“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who owned land. He went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to give them the usual pay for a day’s work. Then he sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine o’clock in the morning he went out again. He saw others standing in the market doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard. I’ll pay you what is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about noon and at three o’clock and did the same thing. 6 About five o’clock he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard spoke to the person who was in charge of the workers. He said, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay. Begin with the last ones I hired. Then go on to the first ones.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five o’clock came. Each received the usual day’s pay. 10 So when those who were hired first came, they expected to receive more. But each of them also received the usual day’s pay. 11 When they received it, they began to complain about the owner. 12 ‘These people who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said. ‘You have paid them the same as us. We have done most of the work and have been in the hot sun all day.’ 13 “The owner answered one of them. ‘Friend,’ he said, ‘I’m being fair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for the usual day’s pay? 14 Take your money and go. I want to give the one I hired last the same pay I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Do you feel cheated because I gave so freely to the others?’ 16 “So those who are last will be first. And those who are first will be last.” Jesus Speaks a Third Time About His Coming Death

17 Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took his 12 disciples to one side to talk to them. 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said. “The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will sentence him to death. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles. The people will make fun of him and whip him. They will nail him to a cross. On the third day, he will rise from the dead!”

Questions

1. At what times of the day did the landowner go out to hire workers?

2. Why did the workers who were hired first begin to complain?

3. What does the vineyard represent in this parable?

4. What does the equal payment teach us about God’s grace?

5. What does the phrase “the last will be first, and the first will be last” mean?

6. How should Christians respond when God blesses others in ways we do not expect?

7. How does this parable challenge the idea that we must “earn” God’s favour?

8. How should this teaching affect how we welcome new believers into the church?

9. Why is Jesus’ death important in understanding God’s grace?

10. What attitude should we have while serving God?