OFFENDED OR INSPIRED BY THE GRACE OF GOD?Matthew 20:2–16 (ESV)

Sermon on 15 March 2026 by Pastor Justin

¹“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ ⁵ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. ⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ ⁸ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborersand pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ ⁹ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰ Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last.

Explanation of the parable

This parable is about laborers in the vineyard. The parable is seemingly about the denarius, which is a day’s wage, but the parable is about the grace of God. Vineyards in the bible are metaphors for Israel – God is always actively inviting people into His Kingdom. The parable speaks about Man’s tendency to murmur, just like how Man tends to make comparisons with God answering another’s prayer but not theirs. The grace of God is equal for all of us; he is sovereign and has all rights. It is not based off how much we have done, or how long you have stayed in a ministry as a Christian. It is always based on the grace of God. Grace is a gift, is unmerited favour, and is given to all who are humble. It is not earned by knowledge or qualification.

The grace of God can be huge on someone who is new to ministry, in school or in work. It is Man’s tendency to compare and be jealous of these people, complaining to God that it is unfair. They get offended by the grace of God. On the flip side, you can choose to be inspired by the grace of God, that God is displaying His grace right before your eyes. Comparison often begins with complaining. If we want a renewed mind, we must check our heart’s posture – this determines our perspective on life.

Three key lessons

1. Train our hearts to celebrate the grace of God, not compare

Do not fall into comparison, in business, ministry, school, or work. Comparison has begun when we start complaining. When we start making small complaints, this is the genesis of comparison, which opens doors to the devil. Comparison is the exact tool that the devil uses to kill, steal and destroy. When we compare, we lose the peace and joy of God. If we continue doing so, we cannot receive the grace of God.

Philippians 2:14 (ESV);

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV);

¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

The devil is a roaring lion who waits patiently. He will let the crack develop, before letting all disorder rush in to the point of no return. People spiral into complaining about everything in their lives – a good job, complete family, ability to travel. God’s grace is not a competition. Stop comparing and start celebrating.

2. Train our eyes to see others through the lens of His grace

Titus 1:15 (ESV);

¹⁵To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

Once your heart’s posture is right, train your eyes, and pray through the lens of God’s grace. Instead of feeling offended, shift your perspective to celebrate His grace.

Matthew 20:13 (ESV);

¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV);

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God

Entering the Kingdom of God is not about how many scriptures you memorized, or how long you have been a Christian for. Everyone receives the same grace of God, uninfluenced of our works.

3. Train ourselves not to close off any friendship, discipleship, and growth

We will not saying hurtful words that are unpleasing to God; it is like saying God does not know what He is doing. When we complain, we are essentially questioning God’s qualification, which is dangerously terrifying. There are extreme teachings that speak about repentance being a display of lack of faith. This is a false teaching, for we are nothing without the grace of God and we ought to come back to Him in repentance.  

God actively seeks people at every hour of the day. God needs us to bring people in spiritual idleness back to Him, for we are all His sheep.

Psalm 95:7 (ESV);

⁷ For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,

If you hear His voice, let your heart not be hardened. Always rejoice. Always be prayerful. Always give thanks in everything. Everything is a spiritual gift from God, which is why the 5pm worker might not be well accepted by the 9am worker, he probably would be outcast because of jealousy. This is the spirit of comparison in action.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV);

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

In God’s Kingdom, the grace of God flows freely.

James 4:6 (ESV);

⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV);

⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 3:34 (ESV);

³⁴ Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

Grace is given to those who are humble. Let LFC be known not for comparison, but for celebrating the grace of God, and let our hearts reflect his generosity. It is my prayer for the church to never compare, especially in relationships or finances. Give thanks for whatever God has bestowed upon you.

Matthew 20:16 (ESV);

¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last.”

The first in this world, the riches, will be the last in the world to come, because those who are in this world have replaced their humility with pride and self-righteousness, which is not pleasing to the Lord.

May the Lord bless you with His word. Amen!