"Take yours and go. I wish to give this last one the same as you." (St. Matthew 20:14)
Please read the full Gospel text: St. Matthew 20:1-16
Please read the full Gospel text: St. Matthew 20:1-16
In the name of Jesus. Amen. Don't the ones who worked a full day in the vineyard deserve more than those who worked only a half a day or an hour? Doesn't the land owner sound crazy?
Yes, He does! He sounds like He’s unfair! Thank God! For despite what we think is fair, the landowner desires to "give" the last workers as much as the first. He even gives them their wages first.
Did you notice that? He "gives" wages. The answer is in the verbs. Only Heavenly Father "gives" away salvation and calls it a "wage."
Lest we think that we could possibly work a full day and "earn" heaven, the Collect for Septuagesima rescues us:
O Lord, we beseech Thee favorably to hear the prayers of Thy people that we, who are justly punished for our offenses, may be mercifully delivered by Thy goodness, for the glory of Thy name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end, Amen. (Collect for Septuagesima Sunday TLH pg. 60)
We deserve to be punished for our offenses. Do you think that you have done what you were given to do by God? How does your life measure up to the Ten Commandments? Recite them and then ask yourself how your working is going.
There was One who did do perfectly what the Landowner wanted. He worked all day. Yet, He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. Although He should have been first, He was last. That is unfair! Although He deserved glory and honor, He received nothing but suffering on earth - suffering and dying on the Cross for all our sins.
We would still be standing idling unaware, ignorant, and lost. But our Father not only raised Jesus from the dead, He does something amazing: what the worker, Jesus, earned is given to us! He worked perfectly and God delivers that to us solely as gift.
He does it all with His words! He calls, He gives, and He feeds us. His life is given to you in Holy Baptism - underserved, freely given, without any merit or worthiness in you. In Holy Absolution, we have the forgiveness that Jesus earned for us put into our ears - from the Pastor as from God Himself. His perfect life and innocent suffering and death is put into our mouth at the Lord's Supper. He does all the work with His Words.
This week our pre-Lenten preparation begins with Septuagesima Sunday. As you sing your last Alleluias until Easter, rejoice in the unfair Landowner, who gives same salvation to His workers, whom He hires throughout the day, throughout their lives. What Jesus earned, He has even given to you and me. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
"Alleluia cannot always Be our song while here below; Alleluia, our transgressions Make us for a while for-go; For the solemn time is coming When our tears for sin must flow." (HS98 819)
Other readings this week Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 9:24- 10:5
St. Matthew 20:1-16
Higher Things Reflections are written by Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX.