St Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 1, The Kingdom of Heaven and the House-holder.

Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 1.  


Christ told his disciples what hinders anyone from entering the kingdom of heaven.  He gave them examples and details so that everyone would know what to do and what not to do.  In this new chapter he gives another example of the kingdom of heaven.  He compares the kingdom of heaven to a house-holder.

He tells his disciples:  FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a house-holder who went out early in themorning to hire laborers for his vineyard .   It is in this comparison that Christ tells his disciples that the kingdom of heaven is like a person who owns property and needs help to maintain it.  The house-holder hires laborers to maintain his vineyards and the kingdom of heaven hires laborers to maintain its children.  The kingdom of heaven is a living entity.  It is God's creation.  It has needs that must be met in order for its crop to flourish.

Christ uses this example to further illustrate to his disciples and to us how the kingdom works.  He wants us understand.  He wants us to know.  The kingdom is seeking laborers.  The kingdom wants you and me.  The kingdom owns the property of God and is looking for those who would work the property for a reward.  The doors are open and the laborers are few.  The work is plentiful and the harvest is ripe and ready for the picking.  Are we willing?  Are we ready?  Do we have the skills to get the job done?  Christ is calling us to come and work with him to get the job done.

Can you go?  Can you work?  Are you willing to work for the reward that is open to you?  We work here on earth for the rewards that are given to us.  We are given money that we use to buy the things that we want.  Christ calls us to the work in his vineyard.  The kingdom of heaven calls us to work in its vineyard.  What will be our reward for the work that we do?  Will we be given paper money that we can use in the here and now?  Will we be given something else that is more precious than paper money?  What will that be?  What will we receive?  What is more precious than the money we get today?

Is life everlasting more precious than paper money?  Is life everlasting more valuable than gold, or silver, or diamonds, or any other thing that we hold in high esteem today?  The kingdom of heaven calls us, just as the world calls us.  Which one will we choose?  Some know of the call.  Some don't.  Some are lost and do not know that they have a choice.  Some know that they have the choice and choose not.  That decision is ours and ours alone to make.  But the call is still there.  The kingdom calls,  will you answer.  The kingdom calls, do you hear.  The kingdom calls, will you ignore the call.  Christ is waiting.  Come!  Heed the call and come work in the vineyard for the kingdom of heaven.  The reward is greater than anything that you will receive here on earth. 

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 19, verse: 30b, Those who are last and those who are first.

Our paragraph topic is:  (A hundredfold reward promised) Part 6. 

Jesus made a promise to his disciples and those that followed him that there would be great rewards.  He wanted them to know that the trials and tribulations that they would face for their fellowship with him would be rewarded greatly.  They would face battles.  They would face enemies that they had not known before.  They would face all kinds of trials.  They would face pain, and torture, and even death.  But Christ reassured them that the trails they would face could not compare to the rewards they would receive.

The twelve disciples would be judges over all the tribes of Israel.  Those who followed would receive rewards totaling a hundredfold to what they would sacrifice here on earth.  So the rewards are more than one can imagine receiving.  And then, they also would receive life everlasting for all eternity.  All would be with him in the kingdom when the regeneration comes.  And none would be left out.  For those who came first would be the last to receive.  And as he told them:  "And many who are last now will be first." 

Who will be the last to come?  Who will be the last to enter the kingdom of heaven in the regeneration?  And after the last, comes the judgment that will right all wrongs and balance the scales of justice.  And there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  And many will be left behind.  And many will be left outside.  But the last will become the first and the first will be the last.  And Christ is the first to come, but he, will be the last.

What will be our reward?  What will we receive in the kingdom of heaven?  What is our heart's desire?  What will make us happy beyond our wildest expectations?  The heart only knows what it knows, and it knows what will make us happy.  Surely what we have experienced here on earth has or can, bring happiness and joy.  But will that fulfill the desires of the heart?  Will that satisfy?  Will what we can receive here complete the longings of what is in our hearts?

We see and feel and smell and taste all the wonders of the creation of man.  We are given to desire that which is presented before us in the news and the media and socially and online.  Everyday we are given examples of what it would mean to have all our financial needs met.  And that is something that we all want and desire, to have enough money to not have to worry about working and toiling for tomorrows needs.  But is this enough to satisfy?  Is this enough to fulfill?  Is this the be all and end all to the longings within our hearts?

Christ came that we would have life and have it more abundantly.  He came to tell us that there is something more than we perceive in the here and now.  He came that we would be able to see the light, that our eyes would be opened and our hearts would know the truth of who we are.  He gave us the example to follow.  He opened the door for us to come, into the kingdom.  And he led the way to the kingdom of fulfillment.  Satisfaction is not in the physical.  Happiness is not in the present.  Only with him and through him and by him can that which fills our longings be complete.  Only through and with and by the love of God our Father can we know that which is truly ours to know.  The true fulfillment of who we are is only available in the Father and his love.  Come!  Be the true life that Christ has given you through his passion.  He loves you.  He awaits you.  He will fulfill you!

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 19, verse: 30a, Those who are first and those who are last.

Our paragraph topic is:  (A hundredfold reward promised) Part 5. 

Christ has spoken to his disciples of the rewards that await them.  He told them of the twelve thrones that await them.  This is a prize that is beyond the imaginations of his followers.  But he wanted them to know that what awaits them in heaven is different from what is theirs in the here and now.  For in the here and now they are fishermen, tax collectors, farmers, everyday men and women who do not have the power and prestige as the men of their day. 

What they were doing in the name of Jesus transformed them, made them different.  They went against the grain.  The preached the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  They healed the sick, cast out demons, made the lame walk and the blind see, all in his name.  And they suffered the persecution of the evildoers who sought to maintain their control over the souls of men.  Christ gave them their purpose.  Christ taught them what to say and do.  He showed them by example and not just by words.  His example was the ultimate sacrifice for mankind.  And he told them: 
"But many who are first now will be last."

They wanted to be first.  They wanted to be at the head of the line, just as we want to first today.  We all want to be privileged.  We want to be first.  We want to sit at the head of the table, to be recognized.  We want to be seen and spoken to by everyone of importance.  This is what we are given from birth, to be famous, to have of power, to be recognized.  Humility is not in our behavior.  It is not what we are given as examples to follow in our daily lives.  But Christ told his disciples many who are first now will be last.

Can we stand at the end of the line and still feel welcomed?  Can we be last in place and still have a feeling of self worth?  Is it in our nature to practice humility?  Not in this day and time.  For everything in our being strives to be first.  Everything in our value tells us that we should be first or near first.  Everything we are tell us that we should be proud and not humble.  But Christ told his disciples that many who are first now will be last.

Christ is the first of all beings.  For God our Father, through his love, gave forth of himself to bring forth Christ his Son, the first of all beings.  And of his love for his son came forth the angels and all the beings of heaven.  And then from his love came the creation of man.  And man though he lost his life was redeemed through the loving sacrifice of Christ .  And he was the first.  And we are the last. 

At the regeneration,  many who were first will be last.  And those who are the last to transition into the kingdom will be the first to be rewarded.  Christ awaits you that you may receive your reward.  It is not of this earth.  It is not made of the stuff that we know today, but of the love that fills and transforms the soul for all eternity.  It is the stuff that satisfies, that you will never thirst.  Christ calls you to his table.  He seeks to know you.  He desires to love you, if you let him.  He wants to fulfill your every need.  Open your heart and let him in and you will be filled forever. 

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.