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In this way the last will be first and the first last (v 16). [Introduction] So, it’s not fair.  That’s what Jesus just told us, right? The last will be first, and the first last. After being among the first to bear the burden of work ... after sweating for twelve hours through the heat of the day ... after getting paid the same as the guy who showed up just before quitting time ... not only do the last go first ... (Don’t you hate those who cut in line without asking?) ... but everyone receives the same wage.  And that’s not fair, is it?  See , we say, I’ve worked longer and harder ... I have sweat equity in this place.  Didn’t you see all the good work I have done here? I deserve more! I deserve better!  It’s not fair that the newest members of the congregation, and the sporadic, will receive the same inheritance as those who have come every Sunday for decades. It’s not fair, we say, that those who do NOT enumerate ... Every. Single. Sin. Every single time th...

Friend, I am not being unjust to you. Did you not agree to a denarius with me? Take what is yours and go. I desire to give to this last [worker] as I also give to you. Is it not proper for me that I desire to do [what I want with the things] that are mine? Or [do you see only] evil because I am good? (vv 13-15) And there’s the point of our Gospel reading from Matthew 20 ... OUR GOD IS SO VERY GOOD. YHWH, the Great I AM, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in faithful, covenantal love (Ex 34:6). His work is perfect, and his ways are just (Dt 32:4). When we were dead in our sin and trespasses ... that is, useless, lazy, idle, good-for-nothings (vv 3, 6) ... he came to us (v 1), he found us (v 6), he called us and gathered us in his vineyard (vv 2,4,6). He put us to work doing the good things he prepared for us to do, and nurtured us. And, behold, he didn’t stop there. As we were wondering where our next meal ticket would come from, he had compassion on us. He came...

Brothers and sisters in Christ, you don’t deserve God’s grace. We never did deserve it, and we never will. In the wilderness ... left to ourselves ... we are lost ... and here ... left to ourselves, we deserve to die. But thanks be to God, by grace, his grace ... he has given his son to live for you, and die for you, and rise as the firstborn of the resurrection. And now He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah! Eternal life awaits us all by God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense. This salvation by no other name than our Lord Jesus is a gift of God on account of the blood of Christ so that no one can boast (Acts 4:12, Eph 2:9).  But boast we will, and boast we do. We boast about our past. We boast about our future. God’s people did it in our Old Testament reading. And we are still doing it today. Though the moaning, groaning, grumbling, and complaining of God’s people indicates a lack of trust in God and his Word, God nevertheless promises to be with his people. He promises to delive...

WELCOME TO THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD. This is our theme. I. It might not look like much, but in this vineyard, our Lord produces the finest fruit ... Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faith, and Self-Control (Gal 5:24). Now I’ve heard that Missouri produces wonderful fruit in its vineyards, too, but those are nothing like this. This vineyard always produces fruit ... It’s never lacking ... It’s never idle ... It never stops producing (vv 3, 6). Life in the vineyard isn’t always easy here, but man, is it good!  Here, we learn God is just. He gives what he promises (v 13).  Here, we learn God is good. He is generous with the gifts he delivers (vv 14-15). Whether you’ve been here through all generations (v 1) or for less than an hour (v 6), you will discover that the fruit here is always perfect. So welcome to the vineyard of the Lord. Enjoy the fruit of the Lord’s labor for you. This is one message at the root of today’s parable from Matthew 20, which i...