In order to understand this verse, you must understand the context of the entire parable. Each of the first three sets of workmen sent out represent the three sets of 14 generations that were to comw before the Messiah appeared. When God refers to his vineyard he is speaking of his house of prayer. During each period of the first three sets of workmen a work was done concerning his house. The first work that was done was Mose and the law, the second set of workmen built the first temple. the third set built the second temple, and it was built by two different set of workmen, the first set came and laid the foundation. the second set came and did the finished work. This is a type of the building of the body of Christ. Then the Messiah came. Believeing that the wretched servants of his garden would surely listen to his Son, he became angry with them when they indeed crucified him just as they killed all of them God had sent to them. Then did he send the workmen of that hour out to compel everyone and anyone who would enter into the wedding feast of the Lord. This has been going on now for two thousand years. The parable interpets it'self in that each set of workmen prior to the coming of the Messiah were periods of 1,ooo years. When he tells us of the workmen of the 11th hour of the Day, he has shown us that the first two hours from the time of the Messiah until the last hour of the day, would be two one thousand year periods. The workmen sent out at the last hour of the day, are presently doing nothing pertaining to the careing of Gods vineyard. When they receive there calling to go forth, it is from the position of not being hirelings as those who presently care for the church. They will not have sat under the teachings of man, nor will they have been hired by man, to care for the church. They know who they are, for God has called out to them. Then comes the final hour / thousand year period, the reign of Christ. They are the reapers who over take the planters of the seed, Natural Israel is the planter of the seed, of which fell into the earth, Christ Jesus. They who came first, shall be last. They who came last, shall be first.
to become graet mean to first go down. Jesus raise from the grave i.e bottomness pit, to the place of authority, He left all His glory to come as low as a sinner in order to influence people to God's kingdom. greatness is the function of servantwood. dont consider your status when serving in the kingdom. kingdom possessed people had forgone all thier material acquisition and focus on Jesus engaging in the kingdom service, through this they have more strenght. Jesus said this will not happen among you, it is a principle, it is a command for any one that want to be great. Hummility is the key! God gave an affirmative statement about this: He said "...I honoured the simple" God will honored you only if you surrender all to him. Be a servent to the kingdom service and you will be the greatest!
But it shall not be so among you. In the previous verse, Jesus presented an example of corporate authority structure. The princes exercise dominion over the others and the great ones exercise authority over the princes. This principle is almost necessary when building our functionable churches. Jesus said, He would build his church ( Matt. 16:18). He gave various giftings to that one church, to build up and equip it to serve, till we all come to the unity of the faith to fulfil His ultimate purpose ( Eph. 4:11). Might we be working parallel to his purpose?
The first
in this contest signifies those christains who for their long time stay in faith have allowed familiarity to the things pertaining to God to deprive them of spiritual sensitivity.While the last signifies new converts with great zeal for God.
I've just read, about congregations struggling to function under the rule of a denominational head. Although centralization has its benefits, there is also a stress factor because of our differences. I wonder if Jesus wasn't advocating fellowships with spirit guidance rather than an earthy structure like a business corporation. Even most of our local congregations feel they need a structure like the world has. Shouldn't we all serve equally with the various gifts Christ gives us, without fear of losing dominion? Col. 2:22 suggests that ruling systems will perish with the using. Any system other than our Lord's, will eventually break down and cause problems. An unlearned observer.
I praise the LORD when I think of verses 1-8. These verses gives me hope for the un-belivers of my family. My father got saved on his death bed. Praise HIS name I'll see my father in heaven. My mother die in 1955 and I was five. I don't remember her but, in heaven I'll know her very well, GOD promised this.
in this contest signifies those christains who for their long time stay in faith have allowed familiarity to the things pertaining to God to deprive them of spiritual sensitivity.While the last signifies new converts with great zeal for God.