Matthew 20:1-16 For the kingdom of heaven is like to a man that is an householder… "Are you not wearying for the heavenly rest?" said Whitefield to an old minister. "No, certainly not:" he replied. "Why not?" was the surprised rejoinder. "Why, my good brother," said the aged saint, "if you were to send your servant into the fields to do a certain portion of work for you, and promised to give him rest and refreshment in the evening, what would you say if you found him languid and discontented in the middle of the day, and murmuring, 'Would to God it were evening'? Would you not bid him be up and doing, and finish his work, and then go home and enjoy the promised rest? Just so does God require of you and me, that, instead of looking for Saturday night, we do our day's work in the day." The eleventh, hour: — I. The time mentioned may represent an advanced period of human life. II. Men are to be found in this period, inattentive to the concerns of true religion. III. They who are found inattentive in this period, are involved in peculiar perils. Hardness of heart, etc. IV. Divine grace sometimes displays itself, by making this period to be one of true and saving conversion. (J. Parsons.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. |
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