English Worship at St. John's Lutheran Church

✝️ Unmerited mercy

Sermon 🕊️

📖Matthew 20:1-16

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And about the third hour he went out and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

4 And he said to them, “You also go into my vineyard, and whatever is due I will give you.” So they went their way.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hours and did likewise.

6 Finally, about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, “Why do you stand here all day idle?”

7 They said to him, “No one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into my vineyard, and whatever is due you will receive.”

8 When evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, “Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last and going to the first.”

9 And those who came about the eleventh hour received a denarius each.

10 But those who came first thought that they would receive more, but they also received a denarius each.

11 And when they had received it, they began to grumble against the master of the house.

12 And they said, “These last ones worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day.”

13 But he answered and said to one of them, “Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14 Take your own and go your way; I want to give this last one the same as you.

15 Am I not free to do what I will with my own hands? Or is your eye evil because I am good?”

16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.🙏