Matthew 20

FOr the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an housholder, which went out early in the morning, to hire labourers into his vineyard.

And when he had agreed with the labourers for a peny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place.

And said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing idle, and says unto them, Why stand ye here, all the day idle?

They say unto him, Because no man has hired us. He says unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

So when even was come, the Lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the labourers and give them their hire, beginning from the last to the first.

And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a peny.

But when the first came, they supposed they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a peny.

And when they received it, they murmured against the good man of the house.

Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have born the burden, and heat of the day.

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong, Didst thou not agree with me for a peny?

Take that thine is, and go thy way. I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

Is it not lawful for me do what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil, because mine is good?

So the last shall be first, and the first last, for many be called, but few chosen. We f nd this Parable only recorded by St. Matthew; nor have ny thing to guide us in understanding the Scope of our Sav our in it, but the 16. v. So the last shall be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen. Some here by First, understand such as are of greatest Repute and Estimation in the World: or who have the highest Opinion of themselves. By Last, they understand Persons who are of meaner Note and Reckoning in the World, and have lowest opinion of themselves. The former shall be last as to the Love and Favor of God, and any Reward from him: and the other shall be first. Others by the First, understand the Iewes, who were the first People God had in the World, and more dignified than any other by Priviledges: By the Last, the Gentiles, who came last into the Church of God. This seems to be directly intended by our Saviour, who perfectly knew the Pride and invidious Temper of the Jews, who valued themselves upon their Prerogative, that they were the Church of God, when the World lay in Wickedness; and were apt to resent as an Indignity, that the Gentiles should be called into the Church, and be made equally Partakers of Spiritual Priviledges with them. Having now fixed the Scope of the Parable, the Interpretation is easy. The Kingdom of Heaven, that is the soveraign Dispensation of God in calling Nations or Persons to partake of spiritual Benefits in his Church, and consequently of eternal Blessedness; is like unto a Man that is a Housholder, which went out early in the Morning to hire Labourers into his Vineyard. The Housholder is God the Father, compared by Christ to an Husbandman, with respect to the Culture of Vines. Ioh. 15.1. to one that has a Vineyard, Isa. 5.1, 2. &c. The Vineyard is the Church: the Work is that which concerns eternal Salvation, both of our own Salvation, and of others that are committed to our Charge, or that are within the Compass of our Activity to do them spiritual good. The Labourers, are eminently, Persons in Office, and generally, all that are called by the Gospel. The hiring of them imports, the gracious Promise of the Reward publish'd in the Gospel to those who will work. The Peny, is the Reward comprehensive of the spiritual Priviledges, that Persons in the Church are made Partakers of. Men standing idle in the Market-place: signifies their neglect of the great and proper Work for which they came into the World, to glorify God, and save their Souls His going ut at several times, and calling in some to the Vineyard, at the third, sixth, and ninth hours, implys the Calling of the Jews in the early Age of the World, and his sending the Prophets in sundry times, when they were degenerated, to return to his Service. The calling some at the tenth hour, particularly respects the bringing in the Gentiles by Preaching the Gospel, who before were without the Knowledg of God and the way to Life. The Even, is the time of Accounts and Recompence. The Murmuring of some, that they received no more than those that came later into the Vineyard, primarily and immediately signifys the Envy and Vexation of the Jews, that the Gentiles should be equal Partakers, of the Grace of God, with themselves, who for so many Ages had been his peculiar People. The Housholder's vindicating himself, is from two Considerations: wherein it appears, that his Liberality to some is perfectly consi ent with his Justice to all. 1. That he agreed with them for a Peny, which they received: The Jews enjoyed those external Priviledges of Gods Covenant which they so much valued themselves for, till they cut themselves off by their obstinate rejecting is Grace. 2. That he might do what he pleased with his own. He was Master of his own Favors, and it was malignity to tax his Bounty to others, which was nothing prejudicia to what was due by Agreement to them. Our S viour concludes the Parable, that the Last shall be First: The Gentiles shall be made Partakers of the Gospel with the blessed Priviledges attending to it: And the First shall be Last: That is, the Jews should be deprived of those Priviledges. And analogically in every age, some who are first, in Presumption of their own Merit, in Profession, and Reputation, but not in real Holine s, shall be last in Gods Account; and those who were sincere and diligent in the Christian Calling, tho disvalued by the World, shall be preferred before them: For many are called, but few are chosen. This is the Reason of what is said before: Many are called by the external Preaching of the Word, into the visible Communion of the Church; this is the evident meaning by the reading of the Parable, wherein 'tis said, Persons were called at several Hours, Comprehending the Ministry of the Prophets and the Apostles, and all the succession of Preachers in every Age: and few are chosen; That is by the free and unchangeable Decree of God ordained to eternal Life, and to partake of saving Grace in order to the obtaining it. This is the main Scope of the Parable.

And Jesus going up to Hierusalem, took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

Behold we go up to Hierusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief Priests, and unto the Scribes, and they shall condemn him to death.

And shall deliver him to the Gentiles, to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. Both Mark and Luke give us account of this Passage. Mark says Chap. 10.32. And they were in the way going up o Hierusalem, Iesus went before them, and they were amazed, and as they followed, they were afraid, and he took again the twelve, and began again to tell them, what things should happen unto him: Saying, behold we go up to Hierusalem, and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief Priests, and to the Scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles, and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and spit upon him, and shall kill him, and the third day he shall rise again. Luke has it Chap. 18.31. Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold we go up to Hierusalem, and all things that are written by the Prophets concerning the Son of man, shall be accomplished; for he shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully intreated, d spit upon, and they shall scourge him, and put him to de h, and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the th gs that were spoken. Our blessed Lord was yet upon his road from Galilee to Hierusalem; we have here an account of some of his travelling Discourse, to teach us to make use of all time for edifying, and profitable Discourse. Mark says, that as they went, Iesus went before them, and they were amazed, and as they followed they were afraid. Mark gives us no account of any formidable Object in their Eye: Those that think they were amazed to see him make such hast to his death, forget that Luke says, that after our Savior had further instructed them in this, they understood it not; But probably they knew he was going into the Nest of his Enemies, and this made them afraid. He calls to him the twelve, (it was not a Discourse fit for a Multitude) and gives them an Account very particularly of what he had twice or thrice before taught them; he had before told them of his Death and Resurrection, and that he should be betrayed to death; here he describes the manner, they should deliver him to the Gentiles, (to Pilate and Herod) he describes his previous Sufferings, he should be scourged, mocked, spit upon, and the kind of his Death, he should be crucified; that when these things came to pass, they might be assured that he was God, who had so punctually foretold things to come, not existent in their causes, but mere Contingencies, he comforteth them with two things. 1. That it was according to what had been foretold by the Prophets. 2. That tho he died, he should rise again the third Day. They had need of this fore-warning, for a fore-arming; for considering that they now looked upon him as the Messiah, it might well pose them to think how he should dy; and when they had seen all these things come to pass, it might have shaken their Faith, but being so particularly foretold, the coming of them to pass, rather confirmed their Faith in him as the Son of God, than weakened it. But Luke says, They understood none of these things, That is, surely they believed none of them, the Saying was hid from them. The words were plain enough, but they could not reconcile them to their Reason, they could not conceive how he who was the Messiah could die: nor get over the Prejudice of his being a temporal Prince, and exercising a Kingdom in this World: For his rising again the third Day, they could not believe it.

Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her Sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

And he says unto her, What wilt thou? She says unto him, Grant that these my two Sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other the left, in thy Kingdom. Mark says Chap. 10.35. And Iames, and Iohn, the Son, of Zebedee, came unto him saying, Master, we would that thou should do for us what we desire. And he said, what would you, that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us, that we may sit, one on thy right Hand, the other on thy left Hand in thy Glory. Matthew's saying, In thy Kingdom, Mark, In thy Glory, leaves us in some doubt whether these two Disciples and their Mother, had here some carnal Notion of the Kingdom of Heaven, because Christ had before spoken of some that should be first in it, and others last. Or were in some expectation of some glorious secular Kingdom, which Christ after his Resurrection should exercise in the World; for that they had some such Thoughts, appears from Luke 22.24. Acts 1.6. This Mother of Iames and Iohn was Salome Mark. 15.40. A constant follower of Christ, Mat 27.55, 56. Matthew says she spake, Mark says her two Sons spake. They would first have had a general Grant from Christ of whatsoever they should ask, or a certain thing. But wise Men use not to grant such Requests; Our Lord askes them what they would desire? Then do they betray their Ambition. Was there ever a more unseasonable Request, than for them to be Suitors for great Places to him, when he had but now told them, he was going to be Spit upon, Scourged, Condemned, Crucified? Yet there was this good in it, they by it discovered a Faith in him, that notwithstanding all this, he should be exalted, and have a Kingdom. But how carnal are our Conceptions of Spiritual and Heavenly Things, till we be taught of God a right Notion of them?

But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye aske. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the Baptisme, that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. Mark has the same Chap. 10.38, 39. Our Savior gently reproves them for their inadvised Petition, and again mindeth them, that he was first to Suffer, and then to enter into his glory, and that by much Tribulation they also must enter into the Kingdom of God, which was a thing fitter for their present Thoughts, than sitting at his right hand, and left hand, for we must suffer with him, if we will be glorified together, Rom. 8.17. How ready are we to ask we know not what? Are you able to drink of the Cup, &c. The Sense is, are you able to Suffer, what I am to Suffer? Hereby our Savior intimates, That those who are the freest, and greatest Sufferers for Christ: shall have the greatest Rewards from him. Christ here expresseth his Sufferings under the Notion of Drinking of a Cup, and being Baptised with a Baptism. A Cup is an ordinary Metaphor in Holy Writ, by which a M ns Portion in this Life is expressed, whither it be a Portion of good Things or evil. Psal. 11. 6 Isai. 51.17. Ier. 25.15. Lam. 4.21. Chap. 26.39, 40, 42. Iohn 18.11. Drinking of a Cup is usually put for Suffering Ier. 49.12. Ezech. 23.32. Obad. 16. The Metaphor being as some think, taken from a Custom in some Nations, to put Malefactors to Death by giving them a Cup of Poyson to drink, or as others think, from the leud Custome, at compotations to force men to drink off their Cups. To be Baptized with the Baptisme I am Baptized with, has the same Import, see Luke 12.50. Afflictions are ordinarily compared in Scripture to Waters: To be Baptized, is to be dipped in Water; Metaphorically to be plunged in Afflictions: I am says Christ to be baptized with B ood, overwhelmed with Sufferings and Afflictions, Are you able to be so? They say unto him, we are able. This was as rashly spoke as the other. How little do we know our own Strength? Ch. 26.56. When Christ was apprehended, they all forsook him and fled.

And he says unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptisme that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, ‖ is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. Mark has the same Ch. 10.39, 40. Our Savior here tells them, that as he was first to Suffer and then enter into his Glory; so they that should be glorified with him, should also first suffer with him, for none shall be Crowned, but those who strive Lawfully, 2 Tim. 2.5. And all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. But who should be highest in the Kingdom of Glory, his Father must determine upon whose Will, the disposal of his Kingdom, and the preferences in it depended. This Text has been abused, by those who have denied Christ's Deity, and Equality to the Father, as if it served their Purpose: Because Christ here denieth it in his Power, to dispose of the Kingdom of Heaven; but besides that, he elsewhere asserts the contrary. Ioh. 10.28. & 17.2 Christ does not here speak of what was in his Power but what was his Office as Mediator, so his work was to incourage them to fight the good Fight, not to dispense out Crowns to them. Or else, he speaketh of himself as Man, as he speaketh, Ioh. 14.28. Nor indeed does Christ here deny, that it was in his Power, but only that it was in his Power, to give this preference to any, except those for whom his Father had prepared it: Note the Greek is,, That is, Is not mine to give, but to them for whom it is prepared: So that those words [it shall be given to them] which our Translators put in, were better left out. All this was before ordered and determined by God, and he could only dispose of the Kingdom of God, according to the Eternal Council, (which we translate but) has here the Force of (unless) as in Mar. 9.8. 2 Cor. 2.5. Besides that to show the Order of the Trinity in working; Acts of Power and Providence, are usually ascribed to the Father, tho by other Scriptures it appears, that the Son in them co-operateth with the Father.

And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. Mar. 10.41. Here is not yet a Word of Peters Primacy, or any Claim he put in for it, nor it seemeth, had the others any Apprehension of such an E ablishment, for then, neither would Iames and Iohn have put in or it, nor would all the Disciples (among whom Peter was one) have been so displeased at the Ambition of Iames and Iohn yet they seem to be sick of the same Disease, and to have been displeased only, that they had the start of the Motion, and had put in their Petition first.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles, exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

But it shall not be so amongst you, but whosoever will be great amongst you, let him be your minister.

And whosoever will be chief amongst you, let him be your servant. So Mark has much the same, Ch. 10.42, 43, 44. Luke has also much the same, (but it seemeth spoken at another time) Luk. 22.25, 26, 27. I shall not here inter-meddle with the Disputes, some have founded on this Text: Whether there may be a Civil Magistracy amongst Christians: A thing undoubtedly Foreign to the Sense of this Text. Or, Whether Christ here Establisheth a Party amongst Ministers; Which I do not think our Lords design here: Nor yet, with that other Question, Whether Ministers of the Gospel may take upon them, the exercise of any Civil Power. That which our Saviour here intendeth, 1. To distinguish his Kingdom from the Kingdoms of the World: Those Kingdoms are over mens Bodies and Estates, his was a spiritual Kingdom, over the Hearts and Consciences of Men. Or rather, his was a Kingdom of Glory, where there would be no need of Rulers and Magistrates, as in the Governments of the World, nor any such Exercise of Authority, as is here Exercised in the Government of Earthly Kingdoms, and Policies. 2. To condemn Ambition, and Pride in his Disciples, as making them most unfit for this Kingdom, which is a thing he had before taught them. The way to be greatest in Heaven, is to be humblest, to be Low, and mean in our own Eyes: This I think to be the Properest Interpretation of this Text, Our Lord by it Correcting the Erroneous Opinion his Disciples had of the Nature of his Kingdom, as also their Pride and Ambition, and pressing upon them other Studies, than how to be the greate t in any Earthly Kingdom. If any do think, that in this Text our Lord has some respect to the Kingdom he has upon Earth. He rather Checks Ambition, and an Affectation of Superiority, than any thing else, and lets us know, that such as Love the Preheminence are most unfit for it: That the work of Heads of the Church, is but a Ministry, not a Domination, and that those who are fittest for it, and deserve most Honour in the Church; are those that least seek and affect it: And those most unworthy of that Honour, who most hunt after it. But I prefer the first Sense, given of this Text. For certainly, what our Saviour here says, was not only occasioned by, but had a great Relation to the Petition of Iames and Iohn with their Mother; and the bearing Rule, and exercising Authority mentioned here, relates to the Kingdom, mentioned in that Petition. Which I think cannot be understood of the Church, which was a Kingdom of Christ; which they as yet little understood, but they either meant the Kingdom of Glory, intertaining carnal Conceptions of that, that there would be some Superiority, and Inferiority there amongst the Saints, which our Saviour here Correcteth their mistake in. Or, else they Fancied a secular Kingdom, to be Exercised by Christ on Earth, after his Resurrection from the Dead. Our Saviour Correcteth this mistake also, intimating that his Kingdom should be of another Nature, and the way to be highest in it, was to be Humble and Low, and mean in Opinions of our selves.

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. So says Mark, Ch. 10.45. the Apostle says, Phil. 2.7. he made himself of no Reputation, and took upon him the form of a Servant. Our Saviour had before taught them, that the Disciple is not above his Master. Such says our Saviour, as is the King in my Kingdom, such must the Rulers and great Persons in it be: See what a Kingdom I have, I came not to be Ministred unto, but to Minister, to serve the Necessities of Men and Womens Souls and Bodies: And to give my Life a ransom for many, a Redemption price; the Apostle useth, which signifieth a Price paid in stead of another, 1 Tim. 2.6. So as there is no further Satisfaction, or Price to be paid for any.

And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

And behold two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cryed saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace, but they cryed the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, what will ye, that I shall do unto you?

They say unto him, Lord! that our eyes may be opened.

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. Mark repeateth the same Story, Ch. 10. from v. 46. to the end with several more Circumstances, 1. He mentioneth only one Blind man, and nameth him Bartimeus the Son of Timeus. He says, the Blind man was Begging, Mark says, when Christ called the Blind man, they said unto him. Be of good Comfort, rise, he calleth thee. And he casting away his Garment, rose and came to Iesus. He further adds, that Christ said to him. Go thy way, thy Faith has made thee whole, Luke relateth the same, Ch. 18. v. 35. to the end. He says, As he was come nigh to Iericho, he mentioneth but one Blind man: In repeating Christ's words, he says, Iesus says unto him, receive thy sight, thy Faith has made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, Glorifying God; and all the People when they saw it, gave Praise unto God. Our Lord presently gives his Disciples a Demonstration of what he had said. That he came to Minister, to serve even the poorest, and most Despicable Creatures. Iericho was a City not far from Iordan, Ios. 3.16. it was taken, Ios. 6. and upon the Division of the Land, fell within the Lot of Benjamen, Ios. 18.21. Our Saviour took it in his way from Galilee to Ierusalem. Probably these Blind men, or Bartimeus at least, who alone is mentioned by Mark and Luke, hearing Christ was coming, sate first on the side of Iericho next Galilee, and then got him on the other side, as our Saviour was leaving the Town. Which makes Luke say, as he came nigh, and the two other Evangelists say as he went out of Iericho, he sate begging. Bartimeus (being as it should seem) the most known, and the most Famous, is alone mentioned by Mark and Luke, Matthew (naming none) says there were two. Which Mark and Luke deny not, but knowing only the Name of the one of them: They mention only one: They speak to our Saviour, under the Notion of the Son of David, by which they owned him as the true Messias; for that was a Title by which the Messias was known amongst the Iews, according to the Prophecies of him. They ask him for Mercy, they continue in their Cry, tho the multitudes rebuked them, as possibly thinking, they only came to ask some Alms, and were too importunate, seeing our Lord seemed not to regard them. God sometimes tryeth our Faith (by delays) how it will hold out, but he never frustrateth it. This mindeth us of our Duty, to Pray without ceasing. Christs stops, calleth them, askes them what they would have? They seem most sensible of their Bodily wants, and Answer. Lord that our Eyes may be opened. Jesus has Compassion on them, toucheth their Eyes, Christ sometimes, but not always in healing, touched the affected part, and (as Luke says) he said, Receive thy sight. The Miracle is wrought, they presently are able to see. Luke addeth, that Christ said, Thy Faith has made thee whole; we have met with the same Phrase before. I have made thee whole, but thy Faith in me, has prevailed with me to do it. Their Faith in his Power was seen in their owning him, as the true Messiah. So able to do it. 2. In their imploring his Mercy, and going on in their Cryes, of that Nature, tho they met with a Rebuke. Faith, and fervent Prayer do great things with God, because of his Compassion. The Prayer of Faith shall save the sick, Iam. 5.15. & v. 16. The Effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous Man availeth much. Nor is any Man so mean, and Contemptible in the World (these two Blind men were Beggers) but if they can believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, if they will lye in Christ's way, if they will Cry unto him, and not give over their Crys; they shall obtain at our Saviours hands greater things than these. This Miracle gaineth God Glory from the multitude, and from the Blind man, not only Praise, but a Resolution to follow Christ. This should be the Effect of all Salvations wrought for us, Mercy is then duely improved, when it bringeth forth in our Hearts, Glory and Praise to God; and ingageth us, to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Saviour had wrought his former Miracles in Galilee, where the Witnesses of them were remote, he has now two Witnesses in the Province of Iudea, who go along with him towards Ierusalem: Where shall we find him in the next Chapter.