"WHY STAND YE HERE ALL

What will happen to all those who stand all day idle and never answer the call to work in the Lord’s vineyard? According to the parable put forth by Jesus, the householder rewarded only those who answered the call to work (Matt. 20:8-16). All of those that were still in the market place that did not work in the vineyard received no reward.

What will happen to all of those who never hear the gospel of Christ? What will happen to all of those who hear the gospel call but will not answer the call? Paul declares that even those who have never heard of God will be punished (2 Thes. 1:7-9). Why would God punish those who never had the opportunity to answer the call to work? The punishment for sin is death (Rom. 6:23). All of those in the world who mature to an accountable age will sin (Rom. 3:23). Therefore, all of those who have sinned will be punished for that sin. Paul also declares that all who do not obey the gospel will be punished (2 Thes. 1:7-9). All of those who are of an accountable age that have heard the call to obey and work will be punished. Jesus declares that one day a great separation will take place (Matt. 25:31-46). Those who have not been working will hear the words of the Lord "depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41). Jesus explains to them why they are hearing these words of destruction (Matt. 25:41-45). Here are those who have continued to stand all the day idle. These will go away into everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46).

There are those today who are standing idle. The gospel continues to call for people to obey the gospel of Christ and become workers in the Lord’s vineyard. Only those who answer the gospel call will be rewarded one day. Only those who continue to work in the vineyard of the Lord will be rewarded by receiving a home in heaven.

All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise indicated.

Smith, J.B. Greek-English Concordance To the New Testament. Scottsdale,
     PA: Herald Press, 1955

Thayer, Joseph Henry Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Grand Rapids,
     MI: Baker Book House, 1977

Zodhiates, Spiro The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible. Iowa Falls, Iowa: World Bible Publishers, Inc., 1984

Larry Powers