Pious Lutheran

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard , Rembrandt van Rijn, 1637 The Joy of Laboring in the Vineyard God receives us into the vineyard by Grace and the aim to be in the vineyard as part of God’s family, not just to receive payment The Kingdom of God is like unto a vineyard, a place of feasting and joy Living in the Kingdom is one of much labor, but because it’s labor in the vineyard it is always pleasant work I suspect that the parable of the laborers in the vineyard is many people’s most frustrating parable, because it’s just so unfair. Many people experience this today with inflation such that new hires often make nearly the same as a long-time employee with loads of experience. Today’s parable presents us with day-laborers, some of whom began work at the crack of dawn and bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat, and others who showed up at the final hour and hardly did any work. Yet, each of them received a denarius. So the longest working laborers point out the unfa...

The Parable of the Wicked Workers of the Vineyard , 2013, Andrei Nikolayevich Mironov Grumbling about Grace God is gracious, and we often respond by grumbling. God rescued the Israelites from slavery, and they grumbled. The Master of the vineyard graciously hired and paid His laborers, and some grumbled that they didn’t receive more. Nevertheless, God is gracious. He continually invites and calls. He calls us to be laborers, to work alongside Him; this work is not toilsome. He brings us into a vineyard, which produces wine, which gladdens men’s hearts; this is a joyful place. He gives to all the same reward, even though we are all undeserving; thus it’s all received by grace. A few months ago a librarian called from the Emmetsburg Library on my day off saying that there was a guy there worrying the librarians and asking for a pastor. So, I got dressed up and drove over there, thinking that there was some serious issue I would have to deal with. Upon arriving it turned out there was...

Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard,  Rembrandt, 1637 Laborers in the Vineyard God calls us into His kingdom to labor We are in His kingdom all by grace A warning against idleness and self-righteousness The context for today’s parable of the laborers in the vineyard is that of the rich young man. The rich man asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, saying that he had already kept the commandments, so Jesus told him to give away all of his possessions. But the rich man walked away sorrowful when he heard that. So Jesus said that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Who then can be saved? “ With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. ” But St. Peter then pointed out to Jesus that he and the other apostles had left everything to follow Him. So Jesus said: “ Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will rece...

Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Codex aureus Epternacensis, 11th Century What does it mean to be a Christian? Over the past century Christianity has popularly taken on a couple different forms. In the mid to late 20th century, it popularly looked like a social or civic club, kind of like belonging to the boy scouts or kiwanis. Both churches and clubs were full during these years partly because it was all the rage to belong to a club.  But, things change. During the later part of the 20th century, and up through today, Christianity popularly looks like a “movement” instead of an institution or club. This means people identify as “spiritual but not religious,” meaning that they might personally believe in God and have spiritual beliefs, but they don’t care to attend church services, belong to a church, or practice their faith in any meaningful sense. But neither one of those notions of the Christian life is very accurate. Christianity is neither a social club nor a movement. ...

  “ The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ” In this parable, God is the Master of the house, the Owner of the vineyard, and the church on earth is the vineyard. When we think of being in God’s vineyard, we often think of what Jesus says, about Him being the vine and we being the branches. But in this parable it’s a little different; we’re not the plants being tended by the divine Vinedresser, rather we’re the laborers. We are laborers in God’s vineyard, and as this parable shows us, it’s not about the labor, it’s about God’s generosity. Into this vineyard, many are called by God’s Word. The Master goes out to hire laborers for His vineyard, calling to them and promising them a reward at the end of the day. God has called you to be a laborer in His church on earth, and promised you a reward at the end of this life. He’s called you through His Word in the sacrament of baptism, as He’s done this day with ...

Many of us have been Christians for a very long time. Probably most of us in this room were Christians from birth and perhaps even members at this particular congregation for years or even decades, a lifetime maybe! So many of us have put in years of work and volunteering, we’ve put in a great deal of effort and time, maybe even a lot of money. So it can feel as though we deserve something, a payment or reward, for all that we’ve done.  You’re not alone in that temptation, afterall St. Peter and the other apostles felt similarly. The context for our Gospel today is Peter asking Jesus on behalf of the twelve, “ See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have? ” In response to that question, Jesus says that “ 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. ” He also goes on to say that “ many who are first will be last, and the last firs...