Jesus clarified the underlying principle for membership in the kingdom of heaven: Entrance is by God’s grace alone. In this parable, God is the landowner and believers are the workers. The parable speaks especially to those who feel superior because of heritage or position, to those who feel superior because they have spent so much time with Jesus, and to new believers as reassurance of God’s grace.

This parable is not about monetary rewards for working hard but about God’s favour freely given to all. It is a strong teaching about grace – God’s generosity. Don’t begrudge those who turn to God in the last moments of life, because in reality, no one deserves eternal life.

Many people we don’t expect to see in heaven will be there. The criminal who repented as he was dying will be there along with people who have believed and served God for many years.

Don’t compare your gifts, your experiences of healing, or even the depth of your relationship with Jesus. Instead, focus on God’s gracious benefits to you, and be thankful for what you have.

Today’s evening gospel reading, touches on a topic, that nobody really wants to talk about.

Jesus wanted little children to come to him because he loves them and because they have pure trust in God. All people need childlike faith in God. The receptiveness of little children was a great contrast to the stubbornness of the religious leaders, who let their pride of position and desire to ruthlessly protect it stand in the way of the simple faith needed to believe in Jesus.

This rich young man in the text thought he was perhaps just one or two good deeds away from punching his ticket to heaven and enjoying eternal life on his terms. What he really needed, however was a whole new starting point for his life. Instead of adding another commandment to keep or a good deed to perform, the young man needed to submit humbly to Jesus authority. Resist any leader or teaching that stresses doing more and more for your faith. Tasks does need to be done, but Jesus wants more than anything else to have a personal relationship with us.

In response to the young man’s question, Jesus told him to keep God’s Ten commandments. Jesus then listed six of these, all referring to relationships with others. When the young man replied that he had kept the commandments, Jesus told him that he must do something else quite different – sell everything and give the money to the poor. Jesus statement exposed the man’s weakness and his deepest desire. In reality, the man’s wealth was his god, his idol and he would not give it up. Thus, he was violating the first and greatest commandment.

We cannot love God with all our hearts and yet keep our money to ourselves. Loving him totally means using our money in ways that pleases him.

Jesus used a child to illustrate for his disciples how they should think and behave. We are not to be childish (like the disciples arguing over petty things) but childlike, with humble, sincere, and trusting hearts.

The disciples had become to preoccupied with the organization of Jesus’ earthly kingdom that they had lost sight of it’s divine purpose. Instead of seeking a place of service, they sought positions of esteem. It is easy to lose our eternal perspective and compete for promotions or status in the church.

Jesus warned the disciples about two ways to cause others to sin; tempting and neglecting or demeaning them. As leaders, we are to help young people and new believers avoid anything or anyone that could cause them to stumble in their faith and lead them to sin.

And Jesus says to remove stumbling blocks that cause us to sin. This does not mean to cut off a part of your body. For the church it means that any person, program, or teaching that threatens the spiritual growth of the body must be removed. For the individual it means any relationship, practice, or activity that leads to sin should be stopped. Jesus says it would be better to go to heaven with one hand than to hell with both. Sin, of course, affects more than our hands; it affects our minds and hearts.