. The time mentioned may represent an advanced period of human life." "Conversion postponed to old age" "Ver. 6. Why stand ye here all the day idle? - Spiritual idleness" "Consists in neglect - of life's mission" "The reproach increases with the passing months & years." "The EXCUSES offered for the evil. 'Why stand ye?'" "1. We have not been invited by the minister, etc. Don't wait for such invitations - offer your services - 'I must work,' etc. 2. We lack the necessary qualifications, etc. 3. We lack opportunity, etc. 4. We give money, etc. This will not be accepted by the Master as a substitute for personal service. You cannot do this work by proxy. Work for Christ is personal, & cannot be delegated to others, etc." "Whether early or late in the day, begin Now." "'Why?' Some are idle because they have no work. Some do not like the master. Some do not love the work. Some imagine themselves unable to work. Some do not like the wages." "Idleness deteriorates the moral nature:" "Lazy Christians" "A busy man is trouble but with one devil, but the idle man with a thousand." "Idleness is a sin, for it involves disobedience to Christ's command, 'Go into my vineyard & work.'" "It is a sin, for it indicates a selfish love of ease" "Evil thoughts intrude in an unemployed mind as naturally as worms are generated in a stagnant pool." "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears" "Idleness was one of the sins of Sodom, & it is often the forerunner of temporal & eternal ruin." "Ver. 16. So the last shall be first, & the first last." "...God in communicating His benefits to men, acts in a sovereign manner, making the last first, & the first last." "Ver. 17. And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the 12 disciples apart in the way." "Jesus was going up to Jerusalem for the accomplishment of redemption" "Crucifixion of Christ: - The cross was the perfect manifestation of (1) the guilt of the world; (2) the love of Christ; (3) His obedience; (4) the grace of God. (J. P. Lange, D. D.)" "Vers. 20 - 28. Then came to Him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons." "There are conditions which must precede such elevation." "THESE GLORIOUS PLACES ARE GIVEN AS THE RESULT OF A DIVINE PREPARATION." "Faith in Christ alone, the measure of our faith, & growing Christ-likeness here will be the measure of our glory hereafter. (Dr. McLaren.)" "Vers. 26 - 28. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. - True greatness" "Greatness is to be measured by service. No man lives or dies to himself." "The greatness of being useful" "Pride destroys the best elements of character" "Ver. 28. Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto." "NOT TO BE MINISTERED UNTO, BUT TO MINISTER. He had not a selfish thought in His soul." "Consider Him as a ransom. It was intentional. It was voluntary. It regards the personal esteem He has for His people." "If He has ransomed you, you are not your own. (W. Jay.)" "Vers. 29 - 34. - And, behold, 2 blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by." "Some men are too buried in their merchandize to know that He is passing." "These men made no demands but for mercy." "MEN ARE BLINDED BY REASON OF SIN." "IT IS PROPER IN THIS STATE OF BLINDNESS TO CALL UPON JESUS TO OPEN OUR EYES. If we ever see, it will be by the grace of God. God is the fountain of light, & those in darkness should seek Him." "While He is near we should seek Him. WHEN PEOPLE REBUKE US, & LAUGH AT US, IT SHOULD NOT DETER US FROM CALLING ON THE SAVIOUR." "SINNERS MUST 'RISE' & COME TO JESUS. Cast away everything that hinders their coming." "The 2 blind men could not open their own eyes; that was beyond their power, but they could get into the way where Jesus passed, & they could cry to Him for sight, who only could recover it." The Biblical Illustrator, Baker, pgs. 443 - 465.
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AuthorCross Preaching Pentecostal Pastor. Husband to Tonia, Father to 3 beautiful girls, Monica, Zoe & Briana, & Grandfather to Wesley & Elliott Archives
September 2023
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