Matthew 20

1-16 - Jesus shares a parable about the vineyard. A man that is a householder and that man went out in the morning to hire labourers to work into his vineyard. It says he went out early in the morning and there was an agreement with the labourers to work for a penny a day and he sent them into his vineyard. The labourers must have asked how much will I get paid? Because the verse says, "when he had agreed with the labourers" then they went out to work.

He went out about the third hour and saw other standing idle in the marketplace and ask them to work in the vineyard. This time he said "whatsoever is right I will give you" they trusted him and they went their way and worked in the vineyard. This happen again in the sixth and ninth hour and they did like wise and went to work in the vineyard, believing they will get paid what ever is right.

The eleventh hour the householder went out again and saw more standing in the marketplace and ask "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" They said no one will hire us and the householder said go work in the vineyard and what is right I will pay you. So we see several different hours that the householder came out during the day to hire workers.

Early morning - 6AM -

Third hour - 9AM -

Sixth hour - 12PM -

Ninth hour - 3PM -

Eleventh hour - 5PM -

Even was come - 6PM -

Jesus says in John 9:4, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. So work occurs during the day and they get paid at the end of day Lev 19:13; Deut 24:14-15. The bible says there are twelve hours in the day John 11:9. What time does the day start? Micah 2:1, Gen 44:3; Judges 9:33; 16:2; 1 Samuel 25:36; 2 Samuel 23:4 morning is light, so early in the morning is before light. In Matthew 27:1 says the "morning was come" when they counsel to put Jesus to death and then verse 45 says, the sixth hour there was darkness over the land until the ninth hour and Jesus died. In Mark 15:1, 25 it also says the chief priest held consultation in the morning and bound Jesus and took him to Pilate and the third hour they crucified him

So the morning is before the third, sixth and ninth hour of the day and Jesus died at the ninth hour. Which says the sixth and ninth hour is during the day. Base on Exodus 12:5-6; Numbers 9:3; 28:16; Deut 16:1-2, 5-6; 2 Chron 30:15; Ezek 45:21 which tells us the month, day, and hour of the passover which represents Christ crucifixon. In the verse (Exodus 12:6) it says "even" and in the margin it says "between the two evenings" and the first evening started at noon and the second even began at sunset which will be around 6pm, a little earlier or later depending on the time of year.

So Christ died between sixth hour 12pm - even 6pm, but the Bible says Jesus gave up the ghost at the ninth hour (Matthew 27:46-50) which was 3pm between the first even which was noon and the second even which was 6pm.

There is also a prophetic meaning in this parable that Jesus gave. Which represents a timeline of hire workers to work in the vineyard throughout history.

Early morning - 6AM - Jewish Nation - COL 400.2

Third hour - 9AM - Early Christian Church

Sixth hour - 12PM - Great Protestant Reformation

Ninth hour - 3PM - Millerite Advent Movement

Eleventh hour - 5PM - Seventh-Day Adventist

Even was come - 6PM - Second Coming

The first angel’s message said the hour of his judgment is come which is the ninth hour at 3pm during the Millerite movement and in Revelation 10:11, we must prophecy again and thats during the 11th hour (Matt 20:6) The Seventh Day Adventist Church must give the third angel’s message to the world.

At the end of the day, which was even, the lord of the vineyard ask his steward to call the labourers and give them their pay and start from the last to the first. The last were the 11th hour workers and they received every man a penny and when the first came, they thought they would receive more than the last. After receiving also a penny, they complained against the good man of the householder because the 11th hour workers only worked one hour which they have worked in the heat of the day. But the goodman answered and said friend, I have done thee no wrong because thou has agreed to work for a penny. These were the workers that agreed for a penny, while the other workers didn’t ask what was the pay. It was told them whatever is right, I will give you. The goodman also gave the reason for their complaint, because they were evil. Jesus finishes the parable by saying the last shall be first and the first last, for many be called, but few chosen.

The difference between the two is that one trusted in the word of the goodman and the other didn’t. It’s the spirit in which we work for the Lord. You can do a lot of work, but it can be done in the wrong spirit like the early morning workers. They were working according to their own righteousness

In the parable the first laborers agreed to work for a stipulated sum, and they received the amount specified, nothing more. Those later hired believed the master's promise, "Whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive." They showed their confidence in him by asking no question in regard to wages. They trusted to his justice and equity. They were rewarded, not according to the amount of their labor, but according to the generosity of his purpose. COL 397.1

Not the amount of labor performed or its visible results but the spirit in which the work is done makes it of value with God. Those who came into the vineyard at the eleventh hour were thankful for an opportunity to work. Their hearts were full of gratitude to the one who had accepted them; and when at the close of the day the householder paid them for a full day's work, they were greatly surprised. They knew they had not earned such wages. And the kindness expressed in the countenance of their employer filled them with joy. They never forgot the goodness of the householder or the generous compensation they had received. Thus it is with the sinner who, knowing his unworthiness, has entered the Master's vineyard at the eleventh hour. His time of service seems so short, he feels that he is undeserving of reward; but he is filled with joy that God has accepted him at all. He works with a humble, trusting spirit, thankful for the privilege of being a co-worker with Christ. This spirit God delights to honor. COL 397.3

It is not the length of time we labor but our willingness and fidelity in the work that makes it acceptable to God. In all our service a full surrender of self is demanded. The smallest duty done in sincerity and self-forgetfulness is more pleasing to God than the greatest work when marred with self-seeking. He looks to see how much of the spirit of Christ we cherish, and how much of the likeness of Christ our work reveals. He regards more the love and faithfulness with which we work than the amount we do. COL 402.3

17-19 Jesus is now going to Jerusalem and all the disciples are with him. He tells them that He will be betrayed into the hands of the chief priests and scribes and they will condemn Him to death. He will be mocked, scourged, crucified, and rise on the third day. Jesus has share this several times in different occasions. He mentions it four times

Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 26:2

After Peter’s confession
It has been at least six days, and Jesus says it again after the casting out a demon from a boy who the disciples couldn’t cast out and sharing that they must have faith as a grain of mustard seed.
Then later on (as it come to pass 19:1) Jesus shares it after sharing the parable of the vineyard workers.
Lastly, He shares it again two days before the feast of passover.

Although, He does mention it again right before it happens when Judas was on his way to betray Jesus 26:45-47 but the disciples were sleeping. By then it was too late. The Bible says in Luke 18:34 that the disciples did not understand these things and the saying was hid from them. They were so blind to it that it caused them to forsake Jesus at the time of trial. The next few verse shows why.

20-28 Jesus mentioned that the last shall be first and the first last. But the mother of Zebedee’s children (Mark 10:35) which are James and John. Their mother came and asked Jesus to place one son on one side and the other son on the other side in the kingdom. Jesus said several things and the disciples still don’t get it. Jesus had to rebuked the disciples because they were trying to keep the little children from Him. Then Jesus addressed the rich young ruler and he went away sorrowful. Next, Jesus gives the parable of the workers in the vineyard and afterwards tell them that He is going to die.

All this is teaching the lesson of being humble and although the disciples did forsake all to follow Jesus. Jesus told them that they will be sitting with Him in heaven judging the twelve tribes of Israel. But they had in their minds that a kingdom would be setup on earth John 6:14-15; Acts 1:6. So Jesus asked them if they are able to drink of the cup and to be baptized with the baptism and James and John answered we are able. Then Jesus foretells their future by saying they will drink of the cup and of the baptism Acts 12:2; Revelation 1:9, but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not for me to give. It is prepared of my Father. John was there at the crucifixion and did see the two thieves on the either side of Jesus.

When the other disciples heard of it they were not pleased and were angry with James and John. But Jesus called them over and said worldly leadership have great authority over the world, but don’t let it be among you. The Pharisees and the chief priest were under the ruling of the Romans John 11:48 and they exercise great authority over them. Jesus was reminding the disciples If you want to be great be a servant. Then Jesus said I came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give my life a ransom for many.

29-34 As they were leaving a crowd of people was following Jesus and two blind men were crying out saying, "Have mercy on us, O LORD, thou Son of David" the people tried to quiet them but they said it even more and Jesus stopped and called them and ask them how can I help? they said, Lord, please open our eyes. Jesus had compassion on them and He touched their eyes and immediately they were able to see and they followed Him.

This is something we need to ask for often. That the Lord will open our eyes, although we can see physically, but spiritually our eyes are closed. As soon as their eyes were open notice what they did, they followed Jesus. When Jesus open our eyes to something, we need to follow Him instantly. We know one of the blind men was Bartimaeus Mark 10:46. What Jesus asked was a powerful question that God wants to ask us. "What will ye that I shall do unto you?" Before that question was asked, the blind men asked that God have mercy on them. They were humble and they recognize their need. One of our conditions in the last days is being blind. We should asked for God’s mercy so that when the question comes to us, we would say Lord, open up our eyes that we may see you.