Great rewards promised to those A. D. 33. A. D. 33. A. M. 4037. 25 When his disciples heard it, they || lowed thee; what shall we have A. M. 4037 were exceedingly amazed, saying, therefore? Who then can be saved? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. * Mark x. 28; Luke xviii. 28.- Deut. xxxiii. 9; Chap. iv. 20; Luke v. 11. .z Chap. xx. 21; Luke xxii. 28–30; 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3; Rev. ii. 26. ble for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, || They thought if the rich and the great could not enter his kingdom, he never could have any kingdom at all; and, therefore, they asked one another with great surprise, Who then can be saved—If rich men with all their advantages cannot? "Who? A poor man: a peasant: a beggar:-ten thousand of them," says Mr. Wesley, "sooner than one that rich." But Jesus beheld them-Mark says, looking upon them-To compose their hurried spirits. O what a speaking look was there! Said to them— With the utmost sweetness; With men this is impossible-It is observable, he does not retract what he had said; no, nor soften it in the least degree, but rather strengthens it, by representing the salvation of a rich man as the utmost effort of Omnipotence. The energy of divine grace is able to make a man despise the world, with all that it contains, when no efforts of man, no arguments, eloquence, or persuasions are able to do it. cares and anxieties, which draw the affections away || from God. 2d, They are offensive to piety in the possession; because, if they are hoarded, they never fail to beget covetousness, which is the root of all evil; and if they are enjoyed they become strong temptations to luxury, drunkenness, lust, pride, and idleness." But, besides these, riches are a dangerous snare in several other respects. 1st, It is difficult to possess them and not inordinately love them, and put that trust in them which ought to be put only in the living God. For rich men "obtaining all the necessaries and superfluities of life by means of their riches, are apt to consider them as the sources of their happiness, and to depend upon them as such, forgetting altogether their dependance on God. It is otherwise with the poor. They are exposed to manifold afflictions, and labour under the pressure of continual wants. These serve to convince them of the vanity of the world, and to put them in mind of their dependance upon God; at the same time, the unexpected deliverances and supplies which they Verses 27, 28. Then answered Peter-With some meet with, rivet the idea more firmly. Wherefore, warmth and confidence; Behold, we have forsaken in the very nature of things, the poor are nearer to all—We have done what this youth, hopeful as he the kingdom of God than the rich; and if the latter, seemed, had not the resolution to do; for though yielding to the temptations of their state, trust in indeed we had not much, we have left all the little their riches, words can scarce be invented strong that we had, and have at all adventures followed thee What shall enough to paint the difficulty of bringing them to with the sincerest zeal and affection. that holy temper of mind which would qualify them we have therefore?—It seems Peter was ready to for the kingdom of God." 2d, It is not easy to pos- think that their labour was lost, because they were sess riches and not think highly of ourselves on ac- to have no recompense on earth, and that his stewcount of them, as they certainly give their possess-ardship, the office which he supposed his Master had ors a consequence which they otherwise could not promised him under the metaphor of the keys of have, and cause them to be looked up to with respect the kingdom, was likely to be of little service to him. by all that are round about them. But, 3d, The Jesus said, Ye which have followed me in the regemost difficult thing of all is, to possess them and || neration-During this time and state of things, in make a right use of them, even that use which God which men are to be regenerated and created anew wills all to make in whose hands he hath lodged by the gospel, and the earth is to be renewed in them. In other words, To use them as those who || righteousness. Mr. Fleming paraphrases the verse are persuaded that, properly speaking, they are not || thus: "You, my apostles, who have followed me in proprietors, but merely stewards of them, and will this new state of the church, which is to be brought certainly be called by the great Lord of all to give to the birth when I am to ascend to heaven, shall an account how they have employed every part of || be to the whole Christian Church what the twelve them, and what use they have made of the advanta- || heads of the tribes were of old to the whole Jewish ges and opportunities for doing and receiving good || nation: my followers shall appeal to your decisions. above others, which riches put in their power. as the rule of their faith and practice." But, it Verses 25, 26. When his disciples heard it, they seems, the expression, ev тη πahiyyɛveσig, ought rather were exceedingly amazed-The disciples, who had to be connected with what follows; the sense then followed their Master in expectation of becoming will be, In the renovation, namely, the final renovarich and great, were exceedingly astonished when tion, or restitution of all things, Acts iii. 21, when they heard him declare that it was next to impossi- || the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory Great rewards promised to those A. D. 33. A. D. 33. A. M. 4037. 29 And every one that hath for- || hundred-fold, and shall inherit ever- A. M. 4037. saken houses, or brethren, or sisters, || lasting life. or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a a Mark x. 29, 30: Luke xviii. 29, 30. || b 30 But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first. b Chap. xx. 16; xxi. 31, 32; Mark x. 31; Luke xiii. 30. Exalted above the highest angels of God, and pre- for some, from whom it might be least expected, siding over and judging the assembled world; ye shall embrace the gospel, and courageously endure also shall sit—In the beginning of the judgment the greatest hardships for it; while others, with far they shall stand; (2 Cor. v. 10.) Then, being ab- greater advantages, shall reject it, and under much solved, they shall sit with the Judge: (1 Cor. vi. 2:) || stronger engagements shall desert it. The words on twelve thrones—So our Lord promised, without || thus interpreted may be considered as a prediction expressing any condition: yet, as absolute as the that the Gentiles would receive and obey the gospel, words are, it is certain there is a condition implied, while the Jews should reject it. As if he had as in many scriptures where none is expressed. In said, "Though you may imagine that you and your consequence of this, these twelve did not sit on those brethren have a peculiar title to the great and subtwelve thrones: for the throne of Judas another stantial blessings of my kingdom, which I have been took, so that he never sat thereon. Judging the || describing, the Gentiles shall have equal opportunitwelve tribes of Israel-Concurring joyfully with ties and advantages for obtaining them; because me in the sentence which will then be passed on the they shall be admitted to all the privileges of the Jewish nation, and on all the professed members of gospel on the same footing with you Jews; nay, in my church, as they have been sincere or faithless in point of time, they shall be before you; for they their profession, and in the observance of those laws || shall generally embrace the gospel before your nawhich you, by authority from me, shall have given || tion is converted, Rom. xi. 25, 26.”—Macknight. them. The words may also be thus interpreted: Many that Verses 29, 30. And every one-In every age and are first in profession, and in the opinion of their country, and not you my apostles only; that hath || fellow-creatures, and their own opinion, for piety forsaken houses, or brethren, or wife, or children—|| Either by giving any of them up, when they could not be retained with a clear conscience; or by willingly refraining from acquiring them: shall receive a hundred-fold—In value, though not in kind, even in the present world, in the inward satisfaction and divine consolation attending real religion; and in- || herit everlasting life-Shall enjoy to all eternity that unspeakable felicity and glory which God has prepared for all his children, and especially for those who have cheerfully made such sacrifices as those, and have given such proofs of their faith in, and love to, their God and Saviour. But many firstIn the advantages and privileges which they enjoy; shall-notwithstanding this, fall short of others, and be last-in the great day of accounts; and those who are the last, shall prove in this respect the first: || chapter. and virtue, shall be last in my esteem, and in that of my Father, or shall be found wanting, and therefore shall be condemned at the day of judgment: and the last in the opinion of men, and in their own opinion, and who are despised and rejected by those that judge according to appearance, shall be first— Shall be preferred to others, and be found highest in my favour in that day. The passage has evidently yet another sense, namely, Many of those who were first called shall be last, shall have the lowest reward, those who came after them being preferred before them: and yet possibly both the first and the last may be saved, though with different degrees of glory. The doctrine contained in this sentence is illustrated by the parable of the householder, contained in the beginning of the following CHAPTER XX. Here (1,) Christ illustrates the last verse of the preceding chapter by the parable of the labourers hired to work in the vineyard, 1-16. (2,) He again foretels his approaching sufferings and resurrection, 17-19. (3,) He sharply reproves an ambitious petition in favour of James and John, for distinguished honours in his kingdom; and allots them a conformity to him in suffering, 20-28. (4,) He hearkens to the request of two blind men, and opens their eyes, 29-34. 164 a Parable of the labourers hired A. M. 4037. FOR the kingdom of heaven is 3 And he went out about the third A. M. 4037. like unto a man that is a house- || hour, and saw others standing idle in holder, which went out early in the morning to 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a 1penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. A. D. 33. 4 And said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right I will give you. you. And they went their way. The lings the ounce, is sevenpence halfpenny, sterling; Chapter * Septuagesima Sunday, gospel, verse 1 to verse 17. Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which, after five shil NOTES ON CHAPTER XX. || xviii. 28. hour, as referring to the mission of the apostles, Verse 1. For the kingdom of heaven, &c.—The when they were first sent forth to preach in Judea. manner in which the following parable is here in- By the call of the sixth hour, he understands their troduced, (and it is the same in the original,) evi-|| preaching after the ascension of Christ and the dedently shows that it was spoken in illustration of scent of the Holy Ghost, when the church was in the sentence with which the preceding chapter con- its meridian glory; by that of the ninth hour, the cludes, and from which, therefore, it ought not to preaching of the same apostles to the dispersed Jews have been disjoined. The primary scope of this || in their synagogues, in different parts of the world; parable seems to be, to show that many of the Jews || and that of the eleventh hour, to the calling of the would be rejected for their disobedience to the gos- || Gentiles. This exposition, iî it do not imply too pel call, and many of the Gentiles accepted in con- great a nicety of distinction, seems very plausible, sequence of their obeying it. The secondary, That, and might probably be intended partly at least, by of the Gentiles, many who were first converted our Lord. But others of the ancient fathers, comwould be the last and lowest in the kingdom of paring human life to a day, considered the parable glory, and many of those who were last converted, as referring also to the several periods of the life of would be first and highest therein. The parable || man, namely, to those called and obeying the call in seems, also, to have a third intention, namely, to childhood, in youth, in middle age, in declining show that those Gentiles who should obey the gos-years, and in old age; and doubtless the parable is pel, whether sooner or later, should be admitted to || capable of, and probably was intended to receive, privileges equal to those conferred on the believing such an application. Jews. The kingdom of heaven is like a householder—That is, the manner of God's proceeding in his kingdom resembles that of a householder, or master of a family, in the management of his vineyard. Which went out early in the morning-Namely, at six, called by the Romans and Jews the first hour. From thence reckoning unto the evening, they called what is nine with us the third hour; twelve, the sixth; three in the afternoon, the ninth; and five, the elev-wheat, which was the usual allowance to one man enth. Verses 2-4. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day—“ A denarius, or Roman penny, in value about seven and one half pence sterling, which it seems was the usual price of a day's service among the Jews, as Tacitus tells us it was among the Romans, (Annal., i. 17.) It is therefore justly mentioned, Rev. vi. 6, as a proof of the great scarcity of provisions, when a measure, or chœrix of To hire labourers into his vineyard-At the for a day, and was about an English quart, was sold time when the vintage was to be gathered in. As at that price."-Doddridge. He sent them into his the householder here represents Christ, so the vine- || vineyard-Many obeyed the call given them by yard signifies his church, in which, as in a vineyard, John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus at the first inmuch work is to be done, for which labourers are troduction of the gospel dispensation, and many wanted. With respect to the different hours here have been called in childhood in every age of the mentioned, by early in the morning, or the first church. He went out about the third hour, about hour, some of the ancient fathers understood the nine, and saw others standing idle-Many were ages preceding the flood, in which Adam and Eve, standing idle, and doing nothing either for the glory Abel, Enoch, Noah, and probably some others, were of God or the salvation of their own souls, in all called. By the third hour they understood the pa-parts of Judea, when the apostles were first sent forth, triarchal ages succeeding the flood; and by the sixth during the time of our Lord's personal ministry, to hour, the times of Moses and the promulgation of call them to repentance, and to do works meet for the law, and of the establishment of the Jewish repentance. And many young persons in every Church; by the ninth hour, the times of the pro- age and nation have been, and still are, standing phets; and by the eleventh, those of the Messiah and idle in the same sense; and that in the market-place, the calling of the Gentiles. But Dr. Whitby justly as it were, offering themselves to be hired to any objects that, as this parable is intended to illustrate master that might be disposed to engage them: and the kingdom of heaven, or the gospel dispensation, too many have continually been, and still are, hired and the state of things in the gospel church, that by Satan; and, like the prodigal in the parable, (who exposition of the fathers cannot be the true one. He was sent into the fields to feed swine,) are daily therefore explains the first call, early in the morn-employed in the drudgery of sin; or are engaged by ing, of the earliest days of Christ's preaching, pre- the world, and occupied in the pursuits of its vaniceded by that of John the Baptist; that of the third ties; or by the flesh, in the filthy lusts of which The labourers in the vineyard A. M. 4037. 5 Again he went out about the sixth || into the vineyard; and whatsoever A. M. 4037. and ninth hour, and did likewise. is right, that shall ye receive. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also // A. D. 33. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about they wallow, as swine in the mire. And said, Go have that to say for themselves, at the eleventh ye also-As well as those who have been called be- || hour, which these had, No man hath hired us: nor fore you, or are called at an earlier age: and what- can they be sure that any man will hire them at soever is right—Aikalov, just, reasonable, I will give the ninth or eleventh hour. And therefore, not to you. And they went their way—To their work, with- || discourage any, but to awaken all, be it remembered, out any further, or more particular agreement, that now is the accepted time, now is the day of salplacing an entire confidence in the promise of the || vation: and, if we will hear his voice, it must be tohouseholder. Thus many were 'obedient to the day."-Henry. call given by the apostles in their first mission, and to that given by the seventy disciples: for they returned to Jesus, saying, Lord, the very devils are subject to us through thy name. And many young persons in former ages have obeyed, and many in the present age now obey, the gospel, wherever it || is preached with clearness and power. Verse 8. When even was come-Then, as usual, the day-labourers are called and paid. Faithful labourers shall receive a portion of their reward when they die. It is deferred till then, that they may exercise patience in waiting for it; but no longer. As soon as Paul, that faithful labourer, departs, he is with Christ. The general time of reckVerse 5. Again le went out about the sixth and || oning, indeed, and the full payment, will be after ninth hour-At roon, and three in the afternoon; the resurrection, in the evening of the world. Then and did likewise-Sent others to work on the same every one will receive according to the deeds done general promise of giving them as much as they in the body. When time ends, and with it the world, could reasonably expect. Thus many of the Jews | then the state of retribution commenceth. Then it were brought into the Christian Church, the Lord's will be said, Call the labourers, and give them their vineyard, by the preaching of the apostles, after the hire. Observe, reader, ministers call them into the descent of the Holy Ghost, first in Judea, and after- || vineyard to do their work; death calls out of it to ward in different parts of the world; and many in a receive their penny: and to those to whom the call state of manhood, and some in declining years, into the vineyard is effectual, the call out of it will have in former ages obeyed the gospel call, and not be joyful. Observe again, they did not come for a few, at the same periods of human life, obey it in their pay till they were called: we must with the present age in this country, and in other parts patience wait God's time for our rest and recomof the earth, where the gospel is preached with the || pense. Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. || Verse 9. They that were hired about the eleventh Verses 6, 7. And about the eleventh hour-About|| hour-Either the Gentiles, who were called long five in the afternoon; he went and found others after the Jews into the vineyard, the Church of standing idle-Others are hired into the vineyard Christ; or those in every age who did not hear, in old age, when the day of life is almost wholly or at least understand and obey, the gospel call, till spent, and there is but one hour of the twelve re- || their day of life was drawing to a period. Some cirmaining. "None are hired at the twelfth hour: cumstances of the parable seem best to suit the when life is done, opportunity is done; but while former, some the latter of these senses. All, whether there is life, there is hope. There is hope for old of Jewish or Gentile race, on believing in Jesus, sinners; for, if in sincerity they turn to God, they with their hearts unto righteousness, are admitted shall doubtless be accepted: true repentance is never to the same gospel blessings of justification, adoptoo late. And, 2d, There is hope of old sinners, that tion, regeneration, and communion with God on they may be brought to repentance. Nothing is too earth; (which, perhaps, may be first and principally hard for Almighty grace to do, that can change the intended by the penny a day, given to all that obey Ethiop's skin and the leopard's spots. A man may the call of God's messengers, and enter the vinebe born again when he is old; and the old man which yard :) and all that by a patient continuance in wellcorrupt may be put off. Yet let none, upon this || doing, after their justification, seek for glory, honour, presumption, put off their repentance till they are and immortality, shall undoubtedly obtain eternal old. These were sent into the vineyard, it is true, life, Rom. ii. 7; not indeed as wages for the value at the eleventh hour; but nobody had hired them, or of their work, but as the gift of God. Though there offered to hire them before. The Gentiles came in be degrees of glory in heaven, yet it will be to all a at the eleventh hour, but it was because the gospel complete happiness. They that come from the east had not been preached to them. Those that have and the west, and so come in late, that are taken had gospel offers made them at the third and sixth from the highways and the hedges, yet shall hour, and have resisted and refused them, will not || sit down with Abraham, &c., at the same feast, Matt. A. M. 4037. the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. A. D. 33. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, 12 Saying, These last 2 have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal || unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 2 Or, have continued one hour only. a Rom. ix. 21.b Deut. xv. 9; Prov. xxiii. 6; Chap. vi. 23. receive every man a penny A. D. 33. 13 But he answered one of them, A. M. 4037. and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 a Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good? с 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. d c Chap. xix. 30.———d Chap. xxii. 14. viii. 11. Every vessel will be full, though every mise; for the benefit of which, through Christ, bevessel be not alike large and capacious. The giving || lievers agree with him, and he will stand to his part of a whole day's wages to those that had not done || the tenth part of a day's work, is designed to show that God distributes his rewards by grace, and not of debt. own. own. of the agreement. Take that thine is, and go thy way--If we were to understand this of that which is ours by debt or absolute property, it would be a dreadful word; we should be all undone, if we should Verses 10-12. When the first came, they supposed be put off with that only which we could call our that they should have received more—The first, here The highest creature must go away into noseems to mean the Jews, who always supposed that || thing, if he must go away with that only which is his they should, in every thing, be preferred before the But understood, as it ought to be, of that Gentiles, and were provoked to jealousy by the ad- which is ours by gift, the free gift of God, it teacheth mission of the Gentiles into the gospel church, and us to be content with such things as we have; and, to the free enjoyment of the blessings of the Abra- || instead of repining that we have not more, to take hamic covenant, which they considered as being what we have and be thankful. If God be better in confined to their nation. As the elder brother, in any respect to others than to us, yet we have no the parable of the prodigal, repined at the reception || reason to complain, while he is so much better to us of the younger brother, and complained of his fa- than we deserve, in giving us our penny, though we ther's generosity to him; so these labourers first are unprofitable servants. I will give unto this called in, found fault with their master, not because || last-That is, last called, namely, among the heathey had not enough, but because others were made || then; even as unto thee-First called, namely, among equal to them. Thou, say they, hast made them || the Jews, yea, and unto the last converted publicans equal to us-So indeed St. Peter says, Acts xv. 9,|| and sinners, even as to those who were called long God hath put no difference between us (Jews) and them, (Gentiles,) purifying their hearts by faith. And not only are believing Gentiles admitted to equal privileges with believing Jews in the Christian || Church on earth, but those who become equally || will with mine own?—Yea, doubtless, to give either holy here, whenever they were called, will be equally happy hereafter. Who have borne the burden, &c. -Who have long toiled under the grievous yoke of the ceremonial law, obeyed its numerous precepts, || and performed the various difficult duties and services required by it: fitly expressed by bearing the burden and heat of the day. || before. Observe, reader, the unchangeableness of God's purposes in dispensing his gifts should silence our murmurings. It is not for us to gainsay what he does; and is it not lawful for me to do what I to Jew or Gentile a reward infinitely greater than he deserves. But can it be inferred from hence, that it is lawful or possible for the merciful Father of spirits to "Consign an unborn soul to hell; reference to that malignant aspect which is generally the attendant of a selfish and envious temper. Or damn him in his mother's womb?" Is thine eye evil because I am good?-Art thou enVerses 13-15. And he answered one of them-vious because I am gracious? Here is an evident Who spoke in the name of the rest; Friend, I do thee no wrong-It is most apparent that I do not, in any degree, injure thee or any of thy companions. Didst thou not agree with me for a penny?—Didst thou not consent to obey the gospel, to enter the vineyard of the gospel church, and work diligently therein, on condition that thou wast admitted to a share of the blessings of it here, and to eternal life hereafter? If thou hast received what thou didst agree for, thou hast no reason to cry out of wrong. Though God is a debtor to none, yet he is graciously pleased to make himself a debtor by his own pro Verse 16. So the last shall be first, and the first last-The Gentiles last called, and last in advantages and privileges, not having been favoured in that respect as the Jews were, and despised and looked down upon with contempt by the Jews; shall be first— Shall more readily, and in far greater numbers, embrace the gospel than the Jews, and shall far exceed them in knowledge and wisdom, holiness and usefulness, and make abundantly greater progress than they in true religion. And many, whether Jews or |