Text:        Matt 20v1-16

Now our account is bound by two important facts. Up front comes the account of the rich young ruler, along with Peter’s question about what they will get out of it, given that they did forsake all, which the ruler would not do.

Jesus warns him not to think too much in terms of due reward, but the graciousness of God in giving it. The order of things might not be at all what Peter expected. First shall be last and last first.

Then at the other end of the parable we have the very same phrase and also the same strife - who is important - who gets the biggest reward?

1. The result of the Gospel Call

Here in this parable there are some difficult things to determine. As so often with these simple stories that Jesus told, the intricacies of the account can give rise to plenty of queries as to exactly what is going on.

But if we are going to rightly understand our parable we can study first what is more clear to us. And the summary given in v16 is crystal clear. Whatever else is going on earlier in the parable, it is clear that the Gospel call was going out.

And what is the result of the Gospel call? What happens at the end of the day?

Something unexpected. Some of those who were early called to work in the kingdom show themselves to be in it for the reward, they expected some return from their long hours in church services, from their having been church goers all their lives.

They were quite content for others to join in the work, to take some of the burden from them, they liked to see the church grow with younger ones. But as far as they were concerned God would have to be more merciful to them.

They use the term, but devalue its meaning. Mercy becomes reward, grace becomes payment, favour becomes merit.

But the result is plainly put - bluntly put. Some of those who were long labouring after the penny of grace will be left out. They will be last in God’s reckoning. When God reads out the roll call of grace, their names will not be int he blessed first group, called out of the mass of the reprobate, but their names will be in the latter group, the last group. They will be called out just as surely, but last of all, in the graceless group of names.

The last will be first. The first will be last. Oh, soul, let me put it to over your soul, let me hang these words around your neck, while they are still a warning, before they become a noose!

2. The reason for this surprising result

The reason is the Sovereign choice of God. This is devastating to the man whose religion is all about works. You can try your heart on this point, you who have thought yourself labourers after salvation, as due some long service reward. When you heart bucks and kicks like an untrained bronco, then know, you are in soul danger.

The sovereignty of God is absolute, yes in salvation too. Grace itself does not interfere with the sovereignty of God. It does not diminish it, it does not lessen it. Yes you have been called to work in the vineyard. Yes it may be a long time since you began to work at your salvation. But what is that?

Friend, do you not realise that many are called? Many are called! That cannot be a comfort to you. Do not make the call of God you pillow, poor stupified soul. You misunderstand, you mis-take the call of the Gospel, if you rest on that. There is no salvation in having heard the call. Many are called.

Well then where is there salvation, if not in the Gospel calling a sinner to salvation?

Oh friend security is in the choice of God. Peace is in the doctrine of an electing God, choosing poor sinners out of this world and setting his saving love upon them in eternity, calling them in time in the Gospel, and making that call effectual by the regenerating power  of the Holy Spirit. Death is all that awaits otherwise!

Election is the reason for the Gospel. Many make it the enemy of the Gospel, many see it as an obstacle to squeezing more sinners into heaven. No. But without election no one is or can be saved. If God had not chosen sinners, then there is nothing we could have done about it.

3. The reaction to this expression of God’s Sovereignty

Are you left behind by election? Are you thrown out of your comfort zone by the way God chooses some sinners?

Have you seen others converted before you, who were at one time, miles behind you in the queue for heaven? How did they get past you? Why are you yet outside?

Oh soul, is there an argument in your heart against the salvation of some Christians? What is it? It boils right down to this:

You feel more worthy of being saved than them.

Now this can come out in two ways:

a. You are jealous of new converts. You can react in a hard way to them, maybe it even catches you, maybe you surprise yourself with the tone you use towards them. Soul, bitterness is in your heart.

b. You are indignant at God above all. That is the source. You do not feel he has the right to pick them above you. That you deserve salvation.

What does Scripture say: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Is this your problem - does God resist you in your pride?

Climb down from your feelings that you deserve to be saved. How?

There is only one way: repent.

Who has God chosen? To whom does he give grace? There is no promise in the fact of being called. Many are called. But few ARE chosen. Perhaps you will be one of the last to come - even yet you might be one of the first to be welcomed, one of the first to be acknowledged on that last great day.