The Parable of the Workers

Matthew 20:1-16, For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. And he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the 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 to those he said, "You too go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you," Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he said to them, "why have you been stand here idle all day long?" They said to him, because no one hired us. He said to them, "you too go into the vineyard." (9) and when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. And when those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more and they also received a denarius. And when they received it, they grumbled at the landowner saying, These last men have worked only one hour and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day. (15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous? Thus the last will be first and the first last.
Jesus used parables to confused the Pharasees. All parables had a common sense meaning and a spiritual meaning. This is obvious by the way Jesus started the parable, "the kingdom of heaven is like". Actually, this parable is a prophecy. The key is "the last will be first and the first last. This has a lot to do with the rapture that we have talked about in past blogs. The parable is representing SALVATION. Some people received salvation from the beginning and has lived a Christian life the whole time, some later, and some will receive salvation at the last hour. However, each person will receive the same wages, SALVATION. The thief on the cross is a good example, he was a sinner, and just before he died he was forgiven of his sins and saved by Jesus who was dying right beside him. Jesus told him, "today you will be with me in paradise".
So, this parable is establishing the fact that salvation will continue into the tribulation and will end at the "last hour" which we have proven is the 30 days just after the first 3 and 1/2 years of the tribulation. That is the end of the time of the gentiles, that is the end of the two great witnesses, and that is the time of Jesus returning in the clouds, and harvesting the earth.
It amazes me that the Bible is soo perfect, everything fits, you just have to study enough to see it.
The only problem is, that we cannot know when our last hour to make a choice is, we don't know at what minute you might die. This weekend, 5 little kids drown when the father ran off the road into a ditch that was flooded from all the rain we have received this weekend. Death comes quickly. A decision can't wait, if you wait you may never get the chance again. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior now, its priceless.

God bless, Dean