A BIBLICAL STUDY

1.	REWARD - (Gr. 3408) noun “mis-thos;” pay (for service good or bad); hire, wages.
2.	REWARD - (Gr. 591) verb “apodidomi;” to give away; give (again)
3.	PENNY - lit. the Greek coin “denarius” equivalent to a day’s wage
4.	HIRE - (Gr. 3408) “mis-thos;” pay for service, reward, wages. See Reward.
5.	IDLE - (Gr. 692) inactive, lazy, useless, barren

Most churches have taught that although salvation is a reward for all those entering heaven, our works on earth are additional rewards (a.k.a. “adding jewels in our crown”) in heaven. Do those who serve the Lord receive a greater reward?

READ Matthew 19:27 - 20:16

1. Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a parable of laborers in a vineyard. How do some of the characteristics of the parable compare to other verses?

· A Vineyard: John 15:5

· The Householder: Matt. 21:33

· The Laborers: Luke 10:2, 7; I Cor. 3:9

· The Hire (see F.Y.I.) Matt. 20:8

2. Did the laborers ask for work or did the householder look for them?

· Why? Luke10:2

3. How did the householder find laborers? (20:3)

q Why might this be brought to our attention? Proverbs 19:15 James 1:22-23; 2:17-18

4. What did those who were hired first suppose? Matt. 20:10

· How does this compare with what the church is teaching today? A) It doesn’t compare B) Because it is taught in most churches that all people are capable of receiving salvation, those that are Christians for a longer period of time of earth and don’t “sow their wild oats” are told they will receive additional rewards in heaven for Christian service C) These laborers were never saved

5. What was the final response of the householder? (20:15-16) “So the last shall be __________, and the first _________: for many be called, but few _____________.”

q What does this mean? Luke 13:23-30 Matthew 19:28-30

We learned in the parable above, that “hire’ and “reward” have identical definitions. This brings us to the next study: What are the rewards mentioned in the Bible?

I. REWARDS OF THE WICKED

· Matt. 6:2 The glory of _____________

· Deut. 32:41 God’s __________________

· 2 Sam. 3:39 The doer of ______ according to his ______________.

· Acts 1:16-18 The reward of __________

II. REWARDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS

· Gen 15:1 _____________________

· Ruth 2:12 A _______ reward

· Prov. 11:18 A ________ reward

· Matt. 5:12 Those who are ___________, a reward in ___________.

· Matt. 6:4 Reward thee ___________

· I Cor. 3:6-8 According to his ________

· I Cor. 9:17-18 Preaching the __________

· Col. 3:24 Reward of ____________

q WHAT is the difference between an “award” and a “reward”? (use F.Y.I to help)

q DISCUSS: After reading the above texts, does a believer get rewards on earth or only in the life after? Are blessings on earth confused with rewards on earth? Luke 18:28-30

q REVIEW Peter’s question in Matt. 19:28-29. How does this compare to the thinking of mankind today?

q DETERMINE: In what way do “works on earth” contribute to the reward of a believer? Romans 4:4 Romans 3:10-12 Isaiah 64:6;

F.Y.I. CORNER

“THE REWARD NOT RECKONED OF GRACE BUT OF DEBT”

SUGGESTION FOR PRAYER