St Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 12b, On the same level.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard)
Part 17.  

They grumbled.  They complained.  They murmured amongst themselves.  They were not satisfied.  They were not happy that they received the same as the others who had only worked an hour.  They thought that they would receive more because they had worked longer than the other laborers.  This is the parable that Christ told his disciples.  He compared this parable to the kingdom of heaven.

There was a message.  There is a lesion to learn.  There is information in the parable that will enlighten those who understand.  Laborers are needed to bring in the harvest.  The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few.  There is a reward for those who work in the vineyard.  There is pay for those who work.  What will the agreement be for those who do the labor?  Christ wants his disciples to understand that the householder is just and fair in his rewards.  He wants them to know that as laborers in the vineyard that they will be compensated for their work.  But he also wants them to know that just as the laborers in the parable, they should not be like them, they should not compare.  For they told the house-holder:   "Thou hast put them on a level with us, who have borne the burden of the day's heat." 

And then comes the central point of the parable, on the same level.  I am better than they.  I worked harder and longer and better than they.  I deserve more than they.  It is this feeling that comes from within that makes us compare ourselves and determine that we are different, we are better, we are more than they.  Where does it come from?  Where does it originate?  Adam and Eve had everything their hearts desired.  They lived in the garden.  They did not have to toil.  They had all provisions given to them, yet they were tempted.  The snake told them that if they ate the forbidden fruit that they would be like God.  And with that information came the thought that they were not like God. but wanted to be him.  The comparison overwhelmed them so much that they were compelled to transgress.

Are we not the same?  Are we not created in the same image and likeness as our Father?  Are we not made of the same spirit and life given us by our heavenly Father?  Yet we consider ourselves more, we consider ourselves better than, smarter than, prettier than, faster than anyone else.  We consider.  We allow ourselves to be influenced by the thoughts of the day and the influences of what we perceive from the world.  We do not consider that which is within us, that which is our spirit, that which is the light of life restored to us by Christ Jesus. 

We walk in the darkness of the physical world not knowing the life that is within us.  We see not the beauty of the light of life within each of us.  We see only the physical, only the appearance, only the focused view that is given us by the world we live in.  What is beauty?  What is intelligence?  What is wealth?  What is life?  And what is death? 

To see beyond the physical and see within the physical is the opportunity to truly know who we are.  To see the light within our own selves opens our eyes to the life that is in others.  We are the same.  We have the same spirit, if we have life.  We all are children of our Father.  And it is that one fact that makes us equal, the same, not different.  Our Father opens the door to all who would ask of his forgiveness and of his love, whether we do this everyday for the rest of our lives or whether we ask in the last minute of our life here on earth.  He is fair.  He is merciful.  He is loving.  He is forgiving.  He is our Father and we are his children.  Let no evil separate us from his compassion and his love.  We are all on the same level.

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.  

St Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 7b, No Man to hire.

Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 9.  

Our story continues.  Christ is telling his disciples about the house-holder who has property and needs help to harvest the crop.  He has gone to the market several times during the day and found workers standing around with no work.  Even at the last hour of the day he has gone and found workers without work.  He is puzzled as to why they are still standing around without work and he asks them why.  They tell him that they are still waiting because no man has come to hire them.  They are still waiting at the last hour hoping that someone will come to hire them that they may work.

Our story is one of simple theme.  It is meant to bring home principles that even the simple man can understand.  Every man wants to work to earn wages that he may provide for himself and family.  It is the nature of man.  Idleness is not in man's nature.  He needs something to do to occupy his time.  In past times man worked on the land, planting, growing, and harvesting his food.  He built his home, cared for his livestock, and provided warmth to his home.  He hunted for his food in the forest and sought companionship for himself with a mate.  This is the nature of man, the nature of his need to be productive.  So when they hoped for work in the market place, the house-holder, "He said to them, 'Go you also into the vineyard.' " 

So the house-holder wants all that seek work to find work.  He wants all who hope to not be idle to have work.  The house-holder has need of harvesters and seeks to hire all who want to work.  This is what we can draw from this parable so far.  For we have only talked about working and finding workers who hope to work.  There are those who seek to work and there are those who seek to be idle.  There are those who hope for employment and those who do not.  And then there are those who are work motivated and need no man to hire them but are themselves self hired.  They are the ones who know that there is a harvest and that there is need for workers.

Do you know about the harvest?  Are you one of the harvesters or just an idler?  There is work to be done.  There is need for workers.  The rewards are great.  The benefits are plentiful.  Do you have the skills?  Are you willing to work?  There are many positions that are in need of filling.  All you need is an open heart and a desire to be counseled.  It does not matter the day or the time, the need is ever present.  It does not matter if you are young or old, rich or poor, black or white, Asian or Latino.  All are called to be witnesses to the harvest that is in need of workers.

What does it take?  It only takes your willingness to follow Christ and your willingness to be a witness to his love.  Everyday you may be called upon to let him in.  Everyday you may be called upon to show his love.  Everyday you may be called upon to lend a hand, to give a word, to spare a dime, to give some food, to see beyond what may be apparent externally but to see what is internal that belongs to him.  For we are all created in his image.  We are all spiritual beings and not physical.  And within the external body is the spirit and life of God our Father.  And that is what we are called to love, to see, to believe, to know that we are all alike. 

We are not Black, or White, or Jew, or Gentile, or Asian, or Latino or any race, or color or religion.  We are all spiritual beings created in his image and given life, a second chance, through the love and sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Savior.  So if we can reflect what is within us outward, others can see and experience that which is within us.  Then we become workers for the vineyard, attracting others and showing them the way to eternal life given us by Christ our savior through God our Father.  For he is the one true ever living God.  And he is our creator and our Father, and our provider, and our protector.  Open the door to your heart and let him in.  Seek that which is within you and know the truth of who you are in him.  The light of life will shine forth and others will see that which is within you.  Be the worker!

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.

St Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 6b, Standing Idle.

Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 7.

In the parable that Christ told his disciples, the house-holder has gone out early in the morning, mid morning, and several other times before noon to hire workers for his vineyard.  Five times he went out to the market place and found workers.  He was puzzled as to why they were standing about idle.  He hired all that were present when he went out to the market place only to come back later to find more workers standing about without something to do. 

Christ tells this story to his disciples because he wants them to understand that they are the same as the workers in the market place and the house-holder is the same as God seeking workers to tend his vineyard of souls.  He wanted them to understand that they should not stand about idle waiting for work to come when there is work to be had in the vineyard.  He tells them what the house-holder told the workers:   "And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?' " 

This was the message that Christ wanted his disciples to understand.  He wanted them to know that they did not have to be idle.  They did not have to stand about everyday with nothing to do.  There was plenty of work to do for God.  The kingdom of heaven is in need of laborers to bring in the harvest.  The kingdom of heaven has fruit that is in need of harvest.  The kingdom of heaven is open that those who seek it can find it. 

Are you a laborer?  Do you work for the kingdom?  Some would say that this message is a battle cry for those who would carry the message to the ends of the earth and convert all to become Christians.  But this is not the will of the creator.  This is not the demand of our God.  It is not the desire of God our Father and that of Christ our savior that his message is forced upon all.  It is not the desire of God that all are forced to become believers.  Christ's passion is that of love.  Our Father is a God of love and compassion.  His will is not to force but to love.  His will is not to command but to show.  His will is not to demand but to be an example to those who do not know, to those who do not understand, to those in the dark.

Our labor is to live our life, according to the will of the Father, that Christ has given us.  Those who believe and know the truth of who they are in Christ are examples for the world to see.  Those who walk with the spirit have their work assigned to them.  Those who are filled with the light of life are the laborers in the vineyard and know what needs to be done.  They are the ones who have the skills.  They are the ones who have the knowledge.  They are the ones who are filled with the light of life that shines from within.  They are the ones who are not idle workers, standing around waiting for work.  

The house-holder needs laborers.  The vineyards needs workers.  The light of Christ and the love of the Holy Spirit seeks you.  Do not stand idle when there is work to be completed.  Do not wait for the harvest to spoil when it needs to be picked.  Christ calls.  The Holy Spirit seeks.  The love of God our Father fills those who want to know.  Your assignment awaits.  I have mine.  Come!  Receive your work assignment and end your idle stand. 

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.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 39 - 40, The Kngdom of Heaven: The Harvest.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the weeds explained) Part 2. 

The disciples sought to know.  They came to Christ and asked for his knowledge.  They came to Christ and sought his understanding of the parables.  They came to Christ and  desired to know his wisdom.  And Christ fed them.  Christ nurtured them.  Christ gave them truth.  The disciples were filled from the unquenchable cup of Christ.  They were overwhelmed with the knowledge that he gave them that they now would know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.  For these things had been hidden since the foundation of the world.  These things were not revealed to those with human knowledge.  These things were not known by the wisdom of the wise.  These things were not found by the prudent.  And the disciples were filled with the truth its presence.

The disciples came and sought, and Christ filled them to satisfaction.  Christ continued to tell of the time of harvest when the wheat would be separated from the weeds.   He said,  But the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels.  Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burnt with fire, so will it be at the end of the world.

And then the disciples knew.  And then they understood, that, there would be a harvest of souls in the end times.  When the evil one came and sowed weeds in the fields of the kingdom of heaven God allowed them to remain until the end of time.  In that time they will be rooted out and cast into the fire.  And the souls of the just will blossom without the hindrances of the weeds.  Christ told this parable so that those who sought would find.  Those who desired would come to know and those who knew would be prepared in the end times.

The world today does not want us to seek.  This world today does not want us to know.  This world today does not want us to understand.  So, we are entertained.  We are given our rest in the things of the world.  We play in the joys of the world and forget about the kingdom of heaven.  For this is the desire of the weeds that live among us.  They wrap themselves around us and turn us away from the things of heaven.  They provide earthly pleasures that entertain us, that capture our attention, that keep us filled with the things of the earth.  We are blinded by their deceit and we know not the ways of the Lord.  For we do not seek.  We do not desire.  We do not thirst for the wisdom of God. 

We are spoon fed the precepts of the kingdom once a week and accept this as our need for fulfillment.  And then we return to the things of the world which continues to deceive us by its own pleasures.  And we wonder why we cannot find happiness.  We wonder why we cannot find peace.  We wonder why we cannot find permanent joy in this world.  The kingdom of heaven is waiting for you to seek its joys.  The kingdom of heaven is waiting for you to know its happiness.  The kingdom of heaven is waiting for you to find its eternal peace, not tomorrow, not in heaven, but right now, today, if you seek it.  Would you like to know everlasting peace?  Would you like to know eternal joy?  Would you like to know true happiness?  The seed is planted.  Are you good ground?

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verse: 26 - 27, The Revelations.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus draws men gently to himself) Part 2.  

Christ continues to give praise to his father for the things that he has done.  It was pleasing to God to hide the mysteries of the kingdom from men who have earthly wisdom.  It was pleasing to God to prevent the prudent of this world from knowing the things of heaven, and Christ praises the father for his wisdom.  For Christ says all thing have been given unto him by the father.  He says,  "Yes, Father, for such was thy good pleasure.   All things have been delivered to me by my Father."   

For Christ has all wisdom and all knowledge and all understanding of the will of the father.  And that pleases the Father.  Christ has made the effort to bring the message to the villages and towns throughout the land.  He has preached to the multitudes.  He has cast out demons, cured the sick, made the lame walk, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, and provided all signs and wonders to the people that they may believe that he was from the Father, God in heaven.  Yet they do not repent.  They do not believe.  They do not understand the judgment that they bring unpon themselves.  But all things have been given to Christ.

No one knows the Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father.  And they are one with each other.  Christ says,  "No one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and him to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."   For that wisdom and knowledge of the Father and of the Son has been hidden.  Yet it is revealed to the little ones.  It is shown to those whom Christ chooses to reveal it.  For if they knew who walked among them they would understand.  If they truly understood the power and majesty of the one in their midst they would be in awe.  If they knew the glory of the one who walked before them they would fall down in honor, giving glory to the one who is worthy of honor and glory.  But they did not repent.  They did not understand.  They did not know the true nature of Christ.

The knowledge and wisdom of the Father is hidden.  It is not revealed.  Only to those who seek him will find him.  Only those who desire his presence will glory in the reception of his spirit.  For he has hidden himself and will reveal himself only to the little ones.  Christ says that the knowledge of the Father will only be revealed to those he chooses to reveal him.  Do you know Christ?  Have you received him?  What has he spoken to you to do?  The harvest is great but the laborers are few.  Are you a laborer in the field for the harvest?  Are you a shepherd for the body of Christ?  Where do you lead your sheep?  For who's glory do you labor?  All things have been given to Christ and he is calling you.   Come, Christ wants to reveal to you the Father.  Are you wise and prudent?  Will you receive the gift of God?  The little ones are open to his ways.  Are you?