Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost - Sermon Text
17th Sunday after Pentecost
Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30
Matthew 20:1-16
O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
Immediately before the Parable of The Laborers in the Vineyard, Jesus concludes his comments about the rewards of those who follow Him. Jesus transitions into the Gospel reading today with the saying: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” You will have noted that the Gospel reading today ended with similar words, “So the last will be first, and the first last.” In rhetoric, when a text begins and ends with sentences that say the same thing, this is called an “inclusio.” It alerts the reader and listener that what is included within the bookends is a significant point that should be remembered and contemplated further.
In a fallen, sin saturated world, where pride insists that one person or group is more important or valuable than another and that there is constant striving to be on top, what Jesus says within this inclusio is essential for our spiritual status before God. Utilizing the parabolic tool for instruction, Jesus uses a vineyard to speak of God’s kingdom. God is the master. The promise of money for work in the vineyard represents God’s promise of salvation for work in God’s kingdom. Jesus’s parable underscores that God’s way is not man’s way. From the world’s perspective, the Master’s choices appear to not be fair. Jesus gives voice to this worldly perspective when those who worked all day realized that they were paid the same as those who had been working far fewer hours. Jesus says, the fictious workers “grumbled at the master … saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have bourne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’” They might as well have just said, “It’s not fair.”
To grumble and declare “It’s not fair” is to mischaracterize the benevolence of the vineyard owner. First, he pays what he said that he was going to pay. In the first century, a denarius is a fair wage for a day’s work. Food and other provisions can be brought. This is a sustainable wage. Second, the owner of the vineyard is indeed being generous. He is providing employment for the day when there was no employment to be had. If he had not hired the workers in the early morning would someone else have hired them? Maybe, maybe not. But for this day, they work. They have money for food. Life is good. The owner is also being generous to additional members of the community who did not get hired first thing on that day. He is providing work and payment for others throughout the day at a loss to himself. The owner is not getting the full benefit of the denarius he is dispensing. Perhaps all members of the community should be grateful to the owner because there are that many fewer people who are going to sleep hungry.
It is best to be grateful for the generosity of the master rather than focus on how we the worker were somehow shortchanged by the master’s generosity. The master could very easily declare a rule of fair play that would be most disagreeable.
For example, in the eternal fullness of the kingdom of heaven, is it really fair that the martyr who had their head chopped off because of their Christian faith stands before the throne of the Lamb next to one who suffered no physical or emotional torment because they are baptized and confess Jesus as Lord? Is it fair that the one who lost their business, friends, and family because they confess Jesus as the Christ stands for eternity next to the one who had the good fortune to live in a tolerant or Christian culture and knew only success and accolades even as he publicly confessed that Jesus is Lord. I would think not. The human impulse is to create ranks of positions and privileges based on risk and suffering. So, those of us who had an easy life as Christians can be way back there while those who truly suffered for sake of Christ or lost their lives in some gruesome manner are close to the throne of the Lamb.
Thankfully, the master, our God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, sees things differently than our sinful flesh. He loves us all equally, the first and the last. His generosity is granted to us all.
The Father generously loves the world that He created. The Father loves the world despite the fact that the world turns against Him. The generosity of the Father is that He persists in His love for us. The Son becomes incarnate and dwells amongst us. He teaches us the mystery of God’s love, mercy, and grace. The Son, Jesus, embodies love when he is rejected and treated as the very least. He transforms the punishment of the cross into a sign of God’s profound love for you. Jesus suffers and dies for your sake upon the cross. The Holy Spirit also acts with love toward you. Through the proclamation of the Word, he has created faith within you. In faith, you confess your sins to God. Through faith, you receive the grace of the Father’s forgiveness on account of the Son’s sacrifice on the cross. Regardless of whether you are first or last, you are within the Lord’s kingdom. His gifts of new life, forgiveness, and love are for you.
As you approach the Altar this morning with repentant hearts be assured that the forgiveness that is granted you in the body and blood of Jesus is the same offered to the one beside you. You are all sinners that deserve nothing. You are all declared saints on account of the cross of Christ Jesus. The promise of forgiveness and heaven is yours. Receive Him with faith.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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