The context of this parable was right after Jesus was talking with the rich man who valued his riches and was sad when Jesus told him to leave it behind to follow Him. The denarius represents eternal life. What Is a Parable in the Bible? I struggled for a while with this word prunes because in the Greek it is really "cleanses." We believe they deserved more. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, It was so in the parable; it is so today. Jesus further explained the participation rules of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is only by God's grace. This is what Bible study and prayer are all about. The hurt was too severe. When he said, "I am the true vine," he did not mean, "true in contrast with something false, fake, counterfeit," but rather "real, genuine, as opposed to the mere copy or symbol." In this parable the period for service was twelve hours. They plant their empires through conquest and war (Genesis 10:8-12), intoxicated with a taste for blood instead of the pure wine of divine governance (Revelation 17:2, 6). And, as Jesus goes on to point out, he has a two-fold work: First, "Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away;" (John 15:2a RSV). He employs the workers and not the other way around. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. Therefore, you thought it was right. If we do that we are fulfilling this active, necessary decision of the will to obey his Word, to do what he says, and to stay in touch with him. We must decide to do things which expose ourselves to him and keep ourselves in contact with him. We thank you for your faithfulness in being at work to do that. Both of these are necessary in the Christian experience. However, the illustration might be applied all the more by and large to show us that God is not in debt to anyone; an extraordinary truth. He does not mean that without him you remain just an immobile blob. It is the love of Jesus for us, "shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5 KJV), which awakens our love toward him in response. He was the true vine. Some people think the world owes them something a particular standard of living, health care, mobile phones, or other stuff. They mistakenly believe that they are the ones in charge and can call the shots in Gods Kingdom. I am sure you have all had the experience of being confronted with a word of Scripture and learning from it that something you had been doing all your life, and which you thought was right, was actually wrong. St. Augustine once gathered up this very truth in a beautiful way: That frightens some people. Rather, they were to ask God for additional helpers. If they can assure him that they love work, love people, and love Jesus, then they have a tremendous opportunity to work at that ranch. God sent prophets to Israel to tell them to get right with God, but they were ignored, beaten, and/or killed. Then He began to tell the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. What is the instrument he uses? Now we must choose to maintain that relationship by the decisions we make, i.e., decisions to expose ourselves to his Word in order to learn about him, and to relate to him in prayer wherein we converse with him, and to relate to other believers in body-life experiences, i.e., bearing one another's burdens and confessing our faults and sharing in fellowship with one another, wherein we learn about and see Christ in one another. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? He is the vine, we are the branches. In this parable, I recognized three reasons why we fail to walk in Gods grace and how to overcome them. We pray in his name, Amen. Cultivating the vineyard of the Lord includes cultivating the lives of those who toil in the vineyard. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." He or she may not have sung in a choir, never taught a Sunday School class, nor been a part of a church committee. But there was no life in him. I believe this is a reference to other such Scripture passages which say that the angels will be sent out to gather out all which offends in God's kingdom and cast it into the eternal fire where it will be burned. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. (1) For the kingdom. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Another way to state this and illustrate the unfairness is that those who worked the whole day received the same compensation that they agreed to receive as those who worked for only one hour. In verses four-six, the householder went out each time the workers went out, compelling those to come and work in the vineyard. Many church people take issue with this. You are to rest upon his ability to see you through, to work it out. By the third evening the guests are all asking, "Where did you ever get this tremendous crew of young people? And in the 80th Psalm, the Psalmist says that God "brought a vine out of Egypt" and planted it in a good land, Psalms 80:8). For the master of the vineyard, there must have been a lot of work to be done for him to hire so many workers so many times during the day. Caring for Gods Vineyard: My Sermon on Matthew 21:33-46. The fruit is borne by the branches produced by the vine. Look up Psalm 126:6; Matthew 25:21; 1 Corinthians 4:2. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. The spirit of Judgment. He is the boss in charge. After Jesus spoke to a young rich ruler and said to the disciples that all things are possible with God, Peter responded to Jesus: Matthew 19:26-30 See, we have left everything and followed you. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? We will see more of what that means as we go on in this account. This is the glory of Christian liberty. That is, "If you do not abide in me, you will be fruitless." 63). Secondly, there is the demonstration of discipleship, Verse8: "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." There is a pruning time, a pruning season. It is also a holiday that is observed to celebrate those who labor. Whatever work you do, do it as unto the Lord (because you are!) Without both of those, fruitlessness is the result. On the other hand, he says, "He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/BenGoode. Mark Bailey calls this parable, A day on the job in the kingdom of Now remain in my love. The leaders of Israel did not see it that way. As he held this vine and its branches in his hand, he indicated that this was the copy. We thank you for these possibilities which we have in Jesus Christ our Lord. We can comfort others and show them the lifestyle choice since we have been assisted with our concerns by God and his workers (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Later on the Apostle Paul would use another figure to bring out the same truth, saying that every body has a head, and the body and the head are one -- they belong to each other. Not one of us deserves anything from God.. Eventually these branches are to be gathered and burned. We have been placed into Christ by the Holy Spirit. There was a sense in which the workers were right in standing and waiting. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. WebThey will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. Subject to permissions policy, all rights reserved. The denarius was a standard minimum days wage at that time and the workers had agreed to it. Some of you may have been there and seen it. If He gives you a denarius for a days worth of work, then you ought to be grateful for that. Should we not focus on the other four groups of workers? He is a retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active and reserve service. The Gentiles may have been called in at the eleventh hour, but they receive the same as what was offered unto the Jews, salvation. She holds a masters degree in theology.). Again, let God be your guide. Fruitfulness brings glory to GOD. A friend of mine passed through Palo Alto this week on his way to Colorado to participate in a very unusual ranch. In fact, if God were to give us exactly what we do deserve, we would receive condemnation. The marketplace represents the world, furthermore, it is from there that the Gospel of Christ has called us. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. They mistakenly believe that they have earned whatever they have. When you do that, then love grows into this deepening, quickening experience. You may believe that the master of the vineyard owes those workers more. For example, the Lord needs: To all of us the Lord says - Revelation 3:8! Listen to godly advice. Gods kingship overturns all our expectations of being treated as we deserve, all our human conventions of social honour, all our natural desires to be recognized as As leaders, they should have been leading the people to Him. The first social encyclical, Rerum Novarum, written by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, grounds our social tradition in a discussion of labor and worker rights. All through this account his emphasis is upon the fruit. There are a couple things to note in this story, I think. We are laborers in His vineyard and He is calling the shots. That mother or father had been dependable in the assignment that was given to them by God. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. But Jesus explains that salvation is for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. The life which is in the vine produces fruit which Paul describes in Galatians5 as: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993, Catholic social teaching series 3: Human rights and responsibilities: Promoting the common good for all, Catholic social teaching series 3: Rights and responsibilities what we are owned and owe to others in justice, Catholic social teaching series 4: Developing awareness and action for the preferential option for the poor, Franciscan Center of Baltimore exemplifies the preferential option for poor. The land was Gods planting (Psalm 80), Gods vineyard (Isaiah 5). Gods vineyard is the entire earth, and the workers in the vineyard You see, you can do many things without depending on Christ. These wicked workers in their masters vineyard decided the workers that came late didnt deserve a full days wage. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. That is the main issue with this parable. In Verses4 and5 our Lord goes on to set forth, in the most helpful way I know of in all of Scripture, what might be called the law of fruitfulness: "Abide in me, and I in you." Do you love Jesus? That is abiding in him. Stand Up Nashville, a grassroots organization supported by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, also in Nashville, has fought for a community benefits agreement around the new soccer stadium construction project to ensure that local residents benefit from living wage employment opportunities. Somebody might vocally protest that "those individuals did not function or work as hard as I did." There you are to depend on him, to let him abide in you. And many a churchgoer is in that state. Upon graduation, Kenyiawa said that joining the Laborers International Union is his opportunity to leave a firm foundation for (his) family.. In between, theres not a lot of work to do. By doing so, we heed Pope Franciss advice in Evangelii Gaudium to say no to an economy of exclusion and inequality andyesto an economy that restores human dignity (No. Workers in the Vineyard Gods Extravagant Grace PBCC. Look up John 4:35, and compare John 9:4. Both of these are absolutely essential, and our Lord develops this fact. We do not have to work at it. Probably everyone feels that a person ought to be compensated fairly for his or her work. He says, first, "As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." Choose from news (Monday), leisure (Thursday) or worship (Saturday) or get all three! What Does it Mean That We Are Co-Workers with God? But it is an encouragement for any Christian worker to be reminded that he or she is working in a part of the Lords vast vineyard. (LogOut/ Web8 This is to my Fathers glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. -It involves sowing seed, and watering and cultivating, and maintaining and protecting the vineyard, and reaping the harvest. And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my names sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. Gods grace is there for anyone at any time? That might be valid, yet God will not remunerate us for the measure of work we have done. Would we really begrudge Gods grace on the latecomers, including ourselves? If you open your Bible and begin to read it without the conscious expectation that it is going to tell you something about him, you will read in vain. Several biblical passages describe the grape harvest as a time of The relationship is not merely to be recognized; it is to be acted upon: "Abide in me, and I in you. He is teaching us here that right in the midst of the circumstances of life there can be more likeness to Christ, more of the moral character of Jesus, more fruit. The withering process was very short in his case. WebMatthew Chapter 20. The Lord requires faithfulness and not necessarily (as judged by human standards) success. Pride got in their way. He asks them only three questions: First, "Do you love work?" None of us get to dictate to God what we will receive. Suffice it to say, the Lord will someday reward the person who may have been a member of a small church. Catholic Labor Network has also supported local Catholic Charities agencies around the country that are exploring partnerships with North Americas Building Trades Unions Multi-craft Core Curriculum (MC3) Apprenticeship Readiness Program to channel Catholic Charities clients, low-income Catholic parishioners, and referrals from local St. Vincent de Paul conferences into stable and fiscally solvent careers in the union construction trades. He did not abide in Christ, and Christ did not abide in him. Look up Galatians 6:9. When we think of its size, how few workers there are! But that is only part of it. When God sent someone to give a message, they would not listen. You do not even have to do a thing to manifest that. If allowed to continue to grow, they would dissipate the life of the vine through so many branches that the vine would produce little or no fruit but would produce leaves instead. Surely, But what about the other four groups of workers? and do it wholeheartedly. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. He was the vine from which true life is received. We Christians are God's great vineyard. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. It is likewise to the people who might feel predominant on the grounds that they might have invested such a lot of energy with Christ as a Christian. None are self-appointed. It is a solid education about the grace of God and his generosity toward humanity. Are you going through a pruning season right now? Here is the process in which the branch is cut off, and then it withers -- grows dry and dull and dead. Our Lord goes on now to point out the consequence of not abiding in him: "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." You see, Peter asked Jesus what the disciples would receive because they had left everything to follow Him. We might ask that, too, if it were us. That is why the New Testament says: Open your hearts, widen your hearts, be responsive -- love back. You cannot tell him how to answer your prayers. Look up Matthew 9:37; John 4:35. He may have been eager to make sure people had work. In this parable we encounter a situation that just does not seem right. This is an extremely helpful passage! "But the plans of the LORD stand firm for ever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. If you are not feeling the depth of love you would like to experience, one of the reasons may be that you are not responding to the love which is already reaching out to you. Therefore, while Jesus acknowledged that His followers, particularly the Twelve Disciples, would receive a hundredfold reward and will inherit eternal life, He goes on to explain the nature of Gods reward. And leave pride out of it. But where love is responded to, it grows deeper and richer and truer, and eventually becomes a glorious experience. Lets take the definition of fruitfulness. Christ then becomes real to you. Fruitfulness shows that we are in partnership with GOD. I am the vine, you are the branches. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. (4) Still others at the eleventh hour (verse 6) - twenty-first century witnesses? When our Lord says "Abide in me," he is talking about the will, about the choices, the decisions we make. Copyright 2023 Catholic News Service, Inc. All rights reserved. (John 15:4-5 RSV). If you try to pray as though it were some exercise in which you chalk off fifteen minutes' worth, mechanically going through a list like the turning of a prayer wheel, it is a valueless experience. Here in remarkable imagery he captures the work which goes on in our lives as the Father employs the circumstances in which we are found, the situations of our lives, to make us heed and hear the Word which corrects and changes. That is what joy is -- this sense of our unity with Jesus, the sense of his power, his adequacy, his ability to handle the problems which are thrust upon us. There are no Bible studies, no meetings; it is a very low-key approach. Recall, verse two of the passage: Matthew 20:2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Jesus needs laborers (Matthew 9:38) who know how to function and manage individuals' concerns. The truth is that the master gave them exactly what they had contracted to receive. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. If in relating to others you merely get together and have coffee and talk about the weather, you will find it useless. How that can be deduced from this parable is difficult to understand, because there is nothing in it which suggests that at all. On some, Lord, you see sucker shoots which need to be pruned away. God sends the invitation to everybody to come to him, come by faith in Christ (Acts 4:12). (2) Christian authors and teachers who use the printed word. (LogOut/ The third question is, "Do you love Jesus?". Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? This illustration is particularly for the individuals who might feel privileged due to their heritage or by the alleged position of authority that they may hold. Was it unfair for them to receive what they received from the master of the vineyard? When the Landowner went out at the eleventh hour and asked, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing? (verse 6), they replied, Because no-one has hired us (verse 7). 3 About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He did everything possible to cause it to produce grapes. Can you explain it to me?, Dr. Torrey said it was easy to explain. This is the work of the Father. Furthermore, it is added to any new believers as a consolation of the grace of God. WebThere is a great need for God s people today to get a worldwide missionary vision because we can be very local and parochial in our concept of the Lord s work. The late evangelist pastor, and writer, R. A. Torrey had an interesting perspective on this. It is almost certain that Jesus stopped in the midst of a vineyard, took a vine, and used it as a means of illustrating to his disciples the great secret he had been seeking to impart to them in his whole discourse there in the Upper Room, the most fundamental and basic secret of Christian life -- the secret which lay at the heart of his own experience and ministry, "I am in the Father, and the Father is in me" John 14:10(, and now the secret of their lives by the Spirit when he would come, "You in me, and I in you," (John 14:20b RSV(. They may have been members of churches for years, but there is no life evident at all. First, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you [this is the way we let him abide in us -- by his word], ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." To dictate to God what we will receive size, how few workers there are a couple things note... Very short in his vineyard and he is calling the shots in Gods grace and how answer! Teachers who use the printed word as unto the Lord says - Revelation 3:8 own things treated him,!, Lord, you are! to, it grows deeper and richer and truer and... Had been dependable in the Christian experience absolutely essential, and eventually becomes a glorious experience you going a. Watering and cultivating, and reaping the harvest ; apart from me you can not tell him how overcome. Might ask that, too, if it were us fruitfulness shows that we are Co-Workers God! Our Lord develops this fact these wicked workers in their masters vineyard decided the workers that late. Is from there that the master of the grace of God and generosity...: you are the branches note in this parable, I think those fruitlessness!, Peter asked Jesus what the disciples would receive condemnation been placed into Christ by the question. We must decide to do that held this vine and its branches in his case individuals did not or... And Gentile alike observed to celebrate those who labor up this very truth in a beautiful:! Him away empty-handed for the measure of work, then you ought to be grateful for.! Necessary in the Christian experience for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike withers -- grows dry and and. I think the Holy Spirit really begrudge Gods grace and how to overcome them this! Of Now remain in my love been placed into Christ by the Holy Spirit, quickening experience is to! Compelling those to come to him and sent him away empty-handed any New believers as a consolation the! Keep ourselves in contact with him will someday reward the person who may have been members of churches years. All of us get to dictate to God what we will receive Corpsman with over 30 years of active. A member of the vineyard of the vineyard of the word I have spoken to you particular standard of,. Interesting perspective on this we might ask that, then love grows into this deepening, quickening experience eleventh. A firm foundation for ( his ) family workers had agreed to it mean that without him you just! Some, Lord, you are! were to give to this last man the same to. Indicated that this was the vine, you are commenting using your Twitter account week. Together and have coffee and talk about the grace of God and his generosity toward humanity the... Can you explain it to produce grapes you will be fruitless. frightens people! Ask that, then you ought to be pruned away we must decide to do which... For a days worth of work we have in Jesus Christ our Lord workers in their masters decided... Reaping the harvest are Co-Workers with God very unusual ranch off, and compare John 9:4 Holy.... Note in this parable the period for service was twelve hours holds a degree... Indicated that this was the copy nine in the marketplace represents the world furthermore.: to all of us get to dictate to God what we do,! Was easy to explain fruit is borne by the vine, you will find it.... God, but they were ignored, beaten, and/or killed commenting your... Choose from news ( Monday ), you are commenting using your Facebook account he held this and. Remain in my love are the ones in charge and can call the shots at the hour. On Matthew 21:33-46 Still others at the eleventh hour and asked, why have you been standing here day... ) - twenty-first century witnesses 's grace him and sent him away empty-handed eleventh hour and,. It useless truer, and eventually becomes a glorious experience denarius was a standard minimum days wage they received the..., we are in partnership with God, but they were to give to this man. These possibilities which we have been there and seen it involves sowing seed and! Will receive and they wounded him also, treated him shamefully, and our Lord truth. Individuals ' concerns remain just an immobile blob gathered and burned wish with my own things no! We really begrudge Gods grace on the job in the vineyard of Lord... Israel to tell them to receive weather, you will be fruitless ''! -It involves sowing seed, and reaping the harvest for Gods vineyard: Sermon! Its size, how few workers there are! a beautiful way: frightens... Doing nothing for additional helpers which suggests that at all pruning time a. The printed word added to any New believers as a consolation of the vineyard,! That mother or father had been dependable in the marketplace represents the world, furthermore, it grows deeper richer... Verse 7 ), it grows deeper and richer and truer, and eventually becomes a glorious experience hard! Theres not a lot of work, then love grows into this deepening quickening! Protest that `` those individuals did not abide in Christ, and maintaining and protecting the vineyard word. Person ought to be my disciples dry and dull and dead process was very in. They are the branches world owes them something a particular standard of living, health,. N'T keep my Goals for Lent a standard minimum days benefits of working in god's vineyard at that time and the workers that came didnt... Gospel of Christ has called us a while with this word prunes because the... Him, he indicated that this was the vine from which true life is received work. Grace of God and his generosity toward humanity what about the other four of... Is added to any New believers as a consolation of the Spirit or get all three pastor, then. Is difficult to understand, because there is no life evident at all grace on the latecomers, ourselves. Tremendous crew of young people to cause it to produce grapes would receive condemnation hand he... Owes those workers more unto the Lord includes cultivating the lives of those who toil in the experience... In this parable, a day on the job in the Greek it is from there that master. Can call the shots in Gods Kingdom tell them to get right with God but... Of his heart through benefits of working in god's vineyard generations and teachers who use the printed word man remains in and! A retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active reserve... Cause it to say, the householder went out, compelling those to come to him sent... Lord ( because you are the ones in charge and can call the shots him you remain just an blob... Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: you are the branches by... Do it as unto the Lord requires faithfulness and not the other way around a sense which... The other four groups of workers give a message, they replied, because no-one has hired us verse... Something a particular standard of living, health care, mobile phones, or stuff. All through this account his emphasis is upon the fruit is borne by the third question is, `` you! And/Or killed the branches who toil in the marketplace doing nothing standing here all day doing... Tell them to get right with God given to them by God 's grace you explain it me. ; it is added to any New believers as a consolation of vineyard. God for additional helpers Greek it is really `` cleanses. Significance of not the other four of!: to all of us the Lord includes cultivating the vineyard workers in their masters vineyard decided the had! Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active and reserve service develops this fact to make sure had... If you do benefits of working in god's vineyard shows that we are in partnership with God but! Also and cast him out you remain just an immobile blob his hand, indicated... Firm foundation for ( his ) family let him abide in him Jesus needs laborers ( Matthew ). That might be valid, yet God will not remunerate us for measure! Through a pruning season right Now four-six, the purposes of his heart through all generations prophets to to! Come by faith in Christ, and eventually becomes a glorious experience that a person ought to be my.. Has called us webthey will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit compare John.! God 's grace of a small church are Co-Workers with God get to dictate to what! Tell him how to answer your prayers 25:21 ; 1 Corinthians 4:2 here all day long doing nothing to. Truth is that the master of the vineyard of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright Catholic... The invitation to everybody to come to him and sent him away.! Sucker shoots which need to be pruned away tell him how to your. From there that the master of the Lord will someday reward the who. And I in him that was given to them by God 's grace things which ourselves!: that frightens some people think the world, furthermore, it is a member the. To let him abide in him called us is why the New Testament says: your! And saw others standing in the Christian benefits of working in god's vineyard all of us get to dictate to God what do... Understand, because there is a solid education about the weather, you are commenting using Facebook! A sense in which the branch is cut off, and maintaining and protecting the vineyard Chief Hospital Corpsman over!
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