Jesu Juva
St. Matthew 21:28-32
September 27, 2020
Proper
21A
Dear saints of our Savior~
There’s a lot about the two sons in today’s parable that we don’t know. It’s a brief parable with just a few details. But one thing we do know: Those two boys were definitely not twins. They couldn’t have been more different.
But any parent with two or more children can tell a similar tale of diversity. How can two or three or four kids comprised of the exact same genetic material—from the exact same parents—turn out to be so different and diverse from one another? From the same two parents are born both leaders and followers, rule keepers and rule breakers. From the very same brood come both silly and solemn, faithful and faithless offspring. Siblings always surprise. They’re like a box of chocolates.
Their father gave these two sons the exact same command: Son, go and work in the vineyard today. Son number one said, “No, I will not.” Now, as shocking and disrespectful as that is, at least we have the comfort of knowing that this son ultimately did the right thing. Afterward he changed his mind and went to work. We aren’t told whether he went to the vineyard mumbling or grumbling, or whether he went with tears of repentance in his eyes. All we know is that he eventually did what his father requested.
But son number two—he does the exact opposite of his brother. Big surprise. When he’s told to go and work in the vineyard, he responds with a pious-sounding, fourth-commandment-keeping, “I go, sir,” probably with a crisp salute. But despite his good intentions and his initial impulse to go and work—he did not go, and he did not work.
“So, what do you think?” Jesus asks. “Which of the two did the will of his father?” In light of these questions, we can actually begin to see a few similarities between these siblings. For both sons were sinners. Both disobeyed and
And, for that matter, what was so terrible about the father’s request? Two times he said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” That very first word, “Son,” emphasized the loving relationship between the two. He gently appealed to his sons to do what needed to be done. The vineyard was their vineyard. It wasn’t owned by a corporation or some wine-making conglomerate. And in that vineyard, there was work that needed doing “today.” Urgent tasks needed attention—not next week—but now. Perhaps the Pinot needed pruning. Maybe the Malbec was maturing. The father’s request was simple, sincere, and reasonable; but neither son obeyed.
So what do you think? Which son are you? I’ll tell you what I think. I think we are both sons.
I think that your heavenly Father has said to you, “My son, my daughter, go and work in my vineyard today.” When did that happen, you ask? It happened when you became a child of your heavenly Father in the cleansing splash of Holy Baptism. In, with and under that water and Word, God, in effect said, “You, child, are mine. I’ve adopted you. I’ve got an amazing inheritance waiting for you. Now go and work. Go and love me above all others. Go and love your neighbor as yourself. Repent of your sin and believe in me.”
What do you say in response to that? Unfortunately, we too often say what the first son said. God says, “Go and work.” And we say “no.” Jesus said that the first son was like the tax collectors and prostitutes. Through John the Baptist God had said to them, “Go and lead a sexually pure and decent life in what you say and do.” But they said, “No. I will not.” God had said to them, “Be content with what you have because the love of money is the root of all evil.” But they said, “No. I will not.”
God tells you and me much the same thing. He tells husbands and wives to love and honor each other, that children should obey their parents in everything, that we should forgive those who sin against us, that we should return to Him a firstfruit percentage gift from our income—and all of us from the greatest to the least have brazenly said to our heavenly Father, “No. I will not.” And for that there is hell to pay.
At other times we are twins of the second son—the son who said, “I will, sir,” but did not go. At least he said the right thing. He talked the talk. We’re very good at that too. Today your heavenly Father is telling you to go. Go and forgive your brother from the heart. Go and live a life of sexual purity. Go and trust in me above all else. And we all confess with gusto, “I will, sir. Amen.”
But . . . then we start thinking—thinking about what it is we’re supposed to do. We study. We reflect. We go to Bible studies, we listen to sermons, we read books, we talk to a counselor. We ponder and procrastinate. We evade and equivocate. And as day turns to night, we realize that we haven’t gone and done what the Father has asked of us. All of our pious-sounding promises have resulted in nothing—no change, no repentance, no obedience, just the same old lukewarm living. We haven’t done what we pledged and promised to do. And for that there is hell to pay.
Whether it’s the open, defiant rebellion of the first son who said, “I will not,” or the syrupy-sweet hypocrisy of the second son who said, “I will,” but then didn’t, we aren’t so different. In this respect ALL SIBLINGS ARE THE SAME: There is no difference. All have sinned. All fall short. All are rebels and hypocrites. And “the soul who sins shall die.”
What do you think? I think that both sons need another Son. I think that both sons need God’s Son—and so do we. Jesus is the Son—the only Son—who said to His Father, “I will,” and then went and did what He had promised to do. When the Father surveyed this world of rebels and hypocrites and disobedient children, He asked, “Who? Who will go and buy them back? Who will pay the awful price? Who will go today and do the dirty work required in My vineyard?” And His one and only Son said, “I will, sir.” And He went and did it.
Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He made Himself nothing, set aside His royal robes, rolled up His sleeves, and put on the uniform of a servant. He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Jesus was obedient to every law, every commandment, every aspect of loving God and loving neighbor. And best of all, He did it all for you—in your place. The hard work of this Son counts for every wayward son and daughter. He does all the hard work in the Father’s vineyard. He labors, He toils, He works Himself to death on a cross—and you get all the credit simply through faith in Him. His blood has the power to cleanse every bad boy, every sinful son and daughter. And by His Holy Spirit He gives repentance to every rebel—gives a sure and certain hope to every hypocrite.
What do you think? I think this sounds like good news—the best of news! When Jesus completed all the work His Father sent Him to do, Jesus said, “It is finished.” At that moment, the sins of the world had been taken away. At that moment, the road to heaven was blasted wide open for rebels and hypocrites and tax collectors and prostitutes and sinful sons and daughters, including you and me—all who confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Both sons in this parable were sinners. Both sons needed God’s Son, the Savior of sinners. But I’m sure you noticed the one critical difference between the two. One son eventually did make his way into the vineyard. The first son who said, “I will not,” later “changed his mind and went.” I’d like to think that son was given grace to see his sin. That son was given grace to repent of his sin. And that’s exactly why you are here today. For in the Divine Service God’s Son is here for you—to give you grace to see your sin. Here you receive power to repent of your sin, to receive His forgiveness, and to follow Him right back into the vineyard—to do the hard work the Father has asked of you in your vocations—and to do it all for reasons of love and thankfulness and joy.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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