Preached on January 24, 2016
St. Matthew 20:1–16
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son
and of the Holy Spirit –
The main point of our Lord’s parable is
Grace Alone. The last workers received a full day’s wage for not doing a full
day’s work. They were given what they did not deserve. We call that grace. But
Grace Alone has a darker side. Grace Alone excludes our works completely from
the equation. Anything you contribute or think you contribute towards salvation
is counted as nothing. In fact your contributions often get in the way of
salvation. Grace Alone shoves all that aside. And makes room for Jesus Alone.
And I say this is the “darker
side” of Grace Alone because this is what the first workers hated. They had
agreed to work for a day’s wage and they had dutifully done their work. They
had borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. And yet the Master gave
the same wage to the lazy last workers as he did to the first. The last workers
didn’t get their pay docked and the first workers didn’t get a bonus. The
Master was good to all, and the first workers hated him for it. They thought
they should get some kind of extra reward for the extra work. They thought that
salvation was based on works of the Law. They are the people who think the Ten
Commandments are something we have to do in order to be saved. Our great
Lutheran Hymn of the Day calls that what it is: a lie.
It
was a false, misleading dream
That
God His Law had given
That
sinners could themselves redeem
And
by their works gain heaven.
The
Law is but a mirror bright
To
bring the inbred sin to light
That
lurks within our nature. (LSB 555:3)
Only God’s Grace Alone can give us salvation.
Grace Alone – a Lutheran
doctrine if ever there was one. It is at the heart of Christianity. But I’m
afraid we have grown numb to it. We have come to expect it. God’s salvation by
grace is no longer a happy surprise. It doesn’t shock us. Grace is assumed. Salvation
is a foregone conclusion: We think, of course God will forgive me! But why
should He? We might reply, “Because I said, ‘I’m sorry.’” Really? Just because
you are sorry for your sins you think God must now forgive you? Maybe that
worked with mom and dad, but not with God. Because that is not Grace Alone. That’s still sticking yourself –
sticking your “I’m sorry’s” into the mix, as if God forgives us because of
something we do, because of our tears and regret.
Even worse, grace is not only
assumed but it is demanded. We might claim we are saved because we deserve it. And
we offer various reasons: “I’m a member of the church. I pray every day. I help
out with the church suppers. I give back to the community. God will forgive me.
He has to.” Obviously, that’s not Grace Alone either.
Or finally, we demand grace for
all: “If God were really as nice as He claims, then everyone should go to
heaven. Sins shouldn’t matter.” But that is still demanding something from God,
still sticking ourselves into the equation, shaking our little fists in His
face and demanding fairness.
The Lord owes us nothing. Nothing
except death and hell. That’s fairness for you. That’s what we deserve. The
wages of sin is death. That’s the payment you should get. But even this earthly
life is an example of grace. For no life on earth is as bad as what we deserve
in hell. And as wonderful as that is, it should also cause us to fear Him. The
Lord owes us nothing. And yet He gives us life, and even more, He gives eternal
life – by grace. It’s a free gift. It is NOT fair. But it is good because the
Lord is good.
He is not like us. He doesn’t
measure your worth. He isn’t frugal. He is generous, even wasteful with His
love, loving even those who do not love Him. He absorbs the cost. Because even
though salvation is free for us, it was not free for Him. Nothing is truly
free. There is always a cost. When a shopkeeper gives away his candy to the
children he is paying for it. And when the Father gave up His only Son to death
so that we might live, He was paying the price we owe.
As
the Law must be fulfilled
Or
we would die despairing,
Christ
came and has God’s anger stilled,
Our
human nature sharing.
He
has for us the Law obeyed
And
thus the Father’s vengeance stayed
Which
over us impended. (LSB 555:5)
Salvation is free for us but
costly for God. It cost the price of Christ’s blood. The Father saw His Son
hang on a cross with nails and spear stuck through His flesh, so that He could
see you in His kingdom. He poured out all His wrath and punishment on His
perfect Son as if Christ were the worst sinner of all time, so that you could
be God’s beloved children. And if that doesn’t shock you… If the love of God in
the cross of Jesus doesn’t smack you in the face and wake you up, or at least
send a shiver of joy down your spine… Well, then shame on you. Repent. And know
that the blood of Jesus forgives all your sins, and even heals your numb, cold
heart.
Since
Christ has full atonement made
And
brought to us salvation,
Each
Christian therefore may be glad
And
build on this foundation.
Your GRACE ALONE, dear Lord, I plead,
Your death is now my life indeed,
For You have paid my ransom. (LSB 555:6)
The Lord is good. His cross and
death and blood are good. He gives them for you. By His Word and Spirit in your
ears, by His body and blood in your mouth, by His Grace Alone, He gives you a
new heart, and a home in His kingdom, and a place at His family table. He gives
what is not deserved. He gives more than is even imagined.
The workers who did not do a
full day’s work didn’t know what they would receive for payment. The Master had
told them, “Go into the vineyard and
whatever is right I will give you.” Not whatever is fair. But whatever the
Master sees as right. Whatever the Master sees as good – that is what He gives.
And so the workers went into the vineyard on the basis of the Master’s promise.
They didn’t hammer out a deal. They didn’t demand their rights. They trusted
the Master’s promise. They trusted that He is good. So it is for all who
believe in the Lord. They believe His promise. They do not assume forgiveness. They
know their sin – they are terrified by their sin – And so they confess their
sin. And then they hear the gracious promise, the free absolution from the
pastor as from God Himself: “I forgive you all your sins.”
All
blessing, honor, thanks, and praise
To
Father, Son, and Spirit,
The
God who saved us by His grace;
All
glory to His merit.
O
triune God in heaven above,
You
have revealed Your saving love;
Your
blessed name we hallow. (LSB 555:10)
In the Holy + Name of Jesus –
