25 May When Life Is Unfair

Scripture: Matthew 20:1–16

Big Idea: Life won’t always feel fair. But God isn’t inviting us to live by fairness—He’s calling us to live by grace.

QUESTION FROM THE VINEYARD OWNER: V13. DID YOU NOT AGREE WITH ME FOR A DENARIOUS?

1. We Often View Life Through the Lens of Fairness, Not Grace. What Glasses Are You Wearing?

• We all carry an invisible lens through which we interpret life. For many of us, it’s the lens of fairness—we constantly measure what we have against what others receive. That’s exhausting.

• But the kingdom of God invites us to put on the glasses of grace—to see

everything as a gift, not a wage.

—

QUESTION FROM THE VINEYARD OWNER: V15. IS IT NOT LAWFUL FOR ME TO WHAT I WISH WITH MY OWN THINGS?

2. Grace Means Receiving More Than We Deserve.

Grace ≠ Fairness

• The parable of the vineyard workers reminds us: God is generous, not transactional. He gives us what we don’t deserve—not less, not more—because He is good, not because we are good enough.

—

QUESTION FROM THE VINEYARD OWNER: V15. ARE YOU ENVIOUS BECAUSE I AM GENEROUS?

3. God Has the Right to Be Generous

• This is not about the denarius, it’s about your heart.

• We become a blessing police. If we live of comparison, we live a miserable life

• Are you marvel at God’s generosity or are you jealous over it?

—

V.16 the last will be first, the first will be last

4. The Kingdom of God Operates on Upside-Down Values. The First Will Be Last

• In the upside-down kingdom of God, it’s not about seniority, effort, or resume. It’s about God’s mercy. Even the 5PM workers—the last ones—get paid first.

• God’s grace isn’t about when you got in or how hard you worked. It’s about who He is.

•

Practical Reflection:

• Every time we feel life is unfair—when someone else gets the job, the healing, the applause—pause and ask: “What has God already given me that I never deserved?”

• Because grace, by definition, is never fair—and that’s exactly why it’s so

beautiful.

Discussion questions:

1. What struck you the most from the sermon?
2. Why do you think we struggle to celebrate when others receive more than we do?
3. How does viewing life through the lens of grace change your perspective on your current situation?
4. In what ways can you reflect God’s generosity toward others this week?
5. How does the gospel enable you to deal with the unfairness of life?