Dr Tom Hover
February 1, 2026
Matthew 20:1-16 / Matthew 20:17-28
BENEFITS FROM THE BENEFACTOR / THE PREDICTION AND THE PETITION FOR POSITION
BENEFITS FROM THE BENEFACTOR
Text: Matthew 20:1-16
Introduction Benefits from The Benefactor, Oh the Joy In Knowing That It Always Pays to Serve Jesus
It pays to serve Jesus, it pays every day,
It pays every step of the way.
(Frank C. Huston)
Now sometimes the devil will tell you, it doesn’t pay to serve Jesus. The devil says, there are no benefits from our Lord the Benefactor! But The devil is a liar! The devil says, you’re wasting your life, and you’re spoiling your opportunities.” But, I want to tell you, it does pay to serve Jesus and there are untold benefits far beyond human comprehension. God is not fair. Does that shock you? God is not fair. God is just. Learn the difference. God is just. Fairness is something that humans demand. Do you know what fairness implies? That we’re owed something; and, if we don’t get it, then God is not fair. Do you know the only thing we’re owed is judgment? We ought to thank God that we don’t get that. You see, God is not fair; God is just. There are three attributes of God that we’re going to talk about in this parable:
God’s justice, God’s mercy, and God’s grace, God’s amazing grace.
Now God is not fair. God is better than fair—God is just. A just God gives us what we deserve. That’s justice—what we deserve. Justice is God giving us what we deserve. I’ve told you this many times: Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. We ought to thank God for mercy. Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve—that is, the free loving gift of God. Now keep that in mind. God is not fair; but God is just, merciful, and full of grace.
Fairness implies that we’re owed something; and, if we don’t get it, then God is that we if somebody else has something, then whatever they have, we deserve the same, or God is not fair. God is just; God is merciful; and God is full of grace.
I. THE JUSTICE OF GOD MUST BE RECOGNIZED
There are two groups of workers in this story:
A. The First Group of Workers Acted on An Agreement. Matthew 20:1-17
B. The Second Group of Workers Acted in Faith.
Matthew 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. No agreement—just, “Trust me”; just, “Trust me”; just, “Trust me.” Not a contract—a covenant; just, “Trust me.” Matthew 20:6-, Matthew 19:30, Matthew 20:16,
Psalm 18:25-26
II. THE MERCY OF GOD MUST BE RECEIVED
Now you cannot receive mercy until you recognize justice. Luke 23:42–43
III. THE GRACE OF GOD BRINGS REJOICING
Now remember, justice is God giving us what we deserve. Mercy is God giving us what we don’t deserve—letting us come in at the eleventh hour. But then, grace is God giving us more than we deserve—what we don’t deserve. You see, Peter had been keeping books on his service. This whole parable got started. Peter, in Matthew chapter 19, verse 27, says, “What am I going to receive? Here’s what I’ve been doing for You” (Matthew 19:27). See, Peter had been a clock-watcher. You know what a clock-watcher is?
A. The Three Dangers of Being a Clock-Watcher
1. The Danger That You’ll Pay Yourself When You Don’t Deserve to Be Paid
I Corinthians 3:12-13
2. The Danger That You Won’t Pay Yourself When You Ought to Be Paid Matthew 25:34-40,42
3. The Danger That You’ll Begin to Resent Others
Conclusion: What have we learned?
1. It’s Always Too Soon to Quit but Never Too Late to Start
Matthew 20:6-7
2. If You Bargain with God, You Will Cheat Yourself Matthew 20:2
3. You Will Be Very Wise if You Let God Keep the Books
4. Don’t Look for Fairness; Ask for Mercy
5. Another’s Blessing Is Never Your Loss
It pays to serve Jesus, it pays every day, it pays every step of the way.
PM SERVICE
THE PREDICTION AND THE PETITION FOR POSITION Matthew 20:17-28
