Matthew 20

Matthew 20.....
Verse 1-16 - this parable is one many of us can relate to. So here a landowner wants to hire some men to work for him and earn a denarius, which is Roman money worth about a days wages. Well....some gut pus showed up at dawn and some were hired midday and some hired again for an hour. All men agreed to work for the wages discussed. At the end of the day all the workers got the same amount. This was "not fair" according to the ones who worked all day.

I can understand their point and I can't say I wouldn't feel the same......however this story has nothing to do with earning money.......this story has everything to do with salvation.
See.....whether we accept Gods  gift of salvation through Jesus early in our life or on our deathbed......we all get the same inheritance. Eternity with Him. He rewards the same to all who accept him no matter when. I am glad our God shows no favoritism.....and is readily available to us at any stage of our life. My regret personally is that I didn't come to Him sooner.

God owes us nothing yet gives us everything in Christ......that's grace. We are sinners yet by His grace we are saved.

Verse 17-19......the third time Jesus predicts His death. Except in this statement he tells us that he will be turned over to the Gentiles. Jews would kill by stoning......Romans did death by crucifixion.

Verse 20-28......the mom of James and John asked Jesus if her sons can sit at his right and left hand in the kingdom. It is noted that she was speaking for them as they told her what to say. Jesus talks to the men and not the mother when he answers. James and john were two of the disciples and apparently became proud in that status.....thinking they had special placement with Him in heaven. Jesus tells them that sitting at his right hand one day is not his decision. The Father has decided that ands up to Him.

All these verses are about pride. We all know people who are proud. Proud of their accomplishments, proud of who they are, proud of what Jesus has done for them.......however here Jesus is telling us there is no room for pride when it comes to Him and the kingdom. When he says whoever is first must be last.....that's humility. Putting others ahead of yourself is humility.......serving others first is humility. Jesus came as a humble servant.......he died to save horrible people.....that's humility. There is no room for arrogance in the kingdom.

Verse 34.....Jesus had compassion on them! Love when we are told of Jesus compassion. Reminds us we need the same for others. Think about this.....all of us are spiritually blind until we cry out to Jesus. He offered sight to ALL who ask for it. We will still continue to have seasons of blindness......but we can ask and get our sight back.....whenever we ask. Thankfully our God doesn't let us get to far.......I am very thankful for that.