Pentecost 18 Vienna, VA
Jesu Juva
“All By Grace”
Text: Matthew 20:1-16
Grace, mercy, and peace to
you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The
parable of Jesus that we heard today is not a parable about work, but about
grace. There is a vast difference
between those two things. Both are good,
but they see things from two different perspectives. When the workers who were hired last came
forward and received a full day’s wage, they understood grace. They didn’t care what the others received;
they probably didn’t hang around to compare.
They were filled with joy at the grace and generosity of the vineyard
owner, and received what he gave them with thanksgiving. The workers hired first . . . well, they saw
things a bit differently. They didn’t look at things from a grace perspective, but from a
work perspective, and so were greatly disappointed. They didn’t get what they deserved, or what
they had earned, or so they thought. But
they did, didn’t they?
The master makes that clear. And
so it wasn’t really their work or their pay that got them upset – it was the
grace and generosity of the owner. What
made them grumble is what the others
received. When they
saw that – suddenly, their pay wasn’t
good enough. They wanted more.
And
this happens today. Athletes that are
happy with their contracts one year, want to
renegotiate them the next. Why? Because someone else got
more. Children filled with joy
over their presents on Christmas morning feel gypped in the afternoon when they
see that their friend got more. And
maybe we’re happy with the jobs and pay and homes that we have, until we see someone else with
more. And suddenly,
our perspective changes. Our
happiness and satisfaction can so easily turn to jealousy and grumbling. And it is not because of what we have
received, that it’s not fair! Most, if
not all of us, have been blessed abundantly!
No, it is because of what others
receive. Like the first workers in the
vineyard, if we didn’t know what others received, we would have been happy with
what we were given and gone home quite content!
But the master paid the workers in this order for a reason. Not to teach us something about work, but to
teach us something about ourselves, and about Him, and His grace.
So
what can we learn about ourselves from this parable? Well, it’s not pretty! A parable like this reveals and draws out the
sin that lives in each of us. The sin we
try so hard to hide. That we are often
dissatisfied with God and how He chooses to distribute His wealth in this
world. That we are often jealous of our
friends and neighbors, and in competition with them – a competition, but the
way, that we want to win! And that even though we know that we should love God above all
things, it’s often the things of this world that we love more than the One who
gives these things to us. And so
the sin in us turns the goodness of God into something that’s not good! And not because He wasn’t
good to me, or didn’t give me enough – no, but simply because somebody else got
more.
Well,
as I said, its not pretty is it? When we
look inside ourselves and see what we’re really like . . . deep down, past the
good show that we put up for others. And
so it’s good that we are here today. To repent. To let go
of this sin, and ask God not only for forgiveness for it, but also that we
might change – and not only be happy (truly happy!) for what others receive;
but even more important, that we might love God, and not be angry at Him for
giving to others, but be thankful to Him for what He has given me. Because what He has given me, I do not
deserve at all!
And
that’s the key. To not base our
relationship with God upon our comparison with others – but to know that all
that I have and receive is a gift from God.
A gift of His grace. But not in resignation, as if, Well, God’s not fair but there’s nothing I
can do about it! No, because you’re
still comparing yourself then! Instead,
think of what we deserve from God. As Luther wrote in his explanation of the Lord’s Prayer: we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing
but punishment. (Small
Catechism, Explanation to the Fifth Petition) . . . But this is not what God gives. If He were fair, He would! If He were to give us what our work deserved,
that would be our wages! But He doesn’t. He is a master who is gracious and generous,
and who loves giving. And so He gives us
not only what we need for this body and life, but even more. He gives us not only life, but others to
enjoy this life with. He gives us
talents and abilities, friends, Church, His angels to watch over and protect
us.
But
most of all, He gives us His Son. And
that’s the most amazing thing! All the
other things of this world, yeah, maybe God’s just taking care of His
world. Maybe that’s just how things work
out. But God didn’t have to give His Son. He didn’t have to send Him into this world to
be born as one of us, to take the punishment for our sin, and die on the cross
for us. To die in that
most humiliating and excruciating way.
But He did! He did!
To not only take care of us in this life, but for eternal life! That
all the sin and ugliness that lives in us and that would bar us from Heaven, might be forgiven.
And it is, you know! All of it, paid for and forgiven, through the
blood and death of Jesus on the cross.
For all our sin and ugliness, Jesus put it on Himself. And if it’s on Him, then it’s not on
you. And if it’s not on you, then you
are free to go – in this life, and into the next. Free and forgiven, by
grace. His gift
to you. Free and forgiven,
through faith, which receives that wonderful gift. Free and forgiven, through His Word of
absolution, through His body and blood here given to you.
And
then you realize, of all those workers in the vineyard, hired in the beginning,
and the third and sixth and ninth and eleventh hours – we’re the last; hired at
the end, working so little, and receiving so much! We are the last who become first, because the
Son of God became last for us. That’s
grace. That’s your God, who cannot help
giving to you. . . . Do you still want what you deserve from
Him? He’ll give you that, if that’s what
you really want. Sadly, many do. But I pray, not you! Receive instead His grace, His gifts, His
forgiveness; for His goodness far exceeds not only what we deserve, but is more
than we could ever ask or imagine! And
don’t look around you to see that – just look at yourself, and look at the
cross, and give thanks to your Lord and Saviour for His grace and gift.
In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Now the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts
and minds through faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.