September 30, 2019
Matthew 20: 1-16; Laborers and Wages
1. Opening Prayer: Lord Teach us today through your Scriptures. Help us to see with new eyes. Give us the courage to think new thoughts, and fill our hearts and minds with your holy energy.
Context
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Notes
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Reaction
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Scripture: Where does it appear in the Gospel
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After the story of the rich young man who doesn’t follow Jesus. Rich Young Man didn’t let go of his possessions but the Landowner in the Laborers story freely gives his money away.
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There is an unhappiness related to money in both stories.
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Characters
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Landowner: Very generous. Pays a fair wage of what a person needs to everyone.
Laborers: Everyone ends up working for the same amount no matter what the amount of time
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Perceived unfairness – the laborers feel the difference between amount of time worked and wages.
Also first ones who are hired are last to be paid – they see everyone get the same amount.
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Conflict/
Resolution in the story
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The equal payment sets up a WHAT? moment in the story.
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Images/Symbols
of the story
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* Kingdom of God as opposed to real life
* Denerius: how much you need to live for one day.
* Landowner: God
* Laborers: Us humans
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Kingdom of God is not the same as real life.
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2. Basic arguments of the Parable
God’s Grace
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God’s Justice
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* Rules of the Kingdom of Heaven vs. Rules of Earth.
* All people can be saved and accepted at any time.
* God keeps going back and offering the workers a chance to work for him.
* Equality for everyone.
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* All people are paid the same and
are viewed equally by God.
* There is no hierarchy in heaven
Remember that in Israel it was a Monarchy/Dictatorship.
Fairness was not the norm. |
3. This parable reflects 3 relationships to the Lord’s Prayer:
*Forgive us our debts and we forgive our debtors:
The idea that God is going to forgive and receive us into his kingdom at any time of our lives.
The idea that God is going to forgive and receive us into his kingdom at any time of our lives.
*Give us this day our daily bread:
God provides the means for us to have our daily bread.
God provides the means for us to have our daily bread.
*On earth as it is in heaven:
We should try to create an earth that is more equal and just like God does with His generosity.
We should try to create an earth that is more equal and just like God does with His generosity.
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