Offensive Grace

HoHum:

Veteran’s Day is tomorrow- The fighting in WW1 stopped at 11 am on November 11, 1918, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Originally called Armistice Day it was changed to Veteran’s Day to honor all of those who have served in our armed forces. We honor and appreciate all of our Veterans. Make them stand and lets say the Pledge of Allegiance together

WBTU:

Want to talk about the 11th hour today. We use that expression to describe the moment just before all hope is lost. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of eleventh hour is “the latest possible time before it is too late.” Bud Grace was baptized when he was 88 years old. We could say that was the 11th hour for him- he died 5 years after he was baptized. His wife continually shared the faith with him but he did not respond until after she died. As long as their is life there is hope but I would say 88 years old is about as close to the 11th hour as we would want to come. Jesus in Matthew 20 does not use the 11th hour but 5 in the afternoon to describe the latest possible time before it is too late to work. Let’s read Matthew 20:1-16.

Thesis: Viewing this parable from 3 different perspectives

For instances:

A. The perspective of those paid first

These people were pleasantly surprised. We could ask what were they doing all day? Sounds like they were just hanging out at the marketplace with little intention of finding work. Vs. 6- 7: found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. Sounds like a bunch of vagabonds to me. Whatever the case, these were hired last by the landowner. They probably did not expect to be paid much. Notice that the ones hired at 9, noon, 3 and 5 were not told what they would be paid. The landowner just said to them, “I will pay you whatever is right.” Why even bother hiring them for this day- what could they do in an hour’s time? Notice also that the landowner did another unorthodox business practice (dangerous business practice on several levels). Vs. 8- When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ Not only did he make the first ones wait the longest but they witnessed what everyone was paid. Call the union, we have a problem! Anyway, what is the perspective of those paid first? The parable does not say but I am sure they were surprised by joy. They were overwhelmed by the generosity of the landowner. Denarius was for a full day’s work and they were paid well for only working an hour. Paul felt like he did not deserve anything from God but still God saved him and made him an apostle. 1 Corinthians 15:8-10 Paul says, “last of all he (Jesus) appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them —yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” Notice here that Paul is trying to make up for the fact that he persecuted the church of God, so he worked harder. This parable of Jesus breaks us out of the working for grace mindset. The ones who worked the least but were paid first can say with Paul in 1 Timothy 1:14: The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Now is it recommended for anyone to just be standing around at the 11th hour? Should we wait until the last moment before accepting Christ, agreeing to work in the vineyard? No and definitely no. James 4:14 says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Ephesians 5:16 says, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

B. The Perspective of those paid last

These were hired first and not only did they bear the burden of the heat of the day, not only did they have to stand in line to get paid, but they also see that their pay is the same as everyone else’s even though they expected more as the situation unfolded. What did they do? Did they contact their union representative (not really a thing in that day)? No, they grumbled against the landowner vs. 11. What does this mean? When we believe, repent, confess and are baptized, we all receive the same base pay. Now we might receive more benefits than others, but we receive the same base pay. What is that base pay? Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Really not our wages (that is death) but a gift. That gift is eternal life with Jesus Christ in heaven. Eternal life is not fair; it is a gift of God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. If eternal life were “fair” (based upon how many good works we do or how hard we work), no one would ever see heaven. Eternal life cannot be earned, but it needs to be received as a gift. That is what this parable is talking about. It is not the “righteous”- that is, those who do the most good deeds- who get to heaven; it is sinners, those who know they deserve nothing but God’s wrath, and gladly receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. It is not “the first” who get to heaven, but “the last” who get there, by grace through faith. When the first finally get paid, they recognize the generosity of the landowner but they don’t like it. It’s not fair for them. They can’t rejoice in other’s successes, which may speak volumes about where they are spiritually. They are like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son who grumbled against the Father (angry) because the Father accepted the wayward son and had a great celebration for him. Why angry? Because in the end get the same reward- it’s just not fair! Fran Caffey Sandin tells a story about how her mother shared Christ with her brother and how this uncle came to Christ just 3 months before he died. Should be rejoicing but Fran was upset because her uncle was a mean man? She asked, “Why should my uncle have the same privileges as my mother?” It didn’t seem fair. She prayed about it and realized that she was being judgmental. She said, “When I considered my sins and Christ’s mercy and grace to me, I wondered, ‘Why should God let me into heaven?’ The ground is level at Calvary. Romans 5:8: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Mission statement is: Love people and lead them to a relationship with Jesus Christ. How can we love people if we grumble and are angry at God for being willing to accept them and give them a home in heaven? Start to resent others instead of loving them. We are so much better than them! Bunch of Johnny-come-lately and they will get the same as me! These people were not raised in the Church of Christ so they are beneath me. This is my church and I have been here for years, how dare they! Maybe the test of whether or not we have really received grace is “can we be gracious to others? Can we extend the same grace that we have received from God to others?” Interesting that Jesus gives this parable after Peter asks, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Matthew 19:27. Jesus tells the apostles what benefits they will get and even expands this thought to those who have left the most important things in this life for his sake and says, “they will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). What is more important, to receive a hundred times as much or eternal life? As long as I am there in heaven it matters not whether I am in a mansion or a shack- Lord just give me a shack as long as I am there! With the parable in Matthew 20 Jesus expands upon “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” Matthew 19:30.