(I. B) Teaching Parables About Service and Obedience

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1. The Workers in the Harvest (Matthew 20:1- 16)

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When it was about nine oʼclock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work. He said to them, ʻYou go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.ʼ So they went. When he went out again about noon and three oʼclock that afternoon, he did the same thing. And about five oʼclock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, ʻWhy are you standing here all day without work?ʼ They said to him, ʻBecause no one hired us.ʼ He said to them, ʻYou go and work in the vineyard too.ʼ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ʻCall the workers and give the pay starting with the last hired until the first.ʼ When those hired about five oʼclock came, each received a full dayʼs pay. And when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each one also received the standard wage. When they received it, they began to complain against the landowner, saying, ʻThese last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.ʼ And the landowner replied to one of them, ʻFriend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didnʼt you agree with me to work for the standard wage? Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last man the same as I gave to you. Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?ʼ So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Matthew 20:1-16

2. The Loaned Money (Matthew 25:14- 30)

“For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his masterʼs money in it. After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ʻSir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.ʼ His master answered, ʻWell done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.ʼ The one with the two talents also came and said, ʻSir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.ʼ His master answered, ʻWell done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.ʼ Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ʻSir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.ʼ But his master answered, ʻEvil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didnʼt sow and gather where I didnʼt scatter? Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.ʼ

Matthew 25:14-30

3. The Nobleman’s Servants (Luke 19:11- 27)

While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. Therefore he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, ʻDo business with these until I come back.ʼ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ʻWe do not want this man to be king over us!ʼ When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading. So the first one came before him and said, ʻSir, your mina has made ten minas more.ʼ And the king said to him, ʻWell done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.ʼ Then the second one came and said, ʻSir, your mina has made five minas.ʼ So the king said to him, ʻAnd you are to be over five cities.ʼ Then another slave came and said, ʻSir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.ʼ The king said to him, ʻI will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didnʼt deposit and reaping what I didnʼt sow? Why then didnʼt you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?ʼ And he said to his attendants, ʻTake the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.ʼ But they said to him, ʻSir, he has ten minas already!ʼ ʻI tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me!ʼ”

Luke 19:11-27

4. The Servant’s Role (Luke 17:7- 10)

“Would any one of you say to your slave who comes in from the field after plowing or shepherding sheep, ʻCome at once and sit down for a mealʼ? Wonʼt the master instead say to him, ʻGet my dinner ready, and make yourself ready to serve me while I eat and drink. Then you may eat and drinkʼ? He wonʼt thank the slave because he did what he was told, will he? So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ʻWe are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.ʼ”

Luke 17:7-10