Title: " A Portrait of the King "

Text: Matthew Chapter 20

INTRO:

I. A Parable of Reversal

20:1-16 *** A Reversal with Regard to their Expectations

Concerning Rewards -- c/f 19:23-30 Rich Man / Poor Man

A. A Reversal in Reward with Regard to the Prominence or Stature

of the People Being Rewarded

1. A Faithful Missionary in a Spiritually Dry Area -- Versus

2. A More Prominently Placed Individual who was Less Faithful

to the Call of God in his Life

B. A Reversal in the Sequence of Reward Dispersal

*** Some of the First to be Saved May be the Last to Receive their

Rewards Chronologically.

C. A Reversal of Expectation from the Standpoint that One of our

Gifts, Salvation itself, is Going to be Received Equally by All

Saints -- Regardless of How Long an Individual has Served or

How Hot the Battle has Raged in that Person's Field of Service to

God.

D. A Reversal of the "Final Reward" Between the Many that are

Called & the Few that are Chosen

1. Many are Called to Inherit Eternal Glory - Like the Rich Man -

who Walk Away.

2. Fewer are Chosen than are Called, & Many of them Start Out in

Poverty & End Up in Glory, but the Rich Man who was Called

in Wealth & Rejected the Call Ended Up Losing Everything he

had in Hell.

*** Notice that the Calling of the Kingdom of Heaven is a

Call to Hire On as a Laborer in the Vineyard of the

Goodman of the House.

20:1 c/f Luke 9:62 & Luke 15:17-19

*** Notice that the Call of God is to Work Until the End

of the Day -- No Matter what Time of the Day We May

have been Called.

II. The King's Prophetic Preparation of the 12 for the

Approaching Conflict

20:17-19

A. A Preparation in Private

Verse 17 -- Apart

B. A Preparation for Opposition Ahead

Verse 18 -- Betrayal , Condemnation , Mocking

C. A Preparation for Sorrow of Heart

Verses 18-19 -- Betrayal, Rejection, Condemnation, Death

D. A Preparation of Promise

Verse 19 -- Promise of a Victorious Resurrection

III. A Faulty Prayer & 10 Angry Stares

20:20-24

A. A Mother's Lofty & Ambitious Prayer -- Verses 20-21

B. The Master's Polite Refusal & Explanation -- Verses 22-23

C. The Father's Position of Absolute Sovereignty -- Verse 23

D. The Response of the 10 -- Verse 24 ( Indignation )

IV. A Call to a Higher Greatness than is Common in the

World

20:25-28

A. A Reversal of Roles is Called for. -- Verses 25-27

B. A Role Model is Provided to Follow . -- Verse 28

V. A Proper Prayer & Compassionate Care

20:29-34

A. An Arresting Cry

Verses 29-32A -- Jesus Stood Still

B. A Personal Interest Shown

Verses 32-34 -- He Asked their Desire, & Then He Touched them.

C. A Need Miraculously Supplied

Verse 34