Chapter XI: The Labourers in the Harvest-Field

[MATTHEW 20]

THERE was an Eastern householder, who had great vineyards, stretching far up on the hillsides. By and by the grapes were ready for picking, and the householder went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard; and when he had agreed with them, he sent them into his vineyard.

By and by, he went out again; and seeing others standing idle, he said to them, "Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will pay you."

At length, at the last hour before sundown, the householder went once more, and found others standing idle, and he said to them, "Why are you standing here idle, all the day?" And they answered him, "Because no one has hired us."

Then he sent them also into his vineyard, and said, "I will pay you."

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There are many lessons for us in this parable, but I think the chief one is this:

The Vineyard spoken of belongs to the Lord God.

The Grapes represent the people all over the world, whom He wants to have in His Heavenly Home.

The Labourers are God's own people, whom He tells to go and get in the harvest.

God calls each one of us who love Him, to be a labourer in His Kingdom.

To each one, when the day is ended, the Lord will give us our own reward, and He gives us great promises to encourage us.

He says, if His workers are "Wise and turn many to righteousness—they shall shine as stars for ever and ever."

Does not this encourage us to do all we can to tell others of the love of Jesus, who died on the Cross that we might be saved.

We can all pray, that God will call us to work for Him; and surely, if He does call, and we listen to His Voice, He will teach us how to bring many to righteousness, and earn "the crown of glory, that fadeth not away!"