The Bible

 

Matthew 20:1-15 : Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

Study

1 ομοια γαρ εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων ανθρωπω οικοδεσποτη οστις εξηλθεν αμα πρωι μισθωσασθαι εργατας εις τον αμπελωνα αυτου

2 συμφωνησας δε μετα των εργατων εκ δηναριου την ημεραν απεστειλεν αυτους εις τον αμπελωνα αυτου

3 και εξελθων περι τριτην ωραν ειδεν αλλους εστωτας εν τη αγορα αργους

4 και εκεινοις ειπεν υπαγετε και υμεις εις τον αμπελωνα και ο εαν η δικαιον δωσω υμιν

5 οι δε απηλθον παλιν [δε] εξελθων περι εκτην και ενατην ωραν εποιησεν ωσαυτως

6 περι δε την ενδεκατην εξελθων ευρεν αλλους εστωτας και λεγει αυτοις τι ωδε εστηκατε ολην την ημεραν αργοι

7 λεγουσιν αυτω οτι ουδεις ημας εμισθωσατο λεγει αυτοις υπαγετε και υμεις εις τον αμπελωνα

8 οψιας δε γενομενης λεγει ο κυριος του αμπελωνος τω επιτροπω αυτου καλεσον τους εργατας και αποδος {VA 2: αυτοις } τον μισθον αρξαμενος απο των εσχατων εως των πρωτων

9 {VA 1: ελθοντες δε } {VA 2: και ελθοντες } οι περι την ενδεκατην ωραν ελαβον ανα δηναριον

10 και ελθοντες οι πρωτοι ενομισαν οτι πλειον λημψονται και ελαβον [το] ανα δηναριον και αυτοι

11 λαβοντες δε εγογγυζον κατα του οικοδεσποτου

12 λεγοντες ουτοι οι εσχατοι μιαν ωραν εποιησαν και ισους {VA 1: αυτους ημιν } {VA 2: ημιν αυτους } εποιησας τοις βαστασασιν το βαρος της ημερας και τον καυσωνα

13 ο δε αποκριθεις ενι αυτων ειπεν εταιρε ουκ αδικω σε ουχι δηναριου συνεφωνησας μοι

14 αρον το σον και υπαγε θελω δε τουτω τω εσχατω δουναι ως και σοι

15 {VA 2: [η] } ουκ εξεστιν μοι ο θελω ποιησαι εν τοις εμοις η ο οφθαλμος σου πονηρος εστιν οτι εγω αγαθος ειμι

Commentary

 

Complaining - Part 3 of 3

By Todd Beiswenger


To continue browsing while you listen, play the audio in a new window.

While it isn't a sin to complain, as Christians we are challenged to not complain about the ordinary troubles of life, but to stand out and be as "shining stars" despite what people around us are saying and doing.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 4067 [3], 8002 [8]; Ephesians 4:29; Genesis 31:1-3; James 4:1-3; Matthew 20:1-15; Philippians 2:14-16)

The Bible

 

Genesis 32

Study

   

1 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

2 When he saw them, Jacob said, "This is God's army." He called the name of that place Mahanaim.

3 Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.

4 He commanded them, saying, "This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: 'This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now.

5 I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.'"

6 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau. Not only that, but he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him."

7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies;

8 and he said, "If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape."

9 Jacob said, "God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, 'Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,'

10 I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.

11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children.

12 You said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which can't be numbered because there are so many.'"

13 He lodged there that night, and took from that which he had with him, a present for Esau, his brother:

14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,

15 thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.

16 He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, "Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd."

17 He commanded the foremost, saying, "When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you? Where are you going? Whose are these before you?'

18 Then you shall say, 'They are your servant, Jacob's. It is a present sent to my lord, Esau. Behold, he also is behind us.'"

19 He commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds, saying, "This is how you shall speak to Esau, when you find him.

20 You shall say, 'Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.'" For, he said, "I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me."

21 So the present passed over before him, and he himself lodged that night in the camp.

22 He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two handmaids, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of the Jabbok.

23 He took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had.

24 Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day.

25 When he saw that he didn't prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled.

26 The man said, "Let me go, for the day breaks." Jacob said, "I won't let you go, unless you bless me."

27 He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob."

28 He said, "Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed."

29 Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." He said, "Why is it that you ask what my name is?" He blessed him there.

30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, he said, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

31 The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh.

32 Therefore the children of Israel don't eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip.