Septuagesima February 13, 2022
Matthew 20:1-16
Getting Your Just Desserts
v.4 …and to them he [the master] said, "You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you."
Dear friends in Christ, our text for this morning is a parable that Jesus told following an incident with a rich young man. This man had approached Jesus asking what he must do to be saved. Jesus told him to "keep the commandments." The young man replied that he had kept most of them, but Jesus told him he needed to give everything he had to the poor and then follow Jesus. This man went away sad because he had great possessions. Jesus told His disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Astonished, they asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus said that with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Jesus then stated, "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Then, to explain this concept of how the first will be last, and the last first, Jesus tells them the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, which serves as our text. This is one of those parables that we really don't like to hear. For it shows our own unmerciful attitude toward others, and shines a light on the darkness of our hearts. For this parable teaches us, very clearly, that God's grace is for ALL people—at all times—everywhere. And while most of the time we rejoice in this concept, yet there are times when we actually do begrudge the generosity of the Lord toward others. Where we disagree with God's grace being poured out upon other sinners.
For deep down in our sinful hearts, we think that we should all receive our just desserts. That we should get what we deserve for our good works and deeds—even when it comes to God's salvation. Good people ought to be rewarded for their good deeds, we think, and likewise the bad people ought to suffer for their misdeeds.
Now the master of the vineyard hired laborers throughout the day, agreeing with those hired first to pay them a denarius, but stating to those hired later that "whatever is right/just/fair I will give you." At the end of the day when the laborers were paid their wage, those hired last were brought forward and received a denarius. Those hired earlier in the day were, at first, excited, thinking that if those who worked for only ONE hour got a denarius, then how much could they possibly receive? Five, ten, twelve!? But when their turn came at last, they each also received a denarius for their labor. Their excitement turns immediately to indignation—this is not FAIR! This is not what they deserve! "They grumbled at the master of the house, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'"
You see, that's what it all boils down to. We disagree with the Lord's sense of justice and fairness. We hear this parable and can readily empathize with the perspective of the laborers who were hired first. It's certainly NOT fair that those hired last were paid the same as those who worked the whole day long. It's NOT fair that people can live terribly horrible lives—hurt those around them at every turn—commit horrible acts and atrocities—and yet, turn in penitent faith an hour before death—and receive the same reward as the lifelong Christian who has suffered persecution and hardship for their faith all their lives. This teaching sticks in our throats and gets us angry, because it's NOT fair. They are not getting their just desserts. God should punish them and teach them a lesson—they certainly shouldn't be held up as equal to fine upstanding Christians like you and me. It's not FAIR…it's not RIGHT…it's not JUST!
But that is just the point of this parable, isn't it dear friends? It's NOT fair. It's GRACE. God's grace. The undeserved favour of God that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This favour of God treats all sinful people the same. For our just desserts, what we actually deserve from God, is not the kingdom of heaven, but rather eternal suffering in hell. Our debt of sin should see us in perpetual suffering before a holy and righteous God. But that's not how we think about our works, is it? We see our good deeds as somehow being deserving of God's favor. As though by our good works we earn a place in heaven. What must we do to be saved? Keep all the commandments. Check! Done that. But the Scriptures are clear. Isaiah 64:6 says, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." Our works can in no way merit our salvation before God.
Dear friends, God's grace is given to you and to me, and to all sinners, not because we have done anything to deserve it, but precisely the opposite. That's what makes it grace! We don't deserve God's favor. We don't deserve His mercy and forgiveness. We don't deserve His love and peace. But He pours it out upon us anyway because of Christ Jesus. He does not want to deal with us according to our deeds, but rather according to His generosity in Christ. He who bled and died on the cross to take away our sins. He who suffered the torments of hell in our place. He who was first in the kingdom of heaven, but became last—became the lowest of the low—for your sake and mine. He gave Himself up into death—dying a sinner's death—so that He could earn a place in heaven for you and me.
By faith in Christ Jesus alone—and not by any of our own works or deeds—we are given a place in the kingdom of heaven—we receive a very rich and great reward. What wonderful good news! What incredible grace and favor! That God does not give to us as we deserve. He does not bestow upon us our just desserts—but rather gives us the merits and worthiness of Jesus. Indeed, in Christ, the last have become the first. You and me—sinners all—have graciously received an everlasting reward through faith in Jesus. You have heaven—all by the generosity of God. He who loved you so much to send His Son in your place—to die for you—and to sacrifice His life in payment for your sin—so that you may not receive YOUR just desserts—but rather HIS just desserts. The righteousness and goodness that is rightly his—is now yours—all by God's grace and mercy.
So, beloved, having received this free gift of God by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we are changed. Not only do we freely and gladly do good works to benefit our neighbor simply out of love for them, but we are also changed in how we look at others. Having been filled with God's grace and Holy Spirit, we now rejoice in God's generosity exhibited not only to us—but to others as well—even our enemies and those who have hurt us. For you are the last who have now become first—by God's grace. You know the rich joy and peace that comes from knowing Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You know the freedom from guilt and shame that only faith and trust in Christ can bring. And you now rejoice in sharing this good news with others—that they too who are last—may also become first—by God's grace through faith in Jesus.
You are blessed to see people now through the lens of the cross of Christ—no longer with an evil eye filled with jealousy—but rather with the same rich generosity that God has shown you in Christ. That you are loved and cherished by God not because of your works, but because of the work of Christ. He who bore the scorching heat of the wrath of God for the burden of your sin—He who suffered and died and rose again—all out of love for you. For God shows His love for you in that while you were still sinners—Christ died for you. Now that is some graciously generous just desserts! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 20:1-16
Getting Your Just Desserts
v.4 …and to them he [the master] said, "You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you."
Dear friends in Christ, our text for this morning is a parable that Jesus told following an incident with a rich young man. This man had approached Jesus asking what he must do to be saved. Jesus told him to "keep the commandments." The young man replied that he had kept most of them, but Jesus told him he needed to give everything he had to the poor and then follow Jesus. This man went away sad because he had great possessions. Jesus told His disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Astonished, they asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus said that with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Jesus then stated, "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Then, to explain this concept of how the first will be last, and the last first, Jesus tells them the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, which serves as our text. This is one of those parables that we really don't like to hear. For it shows our own unmerciful attitude toward others, and shines a light on the darkness of our hearts. For this parable teaches us, very clearly, that God's grace is for ALL people—at all times—everywhere. And while most of the time we rejoice in this concept, yet there are times when we actually do begrudge the generosity of the Lord toward others. Where we disagree with God's grace being poured out upon other sinners.
For deep down in our sinful hearts, we think that we should all receive our just desserts. That we should get what we deserve for our good works and deeds—even when it comes to God's salvation. Good people ought to be rewarded for their good deeds, we think, and likewise the bad people ought to suffer for their misdeeds.
Now the master of the vineyard hired laborers throughout the day, agreeing with those hired first to pay them a denarius, but stating to those hired later that "whatever is right/just/fair I will give you." At the end of the day when the laborers were paid their wage, those hired last were brought forward and received a denarius. Those hired earlier in the day were, at first, excited, thinking that if those who worked for only ONE hour got a denarius, then how much could they possibly receive? Five, ten, twelve!? But when their turn came at last, they each also received a denarius for their labor. Their excitement turns immediately to indignation—this is not FAIR! This is not what they deserve! "They grumbled at the master of the house, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'"
You see, that's what it all boils down to. We disagree with the Lord's sense of justice and fairness. We hear this parable and can readily empathize with the perspective of the laborers who were hired first. It's certainly NOT fair that those hired last were paid the same as those who worked the whole day long. It's NOT fair that people can live terribly horrible lives—hurt those around them at every turn—commit horrible acts and atrocities—and yet, turn in penitent faith an hour before death—and receive the same reward as the lifelong Christian who has suffered persecution and hardship for their faith all their lives. This teaching sticks in our throats and gets us angry, because it's NOT fair. They are not getting their just desserts. God should punish them and teach them a lesson—they certainly shouldn't be held up as equal to fine upstanding Christians like you and me. It's not FAIR…it's not RIGHT…it's not JUST!
But that is just the point of this parable, isn't it dear friends? It's NOT fair. It's GRACE. God's grace. The undeserved favour of God that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This favour of God treats all sinful people the same. For our just desserts, what we actually deserve from God, is not the kingdom of heaven, but rather eternal suffering in hell. Our debt of sin should see us in perpetual suffering before a holy and righteous God. But that's not how we think about our works, is it? We see our good deeds as somehow being deserving of God's favor. As though by our good works we earn a place in heaven. What must we do to be saved? Keep all the commandments. Check! Done that. But the Scriptures are clear. Isaiah 64:6 says, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." Our works can in no way merit our salvation before God.
Dear friends, God's grace is given to you and to me, and to all sinners, not because we have done anything to deserve it, but precisely the opposite. That's what makes it grace! We don't deserve God's favor. We don't deserve His mercy and forgiveness. We don't deserve His love and peace. But He pours it out upon us anyway because of Christ Jesus. He does not want to deal with us according to our deeds, but rather according to His generosity in Christ. He who bled and died on the cross to take away our sins. He who suffered the torments of hell in our place. He who was first in the kingdom of heaven, but became last—became the lowest of the low—for your sake and mine. He gave Himself up into death—dying a sinner's death—so that He could earn a place in heaven for you and me.
By faith in Christ Jesus alone—and not by any of our own works or deeds—we are given a place in the kingdom of heaven—we receive a very rich and great reward. What wonderful good news! What incredible grace and favor! That God does not give to us as we deserve. He does not bestow upon us our just desserts—but rather gives us the merits and worthiness of Jesus. Indeed, in Christ, the last have become the first. You and me—sinners all—have graciously received an everlasting reward through faith in Jesus. You have heaven—all by the generosity of God. He who loved you so much to send His Son in your place—to die for you—and to sacrifice His life in payment for your sin—so that you may not receive YOUR just desserts—but rather HIS just desserts. The righteousness and goodness that is rightly his—is now yours—all by God's grace and mercy.
So, beloved, having received this free gift of God by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we are changed. Not only do we freely and gladly do good works to benefit our neighbor simply out of love for them, but we are also changed in how we look at others. Having been filled with God's grace and Holy Spirit, we now rejoice in God's generosity exhibited not only to us—but to others as well—even our enemies and those who have hurt us. For you are the last who have now become first—by God's grace. You know the rich joy and peace that comes from knowing Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You know the freedom from guilt and shame that only faith and trust in Christ can bring. And you now rejoice in sharing this good news with others—that they too who are last—may also become first—by God's grace through faith in Jesus.
You are blessed to see people now through the lens of the cross of Christ—no longer with an evil eye filled with jealousy—but rather with the same rich generosity that God has shown you in Christ. That you are loved and cherished by God not because of your works, but because of the work of Christ. He who bore the scorching heat of the wrath of God for the burden of your sin—He who suffered and died and rose again—all out of love for you. For God shows His love for you in that while you were still sinners—Christ died for you. Now that is some graciously generous just desserts! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.