Trey Corry

Grace Bible Church

“Villain of Thanksgiving”

Matthew 20:1-16

The human tendency to compare threatens our ability to give thanks. It possesses an over-realized and selfish expectation of reward in the present and an emphasis upon the seen as contrary to faith and hope.

Matthew 20:1-16

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into the vineyard.

3 And he went out about the 3rd hour and saw others standing idle in the market place;

4 and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went.

5 Again he went out about the 6th and 9th hour, and did the same thing.

6 And about the 11th hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’

7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’

9 When those hired about the 11th hour came, each one received a denarius.

10 When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.

11 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner,

12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’

13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14 Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same man as to you.

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?

16 So the last shall be first; and the first last.’

What caused the 1st group to grumble and fail to give thanks for their reward?

• The Snare of Selection (20:2-7)

• The Identified Rat (20:8-9)

• The Cheese of ___________ (20:10-16)

Comparison …

• Undermines a thankful heart!

• Possesses a unique expectation & emphasis!

I. Comparison possesses an over-realized & selfish expectation (of reward) in the present!

A. Parable Context

B. Example: Disciples (20:24-28) & Elder Brother (Lk 15:25-31)

C. How to maintain a heart of thanksgiving?

Postpone your expectation of blessing and sense of entitlement!!!

II. Comparison possesses an emphasis on the seen (contrary to faith and hope)!

A. Comparison Mechanism = The Eye (Haggai 2:1-3, 9)

On the 21st of the 7th month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet saying, “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people saying, ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?’”

—Haggai 2:1-3

“The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,” says the Lord of hosts, …”

—Haggai 2:9

B. Faith Rests on the Unseen

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

—1 Cor 4:17-18

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen … By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

—Hebrews 1:1, 3

C. Hope Waits for the Unseen

“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

—Romans 8:23-25

D. How to Maintain a Heart of Thanksgiving?

Do not judge on sight alone, but by faith!!!

“Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”

—1 Corinthians. 4:5

Reflection Questions

• Where has the tendency to compare …

– Stolen your gratefulness?

– Caused doubt in the goodness of God?

• When you compare …

– Do you have an expectation of entitlement?

– Do you still have a sense of faith and hope?