Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 3.
So Christ continues to tell the story of the workers as they are hired for the work in the vineyard. He has compared this parable to the kingdom of heaven that his disciples may have some understanding of the kingdom. For in the kingdom they will rule. In the kingdom they will judge. In the kingdom of heaven they will sit on the twelve thrones that oversee the twelve tribes of Israel. And Christ will be with them in the regeneration.
But, now, he had to give them some understanding that they will know. He had to enlighten them. He had to teach them the ways of the spiritual world. So he continued to tell them this parable about the laborers in the vineyard. He said to them: "And about the third hour, he went out and saw others standing in the market place idle."
He saw idle workers in the market place waiting for someone to hire them to work. He saw men wanting to have something to do. He saw men needing to make money to support themselves. He saw opportunity. And he opened the door for them to enter. Are we idle workers? Are we in need of something to do? Do we have a need to be employed by someone else to provide for our needs? Reading this parable gives us some view into what the story is telling us today.
The kingdom of heaven is like a house-holder, a property owner, who is in need of workers to assist him with the work at hand. The property owners owns property where he has planted seeds that are in need of harvest. He has planted grape vines that are reaching their ripe state and are ready to be picked. The property owner has wealth and he wants to pay workers to help him bring in the harvest. Are we ready to work? Are we ready to assist? Are we ready to receive the rewards for working in the vineyard of God our Father?
He created us. He provided for us. He gave us everything that we needed to grow and prosper. Yet we lost our way. We were deceived. We were blinded. And we are scattered and lost in the darkness, afraid and alone. And then Christ came. He opened the door and pushed back the darkness that all may see. He touched us and gives us new life that our eyes may be opened to the truth of who we are in him. But there are many who are lost. There are many who do not know. There are many who are still in the darkness.
The light of life is opened to the lost if they accept, if they believe. But the darkness and death holds them. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Are you a believer? Are you a worker? Do you carry the light of Christ within you? Do you know the truth of who you are in him? Let us not be idle workers! Let us go and become workers for the kingdom of heaven.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
So Christ continues to tell the story of the workers as they are hired for the work in the vineyard. He has compared this parable to the kingdom of heaven that his disciples may have some understanding of the kingdom. For in the kingdom they will rule. In the kingdom they will judge. In the kingdom of heaven they will sit on the twelve thrones that oversee the twelve tribes of Israel. And Christ will be with them in the regeneration.
But, now, he had to give them some understanding that they will know. He had to enlighten them. He had to teach them the ways of the spiritual world. So he continued to tell them this parable about the laborers in the vineyard. He said to them: "And about the third hour, he went out and saw others standing in the market place idle."
He saw idle workers in the market place waiting for someone to hire them to work. He saw men wanting to have something to do. He saw men needing to make money to support themselves. He saw opportunity. And he opened the door for them to enter. Are we idle workers? Are we in need of something to do? Do we have a need to be employed by someone else to provide for our needs? Reading this parable gives us some view into what the story is telling us today.
The kingdom of heaven is like a house-holder, a property owner, who is in need of workers to assist him with the work at hand. The property owners owns property where he has planted seeds that are in need of harvest. He has planted grape vines that are reaching their ripe state and are ready to be picked. The property owner has wealth and he wants to pay workers to help him bring in the harvest. Are we ready to work? Are we ready to assist? Are we ready to receive the rewards for working in the vineyard of God our Father?
He created us. He provided for us. He gave us everything that we needed to grow and prosper. Yet we lost our way. We were deceived. We were blinded. And we are scattered and lost in the darkness, afraid and alone. And then Christ came. He opened the door and pushed back the darkness that all may see. He touched us and gives us new life that our eyes may be opened to the truth of who we are in him. But there are many who are lost. There are many who do not know. There are many who are still in the darkness.
The light of life is opened to the lost if they accept, if they believe. But the darkness and death holds them. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Are you a believer? Are you a worker? Do you carry the light of Christ within you? Do you know the truth of who you are in him? Let us not be idle workers! Let us go and become workers for the kingdom of heaven.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
