Son, Go Work Today In My Vineyard

SON, GO WORK TODAY IN MY VINEYARD

Matt. 21:28-31

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: Lazy Son Chinese Proverbs

1. The Chinese have several proverbs about lazy sons. One says they “Mend the fence after the sheep are lost,” which means taking action too late or only so as to not repeat a misfortune.

2. Another says, “Distant water will not extinguish the nearby fire,” meaning that there is no point in waiting for far-off help. Get to it and solve the problem now.

3. Another is “Getting fat by eating one's words” It highlights a son who’s forever retracting what he previously said. It originated as a description of minister Meng Wubo of the kingdom of Lu who often pontificated only to contradict himself. A shrewd commentator suggested that Meng was growing fat because he ate so many of his own words.

4. A last is “One day in the sun and then ten days of freezing.” It was said of the king of Qi, who only showed enthusiasm for a short time while someone was around to encourage him. It came to describe a son who has short bursts of enthusiasm, but no staying power.

B. TEXT

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

C. THESIS

1. Today we’re looking at this parable of Jesus that tells us we have a job to do for God’s Kingdom.

2. The title of this message is “Son, Go Work Today in My Vineyard.”

I. “SON”

A. THE WHO OF THE PARABLE

1. Who's supposed to go work in God’s vineyard? God’s Sons and daughters. It doesn't say "you who are experienced," or "the preachers should work in the vineyard," or "the talented" or "the deacons."

2. God didn't differentiate which kind of son, but indicated that ALL SONS (and Daughters) were to go work! How many "children of God" do we have here this morning? If you’re God’s child, you're supposed to be working in his vineyard.

3. Now notice that the person he is speaking to was already a Son before going to work in the vineyard. Works don't make you a Son. Salvation is "to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him" (Rom. 4:5, KJV). Works bring you a reward, but you're a Son before you perform any works. Being a Son comes first. You won't get to heaven by paying tithes, joining a church, membership, baptism, etc.

B. WE’RE HERE; WHY ARE WE STILL HERE? SO WE MIGHT:

1. Glorify God by demonstrating His love;

2. Scatter seed of the Good News of Jesus;

3. Alert people to the Second Coming;

4. Like Salt, be a Preservative in the World.

5. God left us here, because we have a Definite Purpose, and we are to be performing it!

6. Imagine how the moral fabric of the world will disintegrate when the Righteous ARE taken out of the world! We are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth!

II. “GO WORK”

A. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO “GO WORK!” (3x)

1. Not "Son, go sit in my Vineyard" or "Go play in my Vineyard" or "Worship in my Vineyard" or "go study theology in my Vineyard." Also notice that we were not told to go work in His house, but his vineyard. Attending church isn't it.

2. Though we’re not saved by works, if we are saved, we will work. There are many Scriptures which say that once we’re saved, we should have good works. Christians are supposed to be:

“Perfect in every good work to do His will” Heb. 13:21

“…may abound unto every good work.” 2 Cor. 9:8.

“…prepared unto every good work.” 2 Tim. 2:21.

“…thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:17.

“zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14.

“…careful to maintain good works.” Titus 3:8.

B. THE WORD ‘GOOD’ IS IN ALL THOSE VERSES

1. You and I meet many people who claim to be Christians but are living in sin. You can talk about faith or sonship all day long but if you’re living in sin you don’t have genuine faith, you have demon faith because James says, “the demons also believe and tremble” (2:19), but they don’t OBEY! Mere intellectual assent does not lead to practical righteousness.