Ideas to help you teach your Explore the Bible Sunday School class for April 19:
Scripture focus for the lesson — Matthew 20:1–16
First, use this icebreaker idea:
- Divide the class into pairs.
- Each person shares about their first job as a teen and how much they made per hour.
Second, go back to the full class answering some of the following questions related to the lesson’s Scripture focus:
Matthew 20:1–7
- Why is context so important in this passage?
It is a continuation of Jesus’ discourse with the disciples in chapter 19, including his warning in 19:30. - Did the first ones hired have an issue on the amount that he agreed to pay them?
Not at this point, but they did later. - What can we learn from the fact that he also hired workers at 12 noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.?
Either he was wanting to provide work for those who were still unemployed, as with the earlier group he hired, or that he was anxious to finish the harvest that day.
Matthew 20:8–12
- Why do you think the foreman was instructed to pay those that were hired last to be paid first?
One possible reason is so that those who were hired first would know that he was generous with those who only worked a few hours.
If the ones hired first were paid first, they would have left and never known how much the others were paid. - What light does Deuteronomy 24:14–15 shed on how a hired servant should be paid?
A (poor) hired servant should not be oppressed by failing to pay him before the sun set. - Why did the ones who were hired first assume they would get more when they saw how much the late hires were paid, even though they had agreed on the amount initially?
They had the attitude of first come, first serve. - How would you have felt if you had been one of those who had worked all day in the hot sun and were paid the same amount as someone who came in and only worked one hour?
“That’s not fair” would be the response of most people. - Respond to their statement to the landowner, referring to the ones who got a full day’s pay for only one hour of work: “… and you made them equal to us …”
We understand how they must have felt. Ask group members for further responses. - Does their sentiment remind you of the disciple’ attitude in chapter 19 in which they told Jesus they had left everything to follow him and wondered what they would get for doing so?
It does sound similar. Perhaps here we see the key to unlocking the meaning of this parable in that it was told for their benefit. - Is there anything here we can learn about having an attitude of entitlement?
The workers who worked for a day in the vineyard felt entitled to more pay than those who only worked for one hour.
The disciples may have felt entitled to more reward because they have given up everything to follow Jesus.
What are other reasons people feel entitled today?
Matthew 20:13–16
- Why did the landowner remind the grumbling worker that he had agreed on the amount for a day’s work?
Apparently, he had forgotten. - Did the owner of the vineyard have rights?
Yes. - How did the owner of the vineyard show discernment?
He recognized that the early hires were jealous because he was generous. - How are Matthew 19:30 and 20:16 different?
The order for the first and last is reversed in both; 19:30 also adds the word “many.” - Does the parable of the Prodigal Son shed any light on this parable in Luke 15:11–32?
Yes. - Read Luke 15:28ff to see how the older son responded to the welcome the father had given to the returning prodigal.
Primary application questions
- In the kingdom of God, are human standards of merit replaced by divine generosity?
According to the Cornerstone Bible Commentary, yes. - What do we learn about God’s sovereignty in this passage?
He is sovereign and he can do as he please.
We need to remember that he is the Creator, and we are his creatures.
He can do as he pleases, but more often than not he is generous and gracious. - How should we respond when God chooses to reward others more than us?
The natural response is to be envious, but we need to recall how the Lord has blessed us.
We should learn to rejoice with others when God chooses to bless them. That is not always easy. - The heading for these verses in the J.B. Phillips New Testament says, “But, the generosity of God may appear unfair.” Agree or disagree?
In the economy of God, his generosity is not unfair, but in the economy of this world system it may appear unfair. - Who was the parable given for?
Based on the context of Matthew 19–20, it seems to be intended for Jesus’ 12, but certainly applies to other disciples of that day and our day. - What is the primary meaning of this parable?
John Broadus sums it up well in The American Commentary of the New Testament: “The general thought of the parable is that the assignment of individual rewards will be a matter of divine sovereignty” (Vol. 1, p. 414).
Secondary application questions
- Even though this parable was not given for the work environment, do you see any principles?
Here are a few possible answers:
A. An employer should always keep his word as the landowner did to the first group that was hired in the parable.
B. An employer should be generous to his employees and compassionate to the unemployed.
C. An unemployed person should leave no stone unturned as he is looking for work. Those needing work in the parable went to the market place so as to make it known they were available. - If you are an employer, do you have a reputation with your employees of being kind and generous?
- How can Colossians 3:23 help any employee with his attitude at work?
By thinking of himself as working for the Lord and not just a boss.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Chip Warren has worked in church ministry and assisted Sunday School teachers in various forms for nearly 50 years. He’s a graduate of Southwestern Seminary and lives in Albertville, Alabama. Warren provides teaching resources such as these questions related to specific passages of Scripture at chipwarren.org.
