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The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (A) September 25, 2005 Matthew 21:23-32 Today, in this 21st chapter of Matthew, we enter the story of Jesus Christ once again—this time to find him in the midst of an exchange with the chief priests and the elders (familiar characters in the NT). The chief priests and elders—I like to refer to them here (in the role that they play) as religious idiots…and, if you think about it, even in this day and age, I think you know the type…busy bodies…those who would continuously rather concern themselves with what other people are doing, rather than doing anything productive in their own right. Pointing a rather sharp finger at these guys, Jesus goes on to tell this parable about two sons. The first says he will not go to work in the vineyard, but does. The second says he will go to work, but never does—I suppose he had the best of intentions, right? The original meaning is quite clear. The FIRST son stands for the tax collectors and the sinners—the undesirables in society—those looked down upon on account of their sinful lives—Lives that looked like a blunt refusal to have anything to do with God—let alone contributing anything to God’s Kingdom. Yet, as the story goes, when they encountered these powerful proclamations, (first) of John the Baptist and then Jesus, they listened…and as a result…their lives were able to be changed. The second son stands for the chief priests and the elders—all their lives were long professions of how they would serve God and obey his commandments—they were self-proclaimed “examples of righteousness.” Yet, as Jesus points out—when John the Baptist came to announce the coming kingdom of God—they refused to have anything to do with him or his message. In effect, Jesus is saying to the chief priests and elders, “The people you brand as sinners have all their lives seemed to be turning their backs on God; have now changed their minds and have gone to work for God!!! They have found a place in the Kingdom which you have thrown away.” While John’s message was producing good fruit—good changes in all kinds of people—his message was lost on these priests and elders. They were continuously stuck in their own self-righteousness—addicted perhaps—to their endless scoffing and criticism of those around them. Trying to be more righteous than everyone else—not by doing anything good, but by trying to show how other people aren’t as good as they seem to be. It seems to me, as I look around (watch the news), this sort of situation happens all the time. Just look at how politicians jockey for position. I see it happening even my own beloved Jake Plummer of the Denver Broncos…so used to playing for the sub-par Arizona Cardinals, he seems to spend so much time concerned about the other players on the field—“that they are doing their jobs right”—that he doesn’t always pay enough attention to his own responsibilities. This is a good lesson about team work, really—the Chief Priests and the elders are supposed to be on God’s side, on Jesus side, on the side of the people. However, due to their own insecurity—their own need to be “important” compared to other people—they loose track of what they are supposed to be doing. Instead they spend their time, criticizing. This sort of critical world has all of us in need. There are times when we need to hear good news about ourselves. Brothers and sisters—today I am going to tell you the good news (yes, about God, but also) about you. God has made you—the way you are…he has given you your strengths—and you do have strengths. God has spent your entire lifetime forming you the way you are. And I say this in the nicest way--you are truly an amazing—an awe inspiring peace of work. When you were born—a little baby—you were a miracle—and you have been ever since. If you believe in Jesus, then you should not have any doubt that you were worth dying for. You are unique. You are worth giving God praise and thanks for. Each of you should be able to pray the prayer that the psalmist prays in Psalm 139: I praise you God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. The problem comes for us sinful people(uh-oh)—and this is exemplified by the chief priests and the elders—when we look around and see someone else—another beautiful creation—whom God has made—whom God has given strengths to—whom God has obviously spent their whole lives forming the way they are—people having strengths different than yours. Brothers and sisters, Jesus shows that there are two ways to react to the graciousness of God’s creation: 1: The first is focused upon God—and leads to being happy with what God has done for you, and rejoicing in what God has done for others. The work of this person is to help other people understand their gifts. To build up, not tear down 2: The second way, the way of the chief priests and elders, is to spend our time focused on ourselves…comparing ourselves to everybody else. “Why everything is unfair.” The problem is that while we are busy focusing on ourselves—trying to compare our righteousness to the righteousness of Jesus or John the Baptist—we aren’t doing anything productive. There are so many people who spend their time eternally dissatisfied--trying to make ourselves better than others—usually by putting them down. There is no need…the very reason that John’s/Jesus’ ministries were so effective is that they saw people as being valuable—worth a lot more than we understand…we are redeemable. Brothers and sisters, have you ever noticed that we have the propensity for making our lives more difficult than we need to. Jesus Christ has opened to us a relationship with God—he came to sinners to tell them—to tell us—that we are valued members of God’s family. And once we are freed from our guilt and shame—once we become satisfied with being ourselves—ourselves, no more and no less. And once we trust God as creator and redeemer, we can stop trying to create and redeem our own selves. Suddenly we are freed from our sin--to tell those around us the same good news.
So let us go open our eyes to the
goodness of God’s creation, starting with our own selves—and let us
live our lives in discipleship of Jesus Christ—telling other
people—showing them how awesome they are--Giving glory to God for
the gifts he has surrounded us with—The same God from whom we have a
sure and certain hope—that he will redeem all things.
Joshua W. Magyar, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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