There is a natural part of us that doesn’t “get” nor like the Lord’s math and sense of what is fair. We have standards! And those standards are law-based. If we work harder than someone else, we deserve more. That’s the way “it works!”

This approach, however, has nothing to do with our new status in Christ, and God’s grace poured out upon us.

It is a common problem, however, to try to make God’s circle of grace fit into our square, legalistic holes…but again, they don’t correspond.

The practical implications are tremendous, but if we keep insisting on the inconsistency, we bring great frustration and bitterness into our souls. We’re called to repent.

Tomorrow morning, the Word of Jesus will be given, we will receive special music from a gifted harpist, and Christ’s body and blood will wash away your sin once again; keeping you in Christ and Christ in you. It is day for rejoicing! Hope to see you in worship!

Here’s an excerpt from tomorrow’s sermon:

“The First Last, the Last First” (Matthew 20:1-16)

For Your Life in Christ the 15^th Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, September 21^st, 2014

Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine, CA (LC-MS)

Pastor Espinosa

Introduction: This parable in Matthew 20:1-16 of “the laborers” or “the workers” or “the hours” needs the backdrop of Matthew 19:16-30. Remember context is very important for proper understanding.

¹⁶ And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ¹⁷ And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰ The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” ²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ²⁷ Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” ²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And 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. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

1. The entire parable is meant to explain what Jesus taught in chapter 19, and is meant especially as an elucidation of 19:30:

 

Matthew 19:30: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

1. When he teaches today’s parable in Matthew 20:1-16, he concludes with similar words:

Matthew 20:16: “So the last will be first, and the first last.”

1. In saying this, Jesus was answering Peter’s initial concern which is also ours: on what basis will we have eternal life? Peter expresses his concern in the form of a statement and a question:

Matthew 19:27: “Then Peter said in reply, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’”

1. After all, if it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to be saved, Peter had good reason to be a little concerned about his own status!
2. Jesus assures Peter and the other disciples as he describes their reward based on those who truly follow Christ: [quote] “for [His] name’s sake.” [don’t miss the emphasis]
3. That is, the matter of our attitude, what is going on in our hearts and souls has everything to do with our place in the parable. Do we do what we do as Christians for our own sake, to look good, to pay off God, to receive honor, to have a better status, to be admired in society, to get along with family, etc. OR do we do what we do as Christians for the sake of the name of Jesus?!

Part I: So what IS Going On in Our Hearts?

1. In other words, we are already in trouble! Because our hearts are full of sin!

Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

1. Peter, like us, shows disconcerting signs right off the bat as he takes inventory of what he has done: we are self-centered. Let me be clear that the parable in Matthew 20 is about the kingdom of heaven on earth which is the visible church. Jesus is talking about people in the Christian Church. Like Peter we want to compare ourselves to others.
2. To understand God’s answer to our grave problem, we need this parable. Now remember that this is a parable, so the symbols correspond to a greater reality. For example, the denarius is symbolic of God’s grace given to us all; and the hours represented by the words “in the morning,” and then “the 3^rd hour, the 6^th hour, the 9^th hour, and the eleventh hour” are symbolic of how we sinfully compare ourselves to others. Bottom line, we easily think this way: “When I compare myself to so and so, I don’t think God’s treatment is fair!”
3. What is going on in our hearts is that we want to treat God not in a relationship of grace, but in a relationship of law, contract, or agreement like the beginning of Matthew 20 indicates. The first workers go forth working based on an agreement (v 2). Now this is not bad in and of itself. For example, when I stood before God to be ordained as a pastor, I did make an agreement even in the context of God’s call. During my installation, you also made an agreement. But the problem comes when we begin to treat our relationship with God as a matter of our accomplishment and what we think we deserve. This is the terrible problem raised by our flesh.
4. Service within the church, however, is not based on the LAW, but on the GOSPEL. If, however, we insist to make our relationship with God based on Law, we will forfeit – really reject and deny – the grace of God, so that the words of Jesus will come true: the first – those called and who believe they are better than others – will be last.

In Jesus’ Love,

Pastor

p.s. Confirmation is tomorrow at 3 pm at my place!