Pentecost 18

Romans 4:1–8 NIV

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

(NIV)

Matthew 20:1-16 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 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.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Jesus teaches this parable as a stark contrast between two beliefs. One belief is that we receive good things from God as a result of our own effort and strength. Other other belief is that we receive good things from God as a result of his grace.

Specific sin: Envy over those who “get by” their entire lives and receive heaven just as assuredly as those who are faithful Christians throughout their lives.

Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Paul’s summary of his own dedication as a Pharisee.

Luther’s early days as a monk.

Examples of long time faithful church members.

Contrast.

Thief on the cross. Zaccheus. Death bed confessions of inactive members. Jeffrey Dahmer. Ed Gien

As he often does, Jesus used a story to teach us about the difference between works and grace. It may surprise us as we listen to the parable about how often we who are avid church goers side with those who labored all day and can be more than a little envious of those who shirk their responsibilities their whole lives and expect the same outcome as us.

The story is familiar. (retell)

It does not seem fair. Especially among those who are hard working and willing to sacrifice in order to get ahead. We are appalled by those who receive hand outs or who get benefits even though we don’t think they deserve it. One of the story lines we often hear and perhaps comment on is how unfair it seems that those who are in our country without legal status are able to receive government benefits that some people do not think they deserve. Or we may work somewhere where certain employees work their “butt off” and slackers get the same increases in wages and benefits. We believe that a hard day’s works deserves a fair wage but that those who are lazy should get less.

And this is true. It has always been true. St. Paul states the obvious in Romans. In the commercial world, the harder you work or the more skilled you are, the more you deserve. This is fair.

Romans 4:1–8 NIV

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

But our relationship with God is not dependent on what we do or on our works. If it truly were, consider what the outcome should be (as we confess in worship). The wages of sin is death. Not just because of the type of sins we do but because of the status of the one we sin against. (Example: You can (shouldn’t but can) threaten to harm a coworker, family member, or student in an outburst of frustration and expect some consequences. But if you make that same threat against the President of the United State, you are in serious trouble. All sin is an offense against God and therefore deserves the ultimate punishment. Conversely, if you think you can earn heaven from him, you would have to meet all of his requirements which is impossible because of sin.

But God is gracious. Instead of treating us as our sins deserve, he sent Jesus to save us and he forgives our sins for Jesus’ sake. This forgiveness extended to even the lowest levels of society (example of today’s low level people in society and in the church)

Immediate Application: In Jesus’ day the people who were working hard where the Pharisees. Not how Jesus summarizes their attitude toward serving God in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector: (NIV)

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

St. Paul, who had at one time been a devout Pharisee, describes his intense work ethic with these words: (NIV)

4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

Years later Martin Luther believed that if he dedicated himself to the church, he too would earn a fair outcome.

The Pharisees were appalled then when Jesus came claiming to be the Son of God and promises forgiveness of sins and eternal life to the lawless in their society. These were people who spent most of their lives in open sin and who shamelessly violated the religious laws. And yet, Jesus associated with them and taught that there were being saved: (NIV)

31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Modern Day Application

Sometimes we behave more like Pharisees than sinners in need of forgiveness. We measure our performance at church on our attendance, the amount of offerings we give, our involvement in Bible study, Bible reading, serving on committees. How often don’t we hear: “He served on the Church Council or she was a member of the Ladies Aid, or that person taught Sunday school for thirty years as though that elevated their status. Those who are faithful in these activities may get a little perturbed with a member who had been a member for a long time but never really participated in the congregation receives the same benefits as those who were exemplary. We may join in with those who bore the heat of the day and complain “It’s not fair!”

And here is the contrast between works and grace.

Works teaches that God treats us according to what we do.

Grace teaches that God treats us according to undeserved love regardless of what we have done. Works is limited to our efforts.

Grace depends on Jesus’ efforts.

We receive our “wages” as it were through faith and not works. This is also what St. Paul teaches:

Romans 4:4–5 NIV

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

Does this get us “off the hook” and should it lead to laziness and inactivity? No! It would lead to action. See Zaccheus, Matthew, and others who dedicated their lives to God in thankfulness for the gift.

Romans 6:1–14 NIV

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

In the closing prayers of the worship service we ask for God’s help in doing this: “Take all that we have, our bodies and minds, our time and skills, our ministries and offerings, and use them to your glory. We give ourselves to you that we may serve you in whatever way is pleasing in your sight.” And just before the Benediction we hear these words: “Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.”